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Don Turney
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Don’s love for music started at the age of 5 when he found he could copy musical passages his older siblings were playing on the piano. His formal piano training began at the age of 7. At the age of 13, he began his private Jazz studies. At the age of 17, Don graduated in 1984 from Castro Valley High School with 2 awards: "Most Outstanding Musician" and “Most Outstanding Jazz Musician”. He continued to study Piano, Voice, Jazz and 20th Century Harmony at Chabot college, Hayward, then 4 years later under the Don Costa Scholarship, Don graduated from the “Keyboard Instruction Program” at The Grove School Of Music in Los Angeles and was placed on the Dean's List.
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Immediately upon graduating, Don returned to the bay area and began accompanying the Jazz Choirs at Las Positas college, and continued for 12 years. In addition to Las Positas, Don has worked as accompanist for numerous theater groups including Peninsula Civic Light Opera, and a touring group of "Godspell". Other musicals include: The Sound of Music, The Wiz, Pirates of Penzance, Evita, A Little Night Music, Phantom of the Country Opera, Me and My Girl, Smokey Joe's Cafe, and many more. As music director/conductor Don's credits include:
Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, Honk, Urinetown, My Way and Iron Curtain.
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Producer/Engineer
Owner and manager of DKS Productions, Don specializes in producing custom albums for singers, songwriters, and various vocal groups and bands. He is known as Mr. Wizard when it comes to music production, engineering and Macintosh computers. Don has recorded over 100 albums including 2 of his own albums of original instrumental music. Some of Don’s work include Producing for master guitarist Tomas Michaud with over 40thousand units sold, and Award winning vocal group SoVoSo, “Best Studio Album” CASA 1997.
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Composer/Arranger
Along with Don’s personal albums, he has also composed and published music for a variety of styles and venues. He is currently writing music for a series of Children’s musicals authored by his wife, Sharon. As an arranger, his work can be heard on almost every record he records. His arrangements can be heard each year on new CD’s released by Essence Records, Gospel Bass Productions, Two by Two ministries, and the People Meeting Christ Foundation, to name a few. For over 10 years Don has been employed by Jobert music to arrange and orchestrate music for an annual Debutante Ball held in San Francisco. Using computer software such as Sibelius and Digital Performer, Don’s skills span from publishing simple Piano arrangements to producing full scores for use in live performance.
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Keyboardist/Band Leader
Don's cross-platform abilities with Jazz, Pop & Gospel music have made him an "in demand" musician and taken him to places across the globe. Whether it’s touring with Christian artists such as Jon Gibson or Jesse Manibusan, or performing a Jewish celebration with the Joel Abramson Simcha Orchestra, or providing entertainment for a corporate event with Tower Music Productions, or playing Sunday morning services with the Community Presbyterian Church praise band, or performing with Internationally known Violinist Jeremy Cohen, Don is a consummate professional in each venue.
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Instructor
Don’s career began as a private Piano and Saxophone teacher, sharing his knowledge he gained from master instructors such as Frank Sumares, Mark Levine, Lou Levy and Joe Harnell to name a few. Don taught privately for a period of 11 years before making music production a full-time gig. During his teaching he authored an instructional book on Jazz chord progressions and improvisation entitled, “The System”. Don’s students have gone on to study Jazz at places such as North Texas state and Cal-state University. Don’s number one student is his Daughter Kayla, who now after 4 years of traditional and 1 year of Jazz study, is playing chord charts, improving the blues, and singing like Ella Fitzgerald. She is also working on her 3rd CD which will showcase her Jazz playing and singing. Don is balancing his professional life with raising a family in a good Christian home. Don's home and studio reside in Hayward, CA, with his wife Sharon and 2 daughters, Kayla and Karissa.
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