We will all miss Mr. Biscuit. Although it has been many years since I have seen him and the fact that we live many miles from each other, i think of Biscuit often. I will never
forget the loveable big guy always with a smile on his face and a song in his heart...
I wish every one had Biscuit’s attitude towards life!..... Fun,fun,fun!!!... Biscuit!...you truly are the best!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
VEGETABLE SOUP
BELL CANYON, CA.

Will there be a formal or informal services/gathering for Biscuit? I missed the Friday night get together.

What an awesome guy! I was introduced to the Big Boys and thus Biscuit in around 92, kinda late, um, but, still ... his energy on those records was unlike any I had heard. One of a kind this gentleman was, from what I know, and it would go without saying that there are few that wield such a stellar mind and creative positive energetic power such that he had. His crushing vocal riffs brought me out of many energy slumps indeed. Indeed. "lifts glass"

will there be formal gathering?

I've had the pleasure of knowing Randy J. Turner since grade school...we go way back. It's very true that Gladewater really wasn't the canvas Randy needed to express himself. In a world of hard-working mediocrity Randy was a beacon of enthusiasm. He had the ability to find humor in just about anything available. I & most everyone who knew him was constantly entertained by his self-wrought brand of comedy.

I don't pretend to be a writer, but I believe I have enough ammo to write a fairly long tale of the Gladewater life & times of Randy Turner. I once told him I thought he should be a jester. I guess he may have taken me seriously.

In talking to another old school friend about Randy's demise we realized how much he touched a lot of local lives. The first time we ever "mooned" anyone was in Randy's old family Oldsmobile. It just so happened that the "moonee" was a police car. The Olds made a fairly good get-away car w/ Fireball Turner at the wheel. This particular vehicle almost burned when an errant bottle rocket took a detour into the back seat. Seems to me that Randy had an affinity for bottle rockets, or anything else that went "ffffttt". Except for the time that one of those flying firecrackers found it's way into a parka that he was wearing. Unfortunately it was also where he was keeping his stash of fireworks. In the process of beating out the fire I believe he may have invented break dancing as we now know it.

Like a lot of wannabe musicians of the day, we had a band. Randy was always there at our dances with color commentary and demonstrating his enviable dancing abilities. He truly was the life of the party. If there wasn't a party, he'd BE the party.

One of my fondest memories is of a night at the movies (picture show as we knew it then). Everyone went to the midnight shows regardless of what the feature was because in the mid-sixties that was the only viable reason to stay out that late. Randy strategically placed himself down in front. After the theater was full and the movie had started, he got up & proceeded up the aisle in full view. About half way up the aisle he tripped himself & fell flat on his face. It was an award winning performance that was met with a roar of laughter. He pulled a similar stunt during a horror movie. At one point there was a rather graphic scene that kind of jumped off the screen at you. Randy had already seen the picture...he was ready. At the exact moment he let out a blood-curdling scream that would've made Faye Wray jealous. You could actually see hair standing on end. Simpler times.

The last time I saw Randy was 3 years ago at our local rodeo. I was walking down the walkway when I heard somebody call out my name. I turned to see Randy setting there with his brother Terry. It was then that I realized the rodeo in Gladewater was one thing that always seems to bring folks back home, if even for a short time. It was good to see him again, settin' there with his multi-hued hair and RODEO lapel pin complete with flashing lights...only Randy could have pulled that off.

It's been a long time since I've had the pleasure of being entertained by the inimitable Mr. Turner. Most of us here weren't aware of his accomplishments until the last few years...what a shame. I'll miss you old friend. The memories you leave me with will forever make me laugh. Usually out loud.

thank you, Mouse

John,

Did you know Biscuit? I miss him, badly.

Lorin

I met Randy when he and Tim Kerr (and Tim's then wife, Beth) came into Kinkos on Guadalupe in Austin, which I then managed, to make up some early Big Boys posters. We became great friends. He encouraged a bunch of us there to start a band, which we did, and we had the pleasure of opening for them a couple of times in the early Big Boys days 79-80. I live in Corpus now, and every time I'd go to Austin I would mean to go by and see him, and now I regret to say I didn't make it.

He ended up working for me at Kinkos for awhile in 80 and 81, and it was funny how even our most conservative client/customers would quickly head straight for Randy if he was behind the counter.
Just a really wonderful, great guy to be around.

