ATLANTA — Brit Turner, the co-founder and drummer of Atlanta-based country rock band Blackberry Smoke, has died. He was 57 years old.
The band took to Instagram to post the devastating news over the weekend.
"It is with the deepest sorrow that we inform everyone that our brother @britturner13 has moved on from this life. If you had the privilege of knowing Brit on any level, you know he was the most caring, empathetic, driven and endearing person one could ever hope to meet," the group wrote in the post. "Brit was Blackberry Smoke’s True North, the compass that instituted the ideology that will continue to guide this band."
Turner had been battling Glioblastoma since the fall of 2022. According to the Mayo Clinic, Glioblastoma is a type of cancer that begins to grow in the brain or spinal cord.
"We ask for prayers for his family and band brothers. More information on arrangements will be forthcoming. Thank you to everyone who has supported and been there for Brit and his family through this fight," Blackberry Smoke wrote, which includes members Charlie Starr (lead vocalist and guitarist), Richard Turner (bassist and vocalist), Paul Jackson (guitarist and vocalist), and Brandon Still (keyboardist), and touring members Benji Shanks (guitarist) and Preston Holcomb (percussion).
You can read the band's full social media post below:
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