Matt Turk is a singer/songwriter,[1] multi-instrumentalist[2][3] and veteran performer[4] based in the Hudson Valley[5] in New York State. He performs around the world both as a bandleader and an acoustic folk troubadour.

Early life and education

Turk grew up in Westchester County, New York and attended New York University, graduating Cum Laude with a B.A. in history and a minor in religious studies.

Career

At NYU he formed the band, The Hour, which played alongside Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews and the Spin Doctors. His band was a regular act at the Arrowhead Ranch, a music venue promoted by rock impresario Bill Graham.

In June 1992, Turk teamed up with Pete Seeger as part of The Street Singers, a group that taught folk songs to schoolchildren and adults in and around New York City. Turk's time with Seeger, and his year and a half stint working for God's Love We Deliver, delivering food to folks homebound with AIDS, led him to write songs about social justice.

Turk recorded with Pete Seeger[6] and opened for Judy Collins, the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart, Fiona Apple, and The Doobie Brothers.

Turk has created a number of solo albums, and performed on a number of others. His 2010 recording, American Preservation, produced by David Dobkin, placed at Number #20 on the folk/dj charts and is a collection of traditional standards and classics, ranging from Roy Acuff to Pink Floyd, and from Taj Mahal to T. Rex. His version of "America the Beautiful" with Gaby Moreno has been called "arguably the definitive acoustic version" by Music News Nashville.[7]

Turk's 2014 album, Cold Revival, attracted a number of positive reviews, including being named "Best album of 2014" by RUST magazine.[4] As of 2020 Matt serves as the music director at Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills New Jersey

Selected discography

Solo

  • Cold Revival[8][9]
  • American Preservation, 2010[7]
  • Fred Claus Soundtrack, Warner Brothers Records, 2007
  • The Fog of War, 2007 special guest Pete Seeger
  • Washington Arms, 2006
  • What Gives, 2002[10][11]
  • Turktunes, 1999

Session Musician

  • Pete Seeger The Storm King, 2013 *Grammy Nominated
  • Pete Seeger, Lorre Wyatt A More Perfect Union 2012
  • Hope Machine, Big Green Hope Machine, 2009

Band Member

  • Gillen & Turk, Back's to the Wall, 2008
  • Mandolin Caravan, Desert Soul, 2003
  • The Hour, Songs of Sweden, 1992
  • The Hour, Fricker-Nicker Sessions, 1991
  • The Hour, Hold Back The Reins, 1989

References

  1. ↑ "Matt Turk’s ‘Cold Revival’ offers riveting tunes". Daily Freeman. David Malachowski
  2. ↑ "Music Review: Matt Turk - 'Cold Revival'". Seattle PI
  3. ↑ "Matt Turk releases 'Cold Revival'". Celebrity CafeBy Chelsea Lewis , 8/3/2014
  4. 1 2 "RUST Magazine 2014 Album of the Year" Rust Magazine. by Eric Petersen on November 19, 2014
  5. ↑ Mike Hammer, "Aztec Two-Step Struts Their Stuff At The City Winery!" Downtown Magazine NYC, March 13, 2013
  6. ↑ Marisa LaScala, Q&A with Westchester Resident and Musician Matt Turk, Westchester Magazine, May 2013.
  7. 1 2 Janet Goodman, Matt Turk – American Preservation Music News Nashville, May 13, 2014
  8. ↑ "Troubador/Busker Matt Turk Cold Revival Album Review" Archived 2015-03-07 at the Wayback Machine The Noise Beneath the Apple. Heather Jackson February 9, 2015
  9. ↑ "Matt Turk – Cold Revival" Music News Nashville, September 12, 2014 by Dan Harr
  10. ↑ Joe Viglione, What Gives, Review by Joe Viglione All Music
  11. ↑ "What Gives Album Review" Virgin Radio
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