About Turk Van Lake
Lived 1918 – 2002 (aged 84). Turk Van Lake was an American jazz musician, music arranger, composer, guitarist, music educator and non-fiction writer.
Vanig Rupen Hovsepian (June 15, 1918 – September 1, 2002 ), better known as Turk Van Lake, was an American arranger, composer and jazz guitarist.
Born in Boston, he studied composition at the Boston Conservatory and went on to play with Charlie Barnet, Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, Sarah Vaughan, and with the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
Until his retirement in 1993, he was as an adjunct music professor at the College of Staten Island. Van Lake was the first guitar teacher of Reeves Gabrels, the lead guitarist for David Bowie's backing band, Tin Machine.
Discography As sideman Georgie Auld, Handicap (Musicraft, 1990) Charlie Barnet, Sky Liner (MCA, 1976) Terry Gibbs, Swingin' with Terry Gibbs and His Orchestra (EmArcy, 1956) Terry Gibbs, Vibes On Velvet (EmArcy, 1956) Benny Goodman, Happy Session (Columbia/CBS, 1959) Herbie Mann, Herbie Mann Plays The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd (Atlantic, 1965) Big Miller, Did You Ever Hear the Blues? (United Artists, 1959) Sarah Vaughan, In the Land of Hi-Fi (EmArcy, 1956) Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Clean Head's Back in Town (Bethlehem, 1957)
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Important facts
People in Turk Van Lake's life
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Turk Van Lake?
American musician (1918–2002)
When was Turk Van Lake born?
Turk Van Lake was born on 15 June 1918 in Boston.
When did Turk Van Lake die?
Turk Van Lake died on 1 September 2002 in Staten Island.
What was Turk Van Lake's occupation?
Turk Van Lake was a jazz musician, music arranger, composer, guitarist, music educator and non-fiction writer.
What nationality was Turk Van Lake?
Turk Van Lake was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Turk Van Lake. https://biography.guide/turk-van-lake/
MLA: "Turk Van Lake." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/turk-van-lake/.
Chicago: "Turk Van Lake." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/turk-van-lake/.
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