Funny story. One time I asked him where the biscuit name had come from. He explained about his old chef's hat, and how people had said it made him look like a biscuit, and then he said, in that soft East Texas accent that sounded so strange coming out of this big strange looking guy, "You know what's really weird? People called my daddy 'Cornbread' and my mama's nickname was 'Cookie'."

I think it was "cookie". It might have been "muffin", but either way it broke me up. I was really hurting when I heard he'd passed. One of those people you hope will be immortal. On the one hand, he would have been one funny old man some day. On the other hand, he was rock and roll to the core, Keith Moon in Central Texas.

What was the line in River Runs through it? All you need to know is he was beautiful.

Here's my heated letter to the Statesman Editor:
Dear Editor,
I take great exception to the preliminary findings by the medical examiner that Randy 'Biscuit' Turner died of complications of cirrhosis due to alcoholism. I've known Randy since we were children, and he was no alcoholic. He suffered from other medical complications that led to his cirrhosis and consequently avoided alcohol. I find it troubling the M.E. would choose to release a preface assumption without a basic review of a medical history, resulting in an erroneous conclusion that would be so troubling to grieving family and friends. Further investigation would reveal the truth of this matter warranting a retraction from the M.E. and an update by the Statesman. -Doc

NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friends of Randy “Biscuit” Turner
Dotty Farrell Robert Goyer
(512) 441-3879 (512) 912-9454
dottydish@yahoo.com rgoyer@aol.com
Two Big Events Celebrating the Life and Art of Randy “Biscuit” Turner
The Friends of Biscuit wishes to announce two big events celebrating the life and art of Randy J. “Biscuit” Turner, Austin’s own punk rock pioneer, poet and artist. Turner, a founding member of legendary Austin rockers The Big Boys, passed away three weeks ago from natural causes, leaving behind a legacy of music, poetry and multimedia art.

Saturday: BiscuitFest
The first event, a celebration of Randy’s life and legacy, will take place Saturday, October 8th from 2-7 p.m. at Emo’s Alternative Lounge, located at 603 Red River Street in Austin. In the spirit of Randy’s art and way of life, the event will be an explosion of art, color, poetry and kitsch. As Randy would have wanted it, the day promises an outpouring of love, life and fun, fun, fun!

We urge all of his friends, fans, and admirers to wear costumes and bring photos, stories, tributes, artwork, decorations, etc. to help make this memorial as unforgettable an event as our wonderful friend’s life was. For more information on this event, check out the Randy “Biscuit” Turner Memorial homepage at www.randybiscuitturner.com, or call
dotty at (512) 441-3879.

Sunday: Dicks, Exene Headline Benefit for Biscuit’s Mom
On Sunday October 9, Emo’s will host the Biscuit Benefit Show, from 3 p.m. until whenever it ends. Headlining the show will be the legendary Dicks, Exene Cervenka (of X) and Jason Edge, Punkaroos, Pocket Fishrmen, Sexy Finger Champs, Yuppie Pricks, Areola 51/Insect Sex Act/Naugahyde Dream Sequence, The Delinquents, The Slurpees, and more. There will be a silent auction and tons of “Biscuit-o-bilia” available.

Advance tickets will be available for this show (for more info, visit www.randybiscuitturner.com). All proceeds from this event will go to Randy’s beloved 84-year-old mother, Nellie Mae Turner, to help offset expenses.

Anyone wishing to make donations to Nellie Mae in the meantime can send them to: Nellie Mae Turner, PO BOX 1528, Gladewater, TX 75647

Biscuit's last recorded phone message..."You haven't a concept of my power over you mere earthings...Bow before me or perish".
I proudly bow before you!
Also there are DVDs of 'Love & a .45' with scenes of Biscuit (available on Amazon...I wish Rev. Hodge, from the Grace Baptist Church coulda' seen that), Pure Biscuit.
I've been a friend of Randy's for almost 40 yrs, I hope to me as many Biscuit disciples as possible for the Biscuit-fest in October.

Just a note to thank everyone for making Biscuit's memorial gathering such a wonderful event. So many dedicated friends of Randy put an amazing effort into every detail. I miss Biscuit so much and even though we promised each other not to attend the other's memorial, etc., I am really glad I broke that promise today (Sat 10/8/05). Thanks again, everyone. Find me at www.whatcanyousay.net and drop me a line. xxoo

There will be a Randy "Biscuit" Turner Retrospective Art Show and Sale at Gallery Lombardi in Austin during SWSX.
March 10 - 25, 2006
Details are on the gallery website at: http://www.gallerylombardi.com/

Thought you would like to know.