Turk Van Lake

Vanig Rupen Hovsepian (June 15, 1918 – September 1, 2002), better known as Turk Van Lake, was an American arranger, composer and jazz guitarist.

Born in Boston, he studied composition at the Boston Conservatory and went on to play with Charlie Barnet, Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, Sarah Vaughan, and with the Benny Goodman Orchestra.

In the 1950s he wrote for Metronome magazine.

Until his retirement in 1993, he was as an adjunct music professor at the College of Staten Island. Van Lake was the first guitar teacher of Reeves Gabrels the lead guitarist for David Bowie and Tin Man

Birth and Death Data: Born June 15, 1918 (Boston), Died September 1, 2002 (Staten Island)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1953

Roles Represented in DAHR: guitar, arranger

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 33 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-058790 10-in. 1/9/1941 Slap-happy-lassie Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-058791 10-in. 1/9/1941 All night long Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-058792 10-in. 1/9/1941 Taking a chance on love Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-058793 10-in. 1/9/1941 Here's my heart Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-060399 10-in. 1/29/1941 Boogin' on the downbeat Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-060600 10-in. 1/29/1941 Bluebird boogie-woogie Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-060601 10-in. 1/29/1941 That old gang of mine Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-060602 10-in. 1/29/1941 Time on my hands (you in my arms) Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-062709 10-in. 2/26/1941 The wise old owl Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-062710 10-in. 2/26/1941 Two hearts that pass in the night Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-062711 10-in. 2/26/1941 Straight eight boogie Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, guitar  
Victor BS-062712 10-in. 2/26/1941 Talking to the wind Ruth Gaylor ; Teddy Powell Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 62886 12-in. 12/17/1937 I want to be happy-1 Chick Webb Orchestra arranger  
Decca 71460 10-in. 10/20/1943 Strollin' Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71461 10-in. 10/20/1943 The moose Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71462 10-in. 10/20/1943 Pow-wow (Redskin rhumba) Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71463 10-in. 10/20/1943 Sittin' home waitin' for you Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71794 2/23/1944 In there Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71795 10-in. 2/23/1944 Saltin' away my sweet dreams Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71796 10-in. 2/23/1944 Baby won't you please come home Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71797 2/23/1944 The great lie Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71798 10-in. 2/24/1944 My heart isn't in it Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71799 10-in. 2/24/1944 Drop me off in Harlem Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71800 10-in. 2/24/1944 Gulf Coast blues Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
Decca 71801 10-in. 2/24/1944 Flat top flip hiss lid Charlie Barnet Orchestra instrumentalist, guitar  
(Results 1-25 of 33 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Van Lake, Turk," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/210473.

Van Lake, Turk. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/210473.

"Van Lake, Turk." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/210473

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