The Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo, comprised of Valerie and Benedict Turner, are ambassadors of Country Blues music, the Piedmont style of fingerpicking, and roots percussion.
Their mission is to help bring awareness to these unique aspects of African-American culture, and to the contributions of early blues artists, through performing and teaching.
The husband-and-wife duo are much loved wherever they go.
They feel that "there are stories to tell, people to remember, and things that must be said" so, in addition to tickling your ears with delightful music, they weave a bit of history into the presentation of each song.
Inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame in 2018, these tradition bearers have been featured in numerous festivals including the Newport Folk Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Tel Aviv Blues Festival, Clearwater Revival, and Brooklyn Folk Festival to name a few.
In addition to performing at domestic venues, Piedmont Blūz has traveled as far as Europe and the Middle East to share their music.
"Just when people think the old country blues of the Mid-Atlantic has faded away, along come the wonderful husband and wife duo of Valerie and Benedict Turner who are the heirs to the Piedmont blues tradition.
They are known as the duo 'Piedmont Blūz' and play the truehearted, authentic country blues with love.
It'll warm your heart.
Keep your ears on Piedmont Blūz."
- Frank Matheis, Writer: Living Blues
The duo was delighted to be added to Music to Life’s official Juried Artist roster in 2024.
This national nonprofit, founded by 60’s civil rights icon Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary, is dedicated to cultivating and empowering a network of musician change agents.
"The most wonderful thing about Piedmont Blūz is they share the history of the music as well as playing the songs.
They're able to do that in a way that doesn't take away from the musical performance, but rather add an educational aspect that blues fans truly love."
- JD Nash, Writer: American Blues Scene
Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo live at Paste Studio on the Road: Brooklyn Folk Festival
Valerie Turner discusses Women of Early Blues Guitar for the Southern Folklife Collection at UNC Library - Chapel Hill
Announcing the official film poster for A Man Called Hurt - The Life & Music of Mississippi John Hurt.
The Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo is thrilled to be featured in this unique documentary film, especially since the music of Mississippi John Hurt is one of our great influences.
This documentary is a collaboration between the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation and Draft, a creative production company in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The film crew made the initial filming in Avalon, Mississippi.
This was followed by a film shoot in Woodstock, New York.
The final filming took place in Knoxville, Tennessee.
This documentary film is currently making its rounds on the film festival circuit and we hope you will have an opportunity to view it at a screening near you.
Let's hope that its message travels far and wide and that the story of Mississippi John Hurt reaches a new generation.
Check with the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation for continuing updates.
(Film Updates)
The Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo is "satisfied and tickled too" to be part of the upcoming documentary film, HURT - A Mississippi Inspiration, and we're excited to share its official Trailer.
Please enjoy this labor of love, a collaboration between the Mississippi John Hurt Foundation and Draft, a creative production company.
There is more work to be done and anyone wishing to donate to this important project is encouraged to contribute to the Foundation's Silver Anniversary Fundraiser.
(Watch Trailer)
Desecration of Historic African American Cemetery in Avalon, Mississippi, written by Valerie Turner and published by the African American Folklorist Magazine, shines a spotlight on an ugly tradition in the United States regarding the desecration of African American cemeteries.
This article focuses on the historic St. James Cemetery, the resting place of Mississippi John Hurt.
The St. James Cemetery is distinguished as being the sole African American cemetery in Carroll County, Mississippi, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and generations of African Americans are buried there.
A visit to this cemetery in the spring of 2022 by Mary Frances Hurt, granddaughter of Mississippi John Hurt, revealed that a mysterious marker had been installed at the cemetery's main entrance and that numerous graves had been disturbed.
(Read Article)
Valerie was invited to write the feature article, Out of the Shadows - Undersung Women of Blues Guitar, for the March/April 2021 edition of Acoustic Guitar magazine.
The article highlights the contributions of women to the blues genre, with a special focus on early blues women that aren't often mentioned.
The digital version includes a video where Valerie teaches the music examples that accompany the article.
(Read Article)
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Inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame in 2018, these tradition bearers have been featured in numerous festivals including the Newport Folk Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Tel Aviv Blues Festival, Clearwater Revival, and Brooklyn Folk Festival to name a few.
In addition to performing at domestic venues, Piedmont Blūz has traveled as far as Europe and the Middle East to share their music.
The duo was delighted to be added to Music to Life’s official Juried Artist roster in 2024.
This national nonprofit, founded by 60’s civil rights icon Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary, is dedicated to cultivating and empowering a network of musician change agents.
"The most wonderful thing about Piedmont Blūz is they share the history of the music as well as playing the songs.
They're able to do that in a way that doesn't take away from the musical performance, but rather add an educational aspect that blues fans truly love."
- JD Nash, Writer: American Blues Scene
