by Jane R. Snyder
Doak Turner
On July 17, 2011, Doak Turner will welcome aspiring and accomplished members of his Music City family into his home for the 100th session of the 3rd Sunday @ 3 gathering. This milestone celebration will be quite an achievement for a six-feet-one-inch “small town boy” who was born in St. Albans, West Virginia. After many trips to visit, he made his destined move to Nashville in 2002.
New in town and missing the kinship of Sunday dinner with his family, Doak invited a group of songwriters to his West Meade home with their guitars and casseroles-to-share in tow. On that first Sunday, more than 30 people showed up.
In 2011, you are likely to find 50 to 75 creative folks, and often many more. Asked to describe the festivities Doak does so without any hesitation, “Friends are made, songs are played – it’s Sunday dinner with your musical family.”
For this energetic songwriter, entrepreneur, and facilitator, Turner’s humility always remains in the forefront. “I’m a poster child for God sending smarter people to help you on your journey and I’ve been very blessed.” And those who know Doak agree, he too can take a lot of credit for what he has contributed to Music City.
Besides 3rd Sunday @ 3, Turner also created NashvilleMuse.com, a weekly e-newsletter that highlights singer-songwriter gigs and events around town. Collaborating with Will Carter, they established MusicStartsHere.org, a unique resource with more than 300 video interviews with performers, songwriters, music publishers, musicians, vocal coaches, and image consultants. When new songwriters first hit town they are often advised to simply, “Call Doak!” After a warm welcome, he will refer them to these Websites for a crash course on Nashville. Music has always been his focus and Doak’s memories are quite vivid.
“My family wasn’t musical, but I’ve always been around music. I always loved radio. In maybe ‘65 or ‘66, I saw my first concert. We were sitting stage left at the original Charleston Civic Center for Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons. I sang every song. I was only about six or seven, but I begged my mama to take me. I still have the ticket on the wall in the living room!”
Following a lifelong love of music, and particularly lyrics, Doak started writing his own songs in 1989. “I would always buy the albums that had lyrics. I remember when I was about 10 or 11, one day after cutting the grass. I took the money my grandmother gave me and I went to the local record shop in St. Albans, West Virginia. I went up and put a quarter in the jukebox because I wanted to know what he was saying in ‘These Eyes.’ ‘These eyes have seen a lot of love, but they’re never gonna see….’ I played that thing three times to figure out what he was saying in that bridge. Those things stand out.”
His 3rd Sunday @ 3 happening has created musical roots for a whole new generation of performers and songwriters. Friends have been made. Co-writers have discovered one another and gone on to co-write great songs. Performers who were once shy first played their songs in Nashville at 3rd Sunday @ 3. A few of them have since signed record deals. One couple Doak introduced wound up at the altar.
What has brought Doak Turner this far in his own journey? The words he needs are few, “Persistence and faith. My heroes are the people who persisted, the people who never give up. It’s so much harder now, for songwriters and artists, from the 80s and 90s when it was flourishing. You could walk on Music Row and people were looking for songs. Now the walls are so much tougher to get through.”
The walls may be tougher, but Doak has done everything he can to make the journey easier for other songwriters. And, if you haven’t met him yet, just pick up your guitar plus a casserole-to-share and head on over to Doak’s place.
