Today we’d like to introduce you to J Turner.
Hi J, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in Miami Springs, Florida. As a 6 year old boy, in the summer of 1964, my father, employed by Southern Bell invited me to accompany him to the Miami ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) to watch him do his job during Hurricane Cleo. I fell in love with what I saw. Men around round radar scopes, pushing pieces of plastic around, while talking to and keeping track of airplanes flying into, out of, and over South Florida. I knew right then I wanted to become an air traffic controller.
Fast forward several years, and I became an air traffic controller in service to my country in the United States Navy. Serving on shore duty and aboard an aircraft carrier between 10975 and 1979.
Fast forward again to 1986, and after doing odd jobs, including 5 years following in my father’s footsteps with Southern Bell, the FAA calls and I head to Oklahoma City for initial screening. That all ends on Halloween of 2013 after a fulfilling 27 year career.
During that 27 years, pilots and fellow controllers would comment on the quality and timbre of my voice, with comments about how I should “be on the radio”. Being forced by federal law to retire at the relatively young age of 56. we all know, if we do the math, the exact date we will be forced to retire.
Therefore, planning ahead, I began conducting research in 2008, trying to find something to do with my voice, that would supplement my retirement income and assist in raising our daughter, who, in 2008, was celebrating her first birthday.
After enrolling on a local campus of the Connecticut Broadcast School, and after taking some local classes with local voice acting coaches, I created an LLC and began my quest to become a full time working voice actor.
Success did not come quickly, but after much research, training, networking and marketing, and a handful of independent authors, I connected with my first audiobook publisher in 2018. I’ve had good steady work from then for the last 6 years and have produced over 280 titles, all available through Audible.
I am now beginning the process of expanding my business with quality coaching i the commercial voice over arena. While no agent is necessary for success i audiobooks, agents are an essential and sometimes crucial part of a successful commercial business. So, once my education is complete I will have a commercial demo created that I will use to market myself and acquire representation around the country in different regions of the states.
Our daughter is now 18 and will soon graduate from high school My wife and I recently celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary and this Halloween I will celebrate my 13th year of retirement from federal service.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This business is work. Having a “cool voice” or “great pipes” is only a small piece of the puzzle. The technical improvements in reording software and hardware make it a little easier to get started but one must be willing to invest lots of time and a good amount of money into coaching and education in order to be successful. the advent of Artificial Intelligence is but another challenge facing human voice actors as many otherwise human jobs are being replaced by AI.
We’ve been impressed with J Rodney Turner – Voice Talent, LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My “branding” or “catch phrase” is:
“Rugged, Reliable and Relaxing; like your favorite pair of cowboy boots”
Who else deserves credit in your story?
All of my coaches played, and play, a significant role in my success. Naming all of them would take up a great deal of space. Most importantly, I believe, is the support I have from my wife and daughter. They understand when it needs to be quiet around the house while I work, and that sometimes I have to be in virtual meetings at odd hours with clients or coaches in other time zones. And family support is paramount for my success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jrodneyturner.com
