Yesterday, a Motown Christmas aired on television, and Gladys Knight performed under the musical direction of Pathfinder and Maple Heights graduate Leon Turner.
Leon was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Music has been a part of Leon’s life since the age of 5 years old. Leon comes from a family where everyone has musical talents. Leon had his first start with his family and their gospel recording group. Specializing in keyboard, synths, and piano, Leon has worked with The Roots, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Yolanda Adams, Eddie Levert of the Ojays, Donnie Mcclurkin, Legendary Phil Perry, Dwele (who is a grammy nominated artist), Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill from the hit 90’s group New Edition).
Leon has performed on several world tours with some of the world's best artists and began traveling at 15. Leon is the Music Director for R&B superstar and 9-time Grammy Award Winner Mrs. Gladys Knight. Leon travels for Gladys Knight’s R&B shows, Piano duo shows, and her Grammy-winning gospel choir shows. Leon also played and produced on Gladys Knight’'s most recent Gospel album. In 2015, that album won a NAACP Image Award for best gospel album of the year titled (Where My Heart Belongs). This past year (2019), Leon had the honor of arranging the National Anthem for Super Bowl 53.