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GoFundMe launched for Nashville tour manager hurt in crash with Josh Turner's road crew

by Caitlyn Shelton

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — A GoFundMe has been launched for a Nashville tour manager who was hurt in the crash involving country singer Josh Turner's road crew .

The Sept. 19 crash in central California left one dead and seven injured. The California Highway Patrol said the bus carrying Turner's road crew ran off the road, driving through a barbed wire fence before tumbling off a 50-foot cliff.

According to reports , it happened after a concert in Paso Robles. The singer and his band were not on the bus that crashed on Highway 46 in San Luis Obispo County.

Now, a Nashville tour manager's daughter is asking the community to help her recovering father. Just three days ago, Lauren Mayo started a GoFundMe for her dad, Jim Mayo. She claims the deadly crash left her dad with major injuries including a fractured sternum and vertical shear pelvic injury, that resulted in him needing a blood transfusion.

"The impact my father has left on the Nashville music community is significant and long-lasting. Over the past twenty-five years, my father has worked with musicians including John Michael Montgomery, Cyndi Thomson, Eric Heatherly, Joe Nichols, Jo Dee Messina, and many others," Mayo said of her father. "As well as working full-time as tour manager for Josh Turner, my father is an MBA candidate with a specialization in Management & Leadership at Trevecca Nazarene University located in Nashville, TN."

Mayo said her dad has a long road to recovery ahead of him, and that she's not sure how her family will pay for it. So far, the family says they have been overwhelmed with the support as $2,490 has been raised.

"If you are unable to gift a financial contribution, please pray for my father and family, and the other victims of this tragedy and their families as we weather through this difficult time," Mayo said.

The tour manager is expected to to stay in a California hospital for two to three more weeks before being transferred back to Nashville. Find the GoFundMe here .

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Josh Turner Announces New Christmas Special and Holiday Tour

Josh Turner is getting into the holiday spirit already with the announcement of a new Christmas special and 2022 Christmas tour.

The special, King Size Manger,  is part of the Gaither Gospel Series and features Turner singing holiday tunes from his 2021 Christmas album of the same name. The special was filmed at the Grove in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and has collaborations with Pat McLaughlin, Rhonda Vincent, the Turner Family (featuring Turner's wife, Jennifer, and sons Hampton, Colby, Marion and Hawke) and more.

Turner will be joined by hosts Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase. The special will be available on DVD on Oct. 21, and it will air on UPtv on Nov. 18 at 7PM ET. Turner says the production is reminiscent of his 2021 Christmas tour.

"I wanted the special to feel like an extension of our Christmas tour from last year," the country star says. "My family came out on the road and they were a big part of the  King Size Manger Tour. Jennifer played keys on numerous songs, Hampton played most of the show and Hawke, Marion and Colby were all featured on several songs.  I think we were able to capture a big part of the road show."

Turner will take his Christmas show, and his family, on the road yet again in 2022, on the King Size Manger Tour. The holiday tour currently features six dates, kicking off Dec. 2 in Macon, Ga., and ending Dec. 17 in Oklahoma City, Okla. More dates are still to be announced.

"Last year was a first for me in all my years of touring," he says. "It was an extra special tour because my family was able to join me on stage. I don’t know how many more years we’ll have a Christmas tour, so Jennifer and I are soaking up these special moments as a family."

In addition to his new Christmas special and tour, Turner is also treating fans to a vinyl release of his King Size Manger album, out this Friday, Sept. 16.

“I was really excited that we were able to release  King Size Manger  on vinyl this year," he says. "I’ve collected vinyl records pretty much my entire life and there is just something extra special about listening to Christmas music on a record player."

Josh Turner's the  King Size Manger Christmas Tour Dates:

Dec. 2 — Macon, Ga. @ Macon City Auditorium Dec. 3 — The Villages, Fla. @ Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center Dec. 8 — Nashville, Tenn. @ The Fisher Center for The Performing Arts Dec. 9 — Biloxi, Miss. @ Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Dec. 16 — Houston, Texas @ Arena Theatre Dec. 17 — Oklahoma City, Okla. @ The Criterion

See the Best Country Christmas Songs of All Time, Ranked:

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Josh Turner Tour Bus Crash Kills Sound Engineer, Leaves 7 from Crew Hospitalized

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A bus carrying crew members for country singer Josh Turner ’s tour went off an embankment after leaving a show in Paso Robles, California, killing sound engineer David Turner and leaving seven others hospitalized.

