Mel Turner

Jimmy James Ross (aka Mel Turner), (10 April 1936 Trinidad Tobago - 21 March 2000 Wiekevorst Belgium). Born as James Albert Abraham in (Trinidad and Tobago), he was a singer and composer mostly known for his disco-hit in England First True Love Affair (1981).

He joined the US Navy at a young age as a cook. Later in life he changed his last name to Ross, the last name of his mother. During his teenage years at the navy he quickly became known for his singing capabilities on board the ship. Making extra money in local bars and clubs whenever they went ashore Ross quickly got recognition of his talent.

Not long after leaving the Navy, he made his way to Europe. Having lived in the U.K. and Germany, where got married, he finally settled down in Belgium, where he lived for the rest of his life.

Living in Kasterlee-Lichtaart he became friends with the singer-songwriter and amusement park owner Bobbejaan Schoepen and his family. He started to perform and record as “Mel Turner”. He lived for many years in Bobbejaanland where Mel Turner and Bobbejaan Schoepen intensvely worked together in Bobbejaan's venue.

In April 1968, after Martin Luther King was murdered, Bobbejaan Schoepen and Mel Turner wrote the song ‘They Killed the King’ together as a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. It was intended to be also a tribute to all peaceful defenders of equality, humanity and freedom.[1] The song first was released on Bobbejaan Records, May 14, 1968, nearly one month after Martin Luther King was murdered April 4, 1968. But it was a local single because of the attention and the hard work that Bobbejaan and his wife Josee were committed to. The family lived “in” the amustement park itself for 43 years. Mel Turner and Bobbejaan Schoepen passed each other daily backstage, were in shock as averybody was when MLK was murdered, and they intantly wrote this tribute song for Martin Luther King together.[2][3] Later it became also the opening track of Mel Turner’s album “A portrait of Mel Turner” (1970).

Jimmy Ross’ biggest breakthrough was “First True love affair” (Luciano Ninzatti / Stefano Pulga / Mel Turner), a song that reached #7 on the Dance music Charts and the song reached #90 at the US Billboard.[4] Another noticeable song was “Fall into a Trance” that had similar success.[5][6]

During the 1980s and 1990s he moved back to Bobbejaanland to perform there most of the time.[7]

In 1993 Ross got diagnosed with lung emphysema. After a long battle he sadly succumbed to the disease on 21 March 2000, surrounded by his loving wife and children.

Beginning April 2014 'They Killed a King was released in Europe and the US national by 'Soul Man' Sam Moore (Sam and Dave).[8][9][10][11][12]