Bozeman, MT (PAUL TURNER SINGERS) - Jazz composer Eric Funk premieres "Stake Out" and "Your Image," with lyrics by Paul Turner, at the Welcome Back Picnic of Montana
State University, on 30 August 2006. In attendance were 4,000 students, faculty, and friends of the university.
Montana-based composer Eric Funk and Boston-based lyricist have collaborated on jazz swing number "Stake Out" and ballad "Your Image." Before an audience of 4,000, Mr. Funk and his jazz quartet premiered the songs at Montana State University on 30 August 2006.
Eric Funk was born in Deer Lodge, Montana, in 1949. He studied composition with Tomas Svoboda, Sandor Veress, and with Krzysztof Penderecki. Since 1985, he has lived in Bozeman, Montana, where he was Music Director and Conductor of the Helena Symphony Orchestra and the Helena Symphonic Chorus (1994-2002). In 1994, he co-founded the Gallatin Chamber Orchestra in Bozeman. He also plays and teaches jazz in his private studio and performs professionally with the jazz quartet Backburner. He has taught music theory at colleges in Oregon, Washington, Texas and Montana. He was featured on the Charles Osgood CBS SUNDAY MORNING show, October 1998 as a result of a lead story on the front page of the New York Times Arts & Leisure section, April 14,1998; featured on Theme & Variations, nationally syndicated NPR program (August 23-30, 2002).
Paul Turner was born and raised in the boroughs of New York City. As a Drama major, who started acting at the age of 10, he graduated from Manhattan's School of Performing Arts in 1978. Paul's poetry credits include Bastard Quarterly, Meridian Anthology of Contemporary Poetry, Nomad's Choir, and Poetry Motel (forthcoming). As a lyricist, he has collaborated with Larry Alan Smith ("I sing because" song cycle), Paula J. Diehl (classical song), and Alan Dickson (bluegrass tune). Other songs are in the works with composers Stephen Feigenbaum and Eva Kendrick.
Of Paul Turner's poems and lyrics, Eric Funk has written, "Then along comes Paul Turner...I can't exactly say what it is about [his] writing - its illusiveness and buoyancy, perhaps...I enjoy [his] work very much...[the] writing is 'rare', [which] speaks to the fact that you are saying something important effectively as a poet...singular, poignant, targeting the affective domain of the brain."
Of Turner's lyrics "Debit Dude," composer Eva Kendrick has written, "How fun!...It's great."
Of Turner's poem "The Brights of Matisse," Matisse biographer Hilary Spurling has written, "I was so proud and pleased to get it."
Paul Turner has been a featured singer and a headliner at Amazing Things Art Center and at Encore Piano Lounge in Boston. His favorite opera role is Eisenstein in Strauss's "Die Fledermaus."
Paul lives by the words of a stanza from one of his poems:
I sing because / it gives my life / verbs and verses.
For more information about Eric Funk, visit: https://www.ericfunk.com
For more information about Paul Turner, visit:
https://www.liricotenore.com