Turner and his band were on a separate bus following the crew bus and reportedly stopped to assist after the deadly accident Wednesday night. At least two of the seven injuries among the survivors were said to be serious. The singer has not yet issued a personal statement, but all remaining September shows on Turner’s tour have been canceled.

David Turner, no relation to the singer, was a monitor engineer who’d worked with Josh Turner since 2006, part of a long career in country music that stretched back to working with Tammy Wynette, Eddie Rabbitt, Conway Twitty and Hank Williams Jr.

Officials said the bus (seen in the photo above) veered hundreds of feet off a highway before going over a cliff and down an embankment, landing in a sandy bed. Investigators are looking into the cause of the accident, which was not immediately apparent. The tragedy occurred less than a half-hour after Turner’s crew left Paso Robles’ Vina Robles Amphitheater, on a flat stretch of highway 46 near the central California town of Shandon.

The crash site is just a few miles from the equally flat spot on Highway 46 where James Dean perished in 1955, which is still a magnet for Dean fans and curious sightseers.

David Turner was one of two people ejected from the bus. The other, production manager Richard Lazarus, was reported by Nashville’s WKRN to be in the ICU with a broken back, cracked chest bone and broken legs.

WKRN talked with a friend of members of the crew, Jerry Slone, who had spoken to Lazarus over the phone. Slone said his hospitalized friend conveyed that “in the front lounge they noticed the bus started to sway” as it apparently traveled well off the highway. “‘It was like we hit a real fast speed bump,’ he said, ‘and then the next thing you know we were airborne… and I’m literally floating inside the bus as it’s airborne.'”

Said Slone, “My understanding (is that) Josh and the band were there on-site helping rescue and pull people from the wreckage.” Slone also told the station that “their wonderful bus driver, I think, is still fighting for his life.”

Of David Turner, Slone said, “Sweet guy, gentle soul, big heart.”

Josh Turner rose to fame in 2003 and has had No. 1 hits with “Your Man,” “Would You Go With Me,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “All Over Me.” He’s been nominated for two Grammys and seven CMA Awards, and his country-gospel songs or side projects have made him a frequent winner at the Inspirational Country Music Awards.

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Josh Turner tour dates 2024

Josh Turner is currently touring across 1 country and has 31 upcoming concerts.

Their next tour date is at River City Casino in St Louis, after that they'll be at Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre in Boonville.

Currently touring across

Upcoming concerts (31) See nearest concert

River City Casino

Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre

Paramount Theatre

Nashua Center For the Arts

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

Grand Ole Opry House

Downtown Anderson

Alabama Theatre

The Cotillion

American Bank Center Arena

The Monument

Eastern Montana Fairgrounds

Bridger Brewing - Three Forks

Dr. Pepper Park

Winston-Salem Fairgrounds

Templelive at Cleveland Masonic

Kick'n Up Kountry

Winstock Country Music Festival

Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center

Bi-Mart Amphitheater at the Jackson County Expo

Harrah's Resort Southern California

Champaign County Fairgrounds

Schoharie County Sunshine Fair

Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater

Tingley Coliseum

Palace Theatre

Community Arts Center

Oak Grove Racing Gaming and Hotel

Past concerts

Old National Centre

La Porte Civic Auditorium

Stranahan Theatre & Great Hall

View all past concerts

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Recent tour reviews

Josh Turner's show at Crystal Grand was the 3rd time I have seen him live, and was not the least disappointed. He so easily captures the audience with his natural talents, sense of confidence, and consistency. The audience enjoyed the show. You could feel the love. My personal desire would be that he not have an opening act. He doesn't need it!! If you have him back to WI Dells, I will hit the "songkicks" site early and get GOOD tickets. Loved the venue and the show.

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I absolutely loved seeing him in Norman Oklahoma! We drove about 2 and a half hours just for me to see him! I absolutely had a great time! Him and his band are so awesome and I especially enjoy his gospel music! I also got to meet one of the band members! Hope he comes back to Oklahoma again really soon! I love you Josh!

