The Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo, featuring Valerie and Benedict Turner, are dedicated ambassadors of Country Blues, Piedmont-style fingerpicking, and traditional roots percussion. Their mission is to preserve and promote these vital elements of African-American culture through a blend of performance and education.

Transitioning from successful careers in Graphic Design and Information Technology, this husband-and-wife duo now travels the world sharing music and stories from the Country Blues tradition. Their performances go beyond music as they weave historical narratives into every song, offering audiences a deep dive into the contributions of the genre's earliest pioneers.

Valerie’s intricate fingerpicking evokes legends of the genre such as Mississippi John Hurt, Elizabeth Cotten, and Etta Baker - while Benedict provides tasteful rhythmic backbone on washboard, bones, and harmonica. When they aren't on stage or leading workshops, the duo stays active through skiing, snowboarding, cycling, and inline speedskating. Keeping up with this dynamic duo isn't easy!

Inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame in 2018, these tradition bearers have been featured in numerous festivals including the King Biscuit Blues Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Clearwater Revival, and Brooklyn Folk Festival to name a few. In addition to performing at domestic venues, the Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo has traveled as far as Europe and the Middle East to share music in places as varied as Ireland, Belgium, Austria, and Israel.

The duo was delighted to be added to Music to Life’s official Juried Artist roster in 2024. This national nonprofit, founded by 60’s civil rights icon Noel Paul Stookey of the Peter, Paul & Mary folk trio and his daughter Liz, is dedicated to cultivating and empowering a network of musician change agents. Juried Artists work with their communities to address important issues such as racial injustice, youth empowerment, poverty, environmental justice and more.

"The most wonderful thing about the Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo is they share the history of the music as well as playing the songs. They're able to do that in a way that doesn't take away from the musical performance, but rather add an educational aspect that blues fans truly love."  - JD Nash, Writer: American Blues Scene

"Just when people think the old country blues of the Mid-Atlantic has faded away, along come the wonderful husband and wife duo of Valerie and Benedict Turner who are the heirs to the Piedmont blues tradition. They are known as the duo 'Piedmont Blūz' and play the truehearted, authentic country blues with love. It'll warm your heart. Keep your ears on Piedmont Blūz."  - Frank Matheis, Writer: Living Blues

Valerie and Benedict are thrilled to be featured in the award-winning documentary film A Man Called Hurt - The Life & Music of Mississippi John Hurt, especially since the music of Mississippi John Hurt is one of their greatest influences. Although Valerie was mentored by the late John Cephas (a world-renowned Piedmont-style guitar player and half of the famed Cephas & Wiggins duo) and credits Cephas for putting the polish on her fingerpicking style, her main inspiration was the music of Mississippi John Hurt. Being part of this documentary film is especially meaningful for her. (Watch Trailer)

Piedmont Style Country Blues Guitar Basics, by Valerie Turner, focuses on the Piedmont style of fingerpicking in the context of early blues and traditional pieces. Acquired by the Library of Congress, this book makes a great addition to any guitar player's collection. Songs in this book span a variety of keys, tunings, and timings, and are represented using a combination of chord charts, tablature, and standard notation. The audio download files that accompany the book are an invaluable tool when tackling the timing for difficult passages. Visit our Merch area to place an order. (Read Review)


Last Kind Words (by Geeshie Wiley) performed by the Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo. Released by Tropical Diaspora Records on the Cotton volume of their four-part vinyl series, A Botany of Resistance. Cotton was chosen because it represents one of the plants that helped fuel colonial exploitation (other volumes feature coffee, cocoa, and sugar cane plants).


Piedmont Blūz Acoustic Duo live at Paste Studio on the Road: Brooklyn Folk Festival


Valerie Turner discusses Women of Early Blues Guitar for the Southern Folklife Collection at UNC Library - Chapel Hill

Unforgettable - Remembering Phil Wiggins, written by Valerie Turner and published by the African American Folklorist Magazine, highlights the life and achievements of a masterful artist whose joyful spirit touched so many. Phil Wiggins was the harmonica playing half of the famed Cephas & Wiggins duo and it was always a privilege to hear him play.

Although Phil was much sought after as a musician and mentor, Phil's music legacy is just one part of his story. He was a family man, protector, nature lover, gardener, chef, fine cigar smoker, and had an eye for the very best hats! Valerie met Phil through her guitar mentor, John Cephas, and they enjoyed a fabulous friendship until Phil's passing. Read on for an insider's view of this gentle giant. (Read Article)

Desecration of Historic African American Cemetery in Avalon, Mississippi, written by Valerie Turner and published by the African American Folklorist Magazine, shines a spotlight on an ugly tradition in the United States regarding the desecration of African American cemeteries.

This article focuses on the historic St. James Cemetery, the resting place of Mississippi John Hurt. The St. James Cemetery is distinguished as being the sole African American cemetery in Carroll County, Mississippi, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and generations of African Americans are buried there. A visit to this cemetery in the spring of 2022 by Mary Frances Hurt, granddaughter of Mississippi John Hurt, revealed that a mysterious marker had been installed at the cemetery's main entrance and that numerous graves had been disturbed. (Read Article)

Valerie was invited to write the feature article, Out of the Shadows - Undersung Women of Blues Guitar, for the March/April 2021 edition of Acoustic Guitar magazine. The article highlights the contributions of women to the blues genre, with a special focus on early blues women that aren't often mentioned. The digital version includes a video where Valerie teaches the music examples that accompany the article. (Read Article)

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