Napoleon "Nap" Turner was born in Tams, West Virginia on March 4, 1931 to the late Napoleon Turner, Sr. and Roxie T. Duckett.
At an early age, Nap accepted Christ and was baptized in the fellowship of Mt. Joy Baptist Church of the city.
In the summer of 1939, at the age of 8, Nap and his family moved to Washington, D.C., where he enrolled in the District of Columbia Public School system. He graduated from Armstrong Senior High School on 1952. Although he came from a family of shoemakers, he knew early on that it was music that would be his consuming passion. Sneaking out of the house so he could hang out around the clubs that featured bebop around 14th and U Streets, NW, he was inspired by the likes of Slam Stewart and Oscar Pettiford to become a musician. At 14, Nap built himself a homemade bass from a five gallon Pepsi Cola syrup can, a five-foot floorboard and a clothesline and started playing. He and his friends would go into the listening booth of one of the record shops along 7th and T streets, NW to check out the latest hits. As a young man in the 50's, he jammed with the likes of Sonny Stitts, Gene Ammons and Webster Young.
After many years of playing the bass, he became very uncomfortable with the quality of his music and began singing the blues, it was during this time that he coined the phrase "Don't Forget The Blues". In 1992, he was honored to travel to the San Remo, Italy blues Festival, where he represented the city as on of many delegates from the District of Columbia. As an actor, nap performed in films, commercials, print stills and voice-over narratives. His acting abilities led to appearances in "Homicide Life In the Streets", 1995 television series; commercials for NBC, Maryland Lottery, and Public Television medical issues in the 1980's and early 1990's. Nap also appeared in August Wilson's acclaimed "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," as Slow Drag, the bass player, and "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" at the Studio Theatre.
Nap released a cassette entitled "Hughes Views of the Blues" in early 1997. This project featured him reading Langston Hughes's stories of Jess B. Simple accompanied by a jazz/blues combo. A local staple on the radio with his own show on WPFW 89.3 FM. "The Bama Hour", Nap was awarded a Handy Award for Blues Radio in 1988. He was the recipient of the Mayor's Art Award in 2003 in recognition of outstanding community service. Nap also performed during the 2000 Millennium Celebration on the National Mall.
Nap worked for the District of Columbia Government as a Community Relations Specialist for more than 25 years. He also had a real commitment to the progress of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Early Thursday morning, June 17, 2004, Nap was called home to glory.
In his 73 years of life, he received many other awards, honors, citations, interviews, accolades and presentations that are too numerous to mention by name. He was recognized during his life as one of the coolest people ever! His love for family and friends will always be remembered. He was also the family historian. His wonderful, jovial personality, deep baritone voice and the way he word his hat was like no other.
He was truly one of a kind.
At an early age, Nap accepted Christ and was baptized in the fellowship of Mt. Joy Baptist Church of the city.
In the summer of 1939, at the age of 8, Nap and his family moved to Washington, D.C., where he enrolled in the District of Columbia Public School system. He graduated from Armstrong Senior High School on 1952. Although he came from a family of shoemakers, he knew early on that it was music that would be his consuming passion. Sneaking out of the house so he could hang out around the clubs that featured bebop around 14th and U Streets, NW, he was inspired by the likes of Slam Stewart and Oscar Pettiford to become a musician. At 14, Nap built himself a homemade bass from a five gallon Pepsi Cola syrup can, a five-foot floorboard and a clothesline and started playing. He and his friends would go into the listening booth of one of the record shops along 7th and T streets, NW to check out the latest hits. As a young man in the 50's, he jammed with the likes of Sonny Stitts, Gene Ammons and Webster Young.
After many years of playing the bass, he became very uncomfortable with the quality of his music and began singing the blues, it was during this time that he coined the phrase "Don't Forget The Blues". In 1992, he was honored to travel to the San Remo, Italy blues Festival, where he represented the city as on of many delegates from the District of Columbia. As an actor, nap performed in films, commercials, print stills and voice-over narratives. His acting abilities led to appearances in "Homicide Life In the Streets", 1995 television series; commercials for NBC, Maryland Lottery, and Public Television medical issues in the 1980's and early 1990's. Nap also appeared in August Wilson's acclaimed "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," as Slow Drag, the bass player, and "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" at the Studio Theatre.
Nap released a cassette entitled "Hughes Views of the Blues" in early 1997. This project featured him reading Langston Hughes's stories of Jess B. Simple accompanied by a jazz/blues combo. A local staple on the radio with his own show on WPFW 89.3 FM. "The Bama Hour", Nap was awarded a Handy Award for Blues Radio in 1988. He was the recipient of the Mayor's Art Award in 2003 in recognition of outstanding community service. Nap also performed during the 2000 Millennium Celebration on the National Mall.
Nap worked for the District of Columbia Government as a Community Relations Specialist for more than 25 years. He also had a real commitment to the progress of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Early Thursday morning, June 17, 2004, Nap was called home to glory.
In his 73 years of life, he received many other awards, honors, citations, interviews, accolades and presentations that are too numerous to mention by name. He was recognized during his life as one of the coolest people ever! His love for family and friends will always be remembered. He was also the family historian. His wonderful, jovial personality, deep baritone voice and the way he word his hat was like no other.
He was truly one of a kind.
