Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family. His father, Thomas Turrentine, Sr., was a saxophonist with Al Cooper's Savoy Sultans, his mother played stride piano, and his older brother Tommy Turrentine became a professional trumpet player.
He began his prolific career with blues and rhythm and blues bands, and was at first greatly influenced by Illinois Jacquet. In the 1950s, he went on to play with the groups of Lowell Fulson, Earl Bostic, and at the turn of the decade, Max Roach.
Turrentine received his only formal musical training during his military stint in the mid-'50s. In 1959, he jumped from the frying pan into the fire when he left the military and went straight into the band of the great drummer Max Roach.
He married the organist Shirley Scott in 1960 and the two frequently played and recorded together. In the 1960s, he started working with organist Jimmy Smith, and made many soul jazz recordings both with Smith and as a leader.
In the 1970s, after his professional split and divorce from Scott, Turrentine turned to jazz fusion and signed for Creed Taylor's CTI label. His first album for CTI, Sugar proved one of his biggest successes and a seminal recording for the label. He worked with Freddie Hubbard, Milt Jackson, George Benson, Bob James, Richard Tee, Idris Muhammad, Ron Carter, Grant Green and Eric Gale, to name a few. He returned to soul jazz in the 1980s and into the 1990s.
Turrentine lived in Fort Washington, Maryland from the early 90s until his death.
He died of a stroke in New York City on September 12, 2000 and is buried in Pittsburgh's Allegheny Cemetery
Dearly Beloved
Stanley Turrentine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was meant for you, you were meant for me.
Dearly beloved, how clearly I see,
Somewhere in Heaven you were fashioned for me,
Angel eyes knew you, angel voices led me to you;
Nothing could save me, fate gave me a sign;
I know that I'll be yours come shower or shine;
The lyrics to Stanley Turrentine's "Dearly Beloved" express a deep sense of connection and destiny between two people. The singer implores their beloved to confirm that their love is true and mutual, stating that they were meant to be together. The refrain of "dearly beloved" emphasizes the importance of this connection and the intensity of the singer's feelings.
The second stanza expands on this idea, suggesting that a higher power played a role in bringing these two people together. The singer believes that their beloved was "fashioned" specifically for them in Heaven, and that angelic forces guided them towards one another. This idea of fate and destiny is further reinforced when the singer declares that "nothing could save me, fate gave me a sign." The final line, "dearly beloved be mine," is a simple yet powerful declaration of love and devotion.
Overall, "Dearly Beloved" is a romantic and somewhat spiritual song that celebrates the idea of two people being destined for one another.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me that it's true, tell me you agree,
Confirm and acknowledge that what I feel is real and mutual.
I was meant for you, you were meant for me.
Our destiny is intertwined and we were destined to be together.
Dearly beloved, how clearly I see,
My love for you is so evident and strong.
Somewhere in Heaven you were fashioned for me,
You were meant for me and created for me in heaven.
Angel eyes knew you, angel voices led me to you;
Divine forces guided me to find you, my soulmate.
Nothing could save me, fate gave me a sign;
No obstacle could stop our love since fate destined us to be together.
I know that I'll be yours come shower or shine;
No matter the circumstances or hardship, my love for you will remain steadfast.
So I say merely, dearly beloved be mine.
I humbly propose that you accept me as your love and life partner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JEROME KERN, JOHN H. MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind