About Sammy Turner
Lived 1932 – 2026 (aged 93). Sammy Turner was an American singer and musician.
Samuel L. Black (June 2, 1932 – January 22, 2026), better known as Sammy Turner, was an American singer who was popular at the end of the 1950s.
Life and career Sammy Turner was born on June 2, 1932 in Paterson, New Jersey, where he also grew up.
He was signed to Bigtop Records late in the 1950s, and his releases featured production from Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. He scored several hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959 and 1960; the biggest were "Lavender Blue", a number-three chart record on the Billboard Hot 100, and originally a hit for Sammy Kaye in 1949, and "Always", a number-one hit for Vincent Lopez in 1926. Later in the 1960s Turner recorded for Motown Records.
Singles Year Title Chart Positions U.S. Billboard Hot 100 U.S. R&B Singles UK Singles Chart 1959 "Symphony"82 - - "Lavender Blue"314 - "Always"192 26 1960 "Paradise"4613 -
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Important facts
People in Sammy Turner's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Sammy Turner's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Sammy Turner?
American singer
When was Sammy Turner born?
Sammy Turner was born on 2 June 1932 in Paterson.
When did Sammy Turner die?
Sammy Turner died on 22 January 2026.
What was Sammy Turner's occupation?
Sammy Turner was a singer and musician.
What nationality was Sammy Turner?
Sammy Turner was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sammy Turner. https://biography.guide/sammy-turner/
MLA: "Sammy Turner." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sammy-turner/.
Chicago: "Sammy Turner." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sammy-turner/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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