Was absolutely fabulous, I travelled over 320 miles from Edinburgh to spend the whole weekend just to watch him last thing on the Sunday and it was worth the wait, only thing I can say is I wished he was on stage longer, I really hope he comes back to the uk and hopefully to Scotland next time, il be first in line for tickets

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Josh Turner is bringing a soulful country concert to Secrest Auditorium

Z ANESVILLE − Tickets are still available for Josh Turner's concert Friday at Secrest Auditorium . Zanesville is one of the stops on his tour, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his album "Long Black Train." Doors will open at 6 p.m. with Smithfield opening before Turner takes the state at 7:30 p.m.

"Any show like Josh Turner that brings a significant amount of people to the downtown area or to Zanesville is going to have an economic impact on the auditorium, on the community," said Rick Sabine, manager of Secrest Auditorium. "We're happy to have shows at Secrest like that."

Native to South Carolina, Turner has sold more than 6.5 million records and has reached 4.8 billion global streams on different platforms. The country singer has also been nominated for three Golden Melody awards, winning his first in 2021.

Some of his most popular songs include:

• "Why Don’t We Just Dance"
• "Long black train"
• "Would You Go With Me"

As a huge part of the entertainment district downtown, Secrest auditorium will be hosting other upcoming shows with notable names as the year ends, including Hotel California on Nov. 10 and a tribute to Taylor Swift on Nov. 17.

Tickets for Turner's concert can be purchased even an hour into the concert, according to Sabine. More information can be found on the Secrest Auditorium website.

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This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Josh Turner is bringing a soulful country concert to Secrest Auditorium

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Josh Turner Cancels All September Shows After Fatal Crash Involving Crew

(Left) Josh Turner / Instagram /(Right) CAL FIRE SLO / Twitter

At 11:45 PM on Wednesday (September 18), a tour bus carrying members of Josh Turner ‘s crew was involved in a terrible accident near Mcmillan Canyon in California. The bus drove off the road and went down a 50-foot embankment.

Josh and his musicians were on a separate bus at the time.

Seven crew members were injured in the accident, with the CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo Fire Department telling KGET.com that two people had major injuries, while the other five had moderate injuries.

The fire department was also sad to report that one person was killed in the crash.

[UPDATE] #CenterIC 8 patients, 5 moderate, 2 major and 1 deceased. #Firefighters #EMS at scene. pic.twitter.com/EKtjy8CzKq — CAL FIRE SLO (@CALFIRE_SLO) September 19, 2019

The identity of that person was not known until later on Thursday (September 19). A family friend confirmed with the San Luis Obispo Tribune that the deceased member of the crew was Josh’s sound engineer, David Turner.

Although David was of no relation to Josh, he worked for the “Long Black Train” singer for 14 years. He had also previously worked with artists such as Patty Loveless , Tammy Wynette , and Eddie Rabbitt.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2055860361180559&set=a.253907121375901&type=3

While Josh has not released a public statement about the crash or David’s passing, he has responded by canceling his remaining shows for September.

At the time of the crash, Josh and his crew were traveling to Yakima, Washington, to play at the Central Washington State Fair on Friday (September 20). The Yakima Herald reports that show has now been canceled, as confirmed by fair general manager and President Greg Stewart.

Josh was then scheduled to perform at the Kern County Fair in Bakersfield, California on Monday (September 23). Fair organizers confirmed with KGET.com that performance has been canceled as well.

“Just Another Day in Paradise” singer Phil Vassar will perform in Josh’s place at both fairs.

Musician Josh Turner has canceled his concert set for Monday, Sept. 23 at the Kern County Fair and will be replaced by Phil Vassar. https://t.co/NtdrbO7T3o — BakersfieldNow (@bakersfieldnow) September 19, 2019

Josh also canceled his September 28th performance at the Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino in Arizona, as reported by inMaricopa.com . The outlet published an announcement about the cancellation, which read in part:

“Following the devastating news that one of Josh Turner’s tour buses was involved in a deadly accident in California, we have been told that all remaining shows in September will be rescheduled for a later date.  Josh’s show scheduled for Sept. 28 at Harrah’s Ak-Chin has been cancelled.”

All September show dates have also been erased from the “tour” section of Josh’s website. His next scheduled show is for October 4 in Fort Bliss, Texas.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Josh, his band and crew, the injured crew members, and David Turner’s family during this sad time.

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Josh Turner Reveals Songs on ‘King Size Manger,’ Announces Holiday Tour

We now know the songs on Josh Turner ‘s upcoming Christmas album, King Size Manger , as well as the dates for his first-ever holiday tour! The South Carolina native will kick off his Holiday & The Hits Tour on November 18 in Holland, Michigan, wrapping up the tour with a show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on December 20.

“Making a Christmas record can be a mighty daunting task for an artist,” says Turner. “There are so many songs to choose from and there’ve been so many versions of those songs throughout history. It can be intimidating to know whether you’ll be able to measure up to what’s already been done and when I get to that point, I step back and remind myself that I have to do what I hear in my heart.”

Turner has classics like “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Silent Night, Holy Night” on the album, along with four originals, three that he co-wrote.

“You may be surprised to hear my arrangement on some of these songs that you know so well,” Turner says. “We had a lot of fun throwing out all the preconceived notions of what a Christmas record should sound like. In my opinion, it’s about the words and the heart and soul of how a song sounds. You don’t need jingle bells on a song to make it a Christmas song.”

Turner’s wife, Jennifer, appears on King Size Manger , along with their four boys. Rhonda Vincent also appears on “Joy to the World.” King Size Manger will be out on October 8. See a track list below. Pre-order King Size Manger , and find tour dates, by visiting his website.

King Size Manger Track Listing:

1. Angels We Have Heard On High 2. What He’s Given Me (Featuring Pat McLaughlin)* 3. King Size Manger* 4. Joy To The World (Featuring Rhonda Vincent) 5. Soldier’s Gift* 6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Featuring The Turner Family) 7. Go Tell It On The Mountain 8. Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana (Featuring Jake Shimabukuro and Ho’okena)* 9. The First Nowell 10. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town 11. Silent Night, Holy Night

Produced by Kenny Greenberg

*denotes original

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Josh Turner – ‘King Size Manger’ review

Josh Turner is one of the most respected and popular artists in Country music, and the last few years have seen him remarkably productive in terms of his output. Since the release of 2017’s ‘Deep South’ Turner has been releasing music on a yearly basis. His 2018 album ‘I Serve a Savior’ received an expanded release in 2019, in 2020 we got his covers album ‘ Country State of Mind ’ and earlier this year Turner released a deluxe edition of his classic 2006 album ‘ Your Man ’ to celebrate its 15 th anniversary. Before we reach the end of 2021, Turner is serving up even more music with his first Christmas album ‘King Size Manger’.

Among the 11 tracks on ‘King Size Manger’ are four originals – three co-written by Turner – allowing the singer to add his own future classics into the mix. With Kenny Greenberg on production, the songs here sound distinctly Turner while retaining that familiar Christmas edge. The album opens with the familiar ‘Angels We Have Heard On High’ but as you’d expect from Turner, his interpretation is unique rather than trying to imitate versions that have come before. It’s the most uptempo version of the song I’ve heard but it works and it kicks off an album that is sure to appeal to Turner’s fans and those who prefer their Christmas songs with less melancholy.

Of the original songs the title track ‘King Size Manger’ is the highlight. It marries Turner’s ability to combine a catchy melody with his faith, and as ‘I Serve a Savior’ proved his fans really embrace his more religious output. ‘What He’s Given Me’ featuring Pat McLaughlin is another highlight with Turner embracing Country tradition for a stirring original track.

One of the highlights on the album comes on ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, which features Turner’s wife Jennifer and his four children. The song really drives home the importance of family during the festive season and it’s a special moment. It’s also perhaps the most traditional arrangement on the record, which serves the song well as it’s one that doesn’t need bells and whistles.

Turner acquits himself well on the standards he covers here. The uptempo ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain’ is completely in his wheelhouse, while ‘Joy To The World’ featuring Rhonda Vincent gives the classic a bouncy beat turning it into a smile-inducing tune. The album closes with ‘Silent Night, Holy Night’, which retains the simple arrangement you so often hear when people cover it. Turner’s voice rings out and his passion shines through in his delivery.

‘King Size Manger’ is everything you’d want from a Josh Turner Christmas album. For some Christmas music fans, it may not be festive enough but it’s interesting to hear a fresh take on a holiday collection. This fits neatly among Turner’s previous work, something he was adamant about when he set about making the album, and it gives him plenty of material to perform during the holidays for years to come.

