Joe Lynn Turner

Joe Lynn Turner (born Joseph Arthur Mark Linquito, August 2, 1951) is an American singer best known for his work with Rainbow, Deep Purple, and Yngwie Malmsteen.

Turner joined Rainbow in the early 1980s, performing on the albums Difficult to Cure (1981), Straight Between the Eyes (1982), and Bent Out of Shape (1983). Following Rainbow's disbandment, Turner collaborated with Yngwie Malmsteen on the studio album Odyssey (1988) and the live album Trial by Fire: Live in Leningrad (1989). In 1989, he became a member of Deep Purple, contributing to the album Slaves and Masters (1990) and toured with the band on a world tour in 1991. Beyond his collaborations, Turner has released nine solo albums under his own name, beginning with his debut Rescue You (1985), and most recently Belly of the Beast (2022). Additionally, he has released two albums as part of the Hughes Turner Project: HTP (2002) and HTP 2 (2003).

Turner was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, on August 2, 1951, and became interested in music in the 1960s. Growing up in an Italian-American home, he was influenced by singers such as Frank Sinatra and Enrico Caruso. In high school, he formed the band Ezra, performing original material and cover songs. He played the accordion as a child and learned the guitar in his early teens. He was once influenced primarily by such artists as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix and Free.

In 1977, Turner joined the rock band Fandango, who signed with RCA Records. Turner sang and played guitar on the band's four albums. Fandango toured with numerous artists including The Allman Brothers Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Beach Boys and Billy Joel.

After Fandango split, Turner received a phone call from British guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. This led to an audition, and Turner was subsequently enlisted as the lead vocalist for Rainbow. At the time, the band had achieved considerable success in Europe and Japan but had not yet attained the same level of recognition in the United States. Turner's arrival coincided with a shift toward a more mainstream, pop-oriented sound, which contributed to Rainbow's increased success in the US market.

During this period, several of the band's tracks with Turner on vocals reached the Top 20 on rock radio charts in the early-to-mid-1980s. "Stone Cold" became Rainbow's first Top 40 hit, and the accompanying video received significant rotation on MTV, boosting the band's visibility in America. Turner appeared on three studio albums with Rainbow: Difficult to Cure, Straight Between the Eyes, and Bent Out of Shape. Songs such as "Street of Dreams" and "Can’t Let You Go" were notable singles from these albums.

In Difficult to Cure, the band made an ambitious move by incorporating Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven) into the title track, blending classical and hard rock influences. The album produced Rainbow's most successful UK single, I Surrender, which peaked at No. 3 on the UK charts. It also marked significant growth for the band in the US, where "Jealous Lover" gained considerable airplay on Album-Oriented Rock radio stations and charted at No. 13 on Billboard’s Rock Tracks chart. Initially a B-side to "Can’t Happen Here", the song was later reissued as the title track for a US EP.

Rainbow's follow-up album, Straight Between the Eyes, further developed this AOR direction, solidifying the band's success in the US. However, this evolution in sound alienated some long-time fans who preferred the band's earlier material. The ballad "Stone Cold" became a major hit on Billboard’s Rock Tracks chart, reaching No. 1, and its accompanying MTV video received extensive play. The band’s successful American tour during this time was documented in the live album and video Live Between the Eyes.