Blackberry Smoke Drummer & Founding Member Was 57

Brit Turner, a founding member and the drummer for rock band Blackberry Smoke, died on Sunday (March 3). He was 57 years old.

Turner was battling glioblastoma, a form of cancer in the brain, and in November 2022, underwent a surgery to remove a brain tumor. The band confirmed the news of his death via a social media statement. “It is with the deepest sorrow that we inform everyone that our brother @britturner13 has moved on from this life,” the group wrote alongside a photo of Turner. “If you had the privilege of knowing Brit on any level, you know he was the most caring, empathetic, driven and endearing person one could ever hope to meet. Brit was Blackberry Smoke’s True North, the compass that instituted the ideology that will continue to guide this band.”

The statement noted that funeral arrangements will be announced shortly. “Thank you to everyone who has supported and been there for Brit and his family through this fight,” Blackberry Smoke wrote, before encouraging fans to visit Fact Relief’s website to help out Turner’s family.

See the full post here.

Blackberry Smoke was formed in Atlanta, Ga., back in 2000 and consists of Turner, vocalist and guitarist Charlie Starr, bassist Richard Turner, guitarist Paul Jackson and keyboardist Brandon Still. After releasing their debut album, Bad Luck Ain’t No Crime, in 2003, the group found success with their 2009 follow-up, Little Piece of Dixie. With their fourth studio album, Holding All the Roses, Blackberry Smoke snagged their first No. 1 and biggest sales week on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. 2016’s Like An Arrow also topped the chart. Overall, the band released eight studio albums, most recently dropping Be Right Here in February 2024.