JOHN "TURPS" BURKE comes from the cathedral city of Tuam in the County Galway.A performer equally at home in the worlds of punk rock and traditional folk, he was a founder member of the internationally known SAWDOCTORS with whom he played guitar and electric mandolin, wrote and sang.
Turps' musical experiences began when he was eight years old, travelling and playing spoons with his father BRENDAN BURKE, singer for the KEANE FAMILY CEILI BAND around the West of Ireland. Later Turps was one of the first punk rock fans in the West, mad for the Sex Pistols and The Clash, and played with his own proto-punk Tuam bands, wonderful, anarchic ad hoc ensembles with names like Blitzkrieg, The Lads and All Cats Are Grey.
In 1987 he formed The Sawdoctors with his former school friends Leo Moran and Davy Carton. They quickly became the best known band in the West, and in 1990 had the biggest ever selling single in Ireland with the now classic "I USETA LOVER". Many other hits followed and Turps played a major role in these and the first two Sawdoctors albums "IF THIS IS ROCK AND ROLL IWANT MY OLD JOB BACK" and "ALL THE WAY FROM TUAM", singing lead vocals on his own songs, co-writing several others and contributing his crystal clear high harmonies and melodic mandolin/guitar/keyboard themes to the sound.
Around this time he also contributed backing vocals to THE WATERBOYS West-of-Ireland-recorded album "ROOM TO ROAM" at the request of his friend Mike Scott.
After several successful years of touring with The Sawdoctors Turps quit the band to return to Tuam and work on his own solo music.
In the summer of 1997 Turps began writing and demo-ing the set of songs that were to become his first solo album, "ILLUMINATE". The songs were written in and around Tuam and on location in Alicante, Spain.
In mid 1999, assembling a group of musicians including Guitarist Thomas Niland and Cane 141 programmer,Paul Brennan, Turps began recording "ILLUMINATE" at Temptation Studios in Galway. He produced the album himself with co-producer, Galway studio pioneer Pat Neary.
"ILLUMINATE" was completed in late 2000 and reflects the many sides of Turps' musical personality - full tilt rockers, funky cool groovers, acoustic ballads - all topped with his trademark sweet melodies and set in a warm contemporary atmosphere.
Turps songs conjure up the imagery and beauty of his surroundings as well as his own experiences. Deep Down In The City expresses the colour and beauty of the global cultural melting potand the luxury of having anonymity and freedom to do what you want. To Be The One was written one night at 4.30am as Turps lay awake in his bed in Alicante, just after hed met someone whom he felt may have been a soulmate. According to Turps The trumpets came first with a thumping beat and then the lyrics followed and I was dreaming of the person in questionso you could say it was as spontanious as can be! Chessboard Blues was originally called Brighter Days and is about being as authentic in daily living as one can. Featuring strings and piano, the song was written by Turps in Mike Scotts West London home with Mike playing along on piano. Following the session, Turps took the cassette to Spain and finished the song off some weeks later.
The album cover photograph was taken by Mike Scott (a belated thanks perhaps for those long-ago backing vocals on "Room To Roam") and the inner sleeve pictures were taken in Spain by Turps himself."ILLUMINATE" is released in Ireland on May 25th 2001 on Solid Records,Distributed by RMG Ireland.