Track listing: 1. Angels We Have Heard On High 2. What He’s Given Me (feat. Pat McLaughlin) 3. King Size Manger 4. Joy To The World (feat. Rhonda Vincent) 5. Soldier’s Gift 6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (feat. The Turner Family) 7. Go Tell It On The Mountain 8. Mele Kalikimaka My ‘Ohana (feat. Jake Shimabukuro & Ho’okena) 9. The First Nowell 10. Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town 11. Silent Night, Holy Night Record label: Snakefarm Records Release date: 8 th October 2021 Buy ‘King Size Manger’ now

[rwp-reviewer-rating-stars id=”0″]

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Josh Turner Shares Story Behind His 'King Size Manger'

David McClister

Josh Turner longed to record a Christmas album almost as long as he's been on country radio. In 2021, he celebrated two decades in country music, and for the first time since "Long Black Train" became his breakthrough hit in 2004, Turner found time to do it.

"King Size Manger," available now, is a collection of traditional country versions of classic Christmas songs mixed with some original tunes, Hawaiian, bluegrass and swing. Turner wrote three of the four original songs and arranged five tracks on the 11-song album.

"Soldier's Gift," written by Tom Douglas and Scooter Carusoe, is the album's debut single. The song is about what soldiers sacrifice – even over the holidays – so Americans can feel safe in bed at night. Turner said he was "embarrassed on behalf of the whole songwriting community in Nashville" that it took so long to write the subject matter."

"The patriotic message and the Christmas message is not something you normally hear together," he said. "And that's exactly what this song is all about."

However, it's the album's title track – which he co-wrote with his friend Mark Narmore – that he's the proudest of. He explained that your subject matter is limited at Christmas, and almost everything has already been written. When "King Size Manger" came to him, he said he immediately knew it was unique – so special it scared him.

"Anytime you have a great idea, your greatest fear is that you're going to get in there and write the song, and it's not going to measure up to the title," he said.

Turner told Narmore about the song idea, and he remembers exactly where they were when they had the conversation about "King Size Manger."

"He was speechless," Turner said. "He was like, 'Oh my goodness. What a title!' We sat down and have such a rapport that we know what it takes just to allow the heart and soul to come out of a song that we're trying to write."

The men decided to tell the story of what is a king-size manger.

Lyrics include: There in the hills of Bethlehem| No one had any room for them| They knew that child was a real life changer| Lying there in a king-size manger.

Turner said he doesn't remember what sparked the idea and jokes that it might have been a mattress commercial.

Regardless, he couldn't be prouder of the song and thinks it was "truly inspired."

"I was kind of surprised and shocked that we could pull that off," he said. "It rose to the top after we had decided everything that was going to go on the record, and it became the title track."

Turner plays the song every night during his 18-city Holiday & the Hits Tour.

"I proud of the way the song came out and that I was able to write the title track on my Christmas album," Turner said. "It was a huge accomplishment for me as a writer."

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Josh Turner: King Size Manger Tour

December 8, 2022 | 7:30 pm.

Country music artist Josh Turner will make a stop on his KING SIZE MANGER TOUR at The Fisher Center at Belmont University on Thursday, December 8. Turner will perform songs from his first Christmas album, “King Size Manger,” a collection of new and traditional holiday songs and hymns, as well as his classic country hits you know and love like “Your Man,” “Would You Go With Me” and “Hometown Girl.” Tickets start at $45.50.

Opening support will be The Band Trippp, a trio of 21-year-old triplet brothers – Treyson, JD, and Chaz Stafford – from Jonesboro, Arkansas. Their unique country sound includes a touch of Memphis blues, Kentucky bluegrass, and Southern rock combined with killer family harmony. They are now based in Nashville where JD (lead vocals/drums) is a student at Belmont University majoring in Songwriting, Treyson (bass) is majoring in Biblical Studies at Belmont, and Chaz (guitar) works for Gibson Guitars. They are the 2021 Arkansas Country Music Awards “Young Artists of the Year,” have been voted “Best Local Band” in Northeast Arkansas five times, and won a 2021 worldwide Fender guitar contest recognizing up-and-coming artists. They’ve played more than 200 shows throughout the Southeast, have raised more than $13,000 for Make-A-Wish and other charities, and have been an opening act for artists such as Riley Green, The Josh Abbott Band, The Kentucky Headhunters, and Matt Stell.  Their 2020 debut EP and subsequent singles have all been produced by fellow Arkansan Jon Conley, a guitar player for Kenny Chesney.

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