Ogden music community celebrates life of local legend Jon Turner
-
- Ogden musician, owner of Turner Guitar Company and loving father Jonathon David “Jonny T” Turner.
-
- Jon Turner with wife Mackenzie and children Jasper (7) and Eldon (4).
-
- Jon Turner, pictured at his home, is mourned and celebrated by the entire Ogden music community.
-
- Jon Turner with his friend and mentor, the late Joe McQueen.
Ogden’s live music community suffered a devastating blow last week with the tragic death of Jon Turner. Jon was killed in a car accident on Wednesday evening on 24th Street as he was returning home from the store with newly purchased toys for his precious sons.
“Jonny T” was an Ogden fixture. A soulful and gritty singer-songwriter, musician and front man for The Highway Thieves, a seven-piece powerhouse of a band that employed several of Ogden’s best musicians for many years.
He was a custom guitar builder and founder of Turner Guitar Company, creating his coveted “Turnercaster” electric guitars and unique skate-deck lap-steel guitars in his home shop. His luthier skills were in constant demand and his repairs kept a sizable chunk of the guitars in Ogden cranking out that “Turner tone.”
Jonny was a tireless advocate for live music in Ogden as the founder of the Notquinox Festival, an annual, multistage music festival that he used to organize at Fort Buenaventura. He was also the main promoter, booker, stage manager and sound engineer at the Lighthouse Lounge for years and treated every artist that came through with enthusiasm and love, whether they were legendary performers like Joe McQueen or someone bravely attempting their first open-mic.
The live music community of Northern Utah is shattered by this loss but has rallied together to celebrate Jon Turner’s life and to raise money for his heartbroken widow, Mackenzie, and their two beautiful boys who were the center of Jon’s universe. Following Jon’s funeral service at the Ogden City Cemetery on Friday, dozens of musicians and artists will gather with family and friends at the new amphitheater adjacent to Ogden’s Own Distillery to perform a private benefit concert.
Several local businesses and individuals have donated items that will be raffled throughout the day.
The concert and celebration will be from 2-9 p.m. at Ogden’s Own Distillery Amphitheater on 615 W. Stockman Way and all ages are welcome. Please RSVP to Sarah Bowler at sarahbbowler@gmail.com.
A GoFundMe account has also been set up to assist the Turner family with funeral and living expenses: www.gofundme.com/f/jon-turner-memorial-fund