Napoleon "Nap" Turner was born in Tams, West Virginia on March 4, 1931 to the late Napoleon Turner, Sr. and Roxie T. Duckett.
At an early age, Nap accepted Christ and was baptized in the fellowship of Mt. Joy Baptist Church of the city.
In the summer of 1939, at the age of 8, Nap and his family moved to Washington, D.C., where he enrolled in the District of Columbia Public School system. He graduated from Armstrong Senior High School on 1952. Although he came from a family of shoemakers, he knew early on that it was music that would be his consuming passion. Sneaking out of the house so he could hang out around the clubs that featured bebop around 14th and U Streets, NW, he was inspired by the likes of Slam Stewart and Oscar Pettiford to become a musician. At 14, Nap built himself a homemade bass from a five gallon Pepsi Cola syrup can, a five-foot floorboard and a clothesline and started playing. He and his friends would go into the listening booth of one of the record shops along 7th and T streets, NW to check out the latest hits. As a young man in the 50's, he jammed with the likes of Sonny Stitts, Gene Ammons and Webster Young.
After many years of playing the bass, he became very uncomfortable with the quality of his music and began singing the blues, it was during this time that he coined the phrase "Don't Forget The Blues". In 1992, he was honored to travel to the San Remo, Italy blues Festival, where he represented the city as on of many delegates from the District of Columbia. As an actor, nap performed in films, commercials, print stills and voice-over narratives. His acting abilities led to appearances in "Homicide Life In the Streets", 1995 television series; commercials for NBC, Maryland Lottery, and Public Television medical issues in the 1980's and early 1990's. Nap also appeared in August Wilson's acclaimed "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," as Slow Drag, the bass player, and "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" at the Studio Theatre.
Nap released a cassette entitled "Hughes Views of the Blues" in early 1997. This project featured him reading Langston Hughes's stories of Jess B. Simple accompanied by a jazz/blues combo. A local staple on the radio with his own show on WPFW 89.3 FM. "The Bama Hour", Nap was awarded a Handy Award for Blues Radio in 1988. He was the recipient of the Mayor's Art Award in 2003 in recognition of outstanding community service. Nap also performed during the 2000 Millennium Celebration on the National Mall.
Nap worked for the District of Columbia Government as a Community Relations Specialist for more than 25 years. He also had a real commitment to the progress of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Early Thursday morning, June 17, 2004, Nap was called home to glory.
In his 73 years of life, he received many other awards, honors, citations, interviews, accolades and presentations that are too numerous to mention by name. He was recognized during his life as one of the coolest people ever! His love for family and friends will always be remembered. He was also the family historian. His wonderful, jovial personality, deep baritone voice and the way he word his hat was like no other.
He was truly one of a kind.
At an early age, Nap accepted Christ and was baptized in the fellowship of Mt. Joy Baptist Church of the city.
In the summer of 1939, at the age of 8, Nap and his family moved to Washington, D.C., where he enrolled in the District of Columbia Public School system. He graduated from Armstrong Senior High School on 1952. Although he came from a family of shoemakers, he knew early on that it was music that would be his consuming passion. Sneaking out of the house so he could hang out around the clubs that featured bebop around 14th and U Streets, NW, he was inspired by the likes of Slam Stewart and Oscar Pettiford to become a musician. At 14, Nap built himself a homemade bass from a five gallon Pepsi Cola syrup can, a five-foot floorboard and a clothesline and started playing. He and his friends would go into the listening booth of one of the record shops along 7th and T streets, NW to check out the latest hits. As a young man in the 50's, he jammed with the likes of Sonny Stitts, Gene Ammons and Webster Young.
After many years of playing the bass, he became very uncomfortable with the quality of his music and began singing the blues, it was during this time that he coined the phrase "Don't Forget The Blues". In 1992, he was honored to travel to the San Remo, Italy blues Festival, where he represented the city as on of many delegates from the District of Columbia. As an actor, nap performed in films, commercials, print stills and voice-over narratives. His acting abilities led to appearances in "Homicide Life In the Streets", 1995 television series; commercials for NBC, Maryland Lottery, and Public Television medical issues in the 1980's and early 1990's. Nap also appeared in August Wilson's acclaimed "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," as Slow Drag, the bass player, and "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" at the Studio Theatre.
Nap released a cassette entitled "Hughes Views of the Blues" in early 1997. This project featured him reading Langston Hughes's stories of Jess B. Simple accompanied by a jazz/blues combo. A local staple on the radio with his own show on WPFW 89.3 FM. "The Bama Hour", Nap was awarded a Handy Award for Blues Radio in 1988. He was the recipient of the Mayor's Art Award in 2003 in recognition of outstanding community service. Nap also performed during the 2000 Millennium Celebration on the National Mall.
Nap worked for the District of Columbia Government as a Community Relations Specialist for more than 25 years. He also had a real commitment to the progress of the Washington Metropolitan Area.
Early Thursday morning, June 17, 2004, Nap was called home to glory.
In his 73 years of life, he received many other awards, honors, citations, interviews, accolades and presentations that are too numerous to mention by name. He was recognized during his life as one of the coolest people ever! His love for family and friends will always be remembered. He was also the family historian. His wonderful, jovial personality, deep baritone voice and the way he word his hat was like no other.
He was truly one of a kind.
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