Richard Turner joined the 27 club on August 11, 2011. The cause of death is recorded as: Cardiac arrest
Richard Turner was a talented jazz trumpeter and musician who tragically passed away at the young age of 27 in 2011 due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm while swimming. Born on July 30, 1984, Turner's love for music began at an early age, influenced by his infatuation with the television show Maverick as a child. However, his eyesight began failing at the age of nine following a bout with scarlet fever, leaving him unable to see forward and eventually leading to complete blindness by the time he was thirteen. Despite these challenges, Turner refused to learn Braille and instead focused on developing his musical abilities.
Turner's formal music education included attendance at the Royal Academy of Music, Leeds College of Music, and Allerton Grange School. He went on to lead the contemporary jazz quartet Round Trip and collaborated with the indie-pop band Friendly Fires, showcasing his versatility as a musician. Turner's skills on the trumpet were highly regarded, and he gained recognition within the jazz community for his unique style and innovative approach to the instrument.
The legacy of Richard Turner in the music world continues through various tributes and initiatives established in his memory. The Richard Turner Jazz Fund awards £1,000 annually to a jazz student towards a specific area of help with their studies, keeping alive Turner's passion for music education. A documentary film about his life, "Richard Turner: A Life in Music," was released in 2019, providing an inspiring look into the life and career of this remarkable musician. Though Turner's time on earth was cut short, his impact on jazz music and the lives of those he influenced will endure for generations to come.