We showed you the rhythm of the rails.

Now, let's meet a man who knows a thing or two about rhythm.

This local musician's talent has earned him some of music's most coveted awards.

In the world of entertainment, there's a vast array of awards honoring excellence.

In Broadway theater, it's the Tony Awards.

In film, it's the Academy Awards, television, the Emmys, and in music, it's the Grammys.

Carolina Impact's Jason Terzis joins us with the story of how he stumbled across the seven-time Grammy Award winner.

- Well, working in the media, we are on the receiving end of tons of press releases and story pitches.

Earlier in the summer, I received one about a local roofing company joining forces with an insurance company to provide veterans with a free new roof.

Sounds great, and a story we will be bringing you in the coming weeks.

However, it was this particular veteran living in this home that really caught my attention.

♪ There's a rainbow ♪ ♪ A rainbow shining ♪ It's a voice and a face you'd never imagine being paired.

(indistinct) But as we know, life works in funny ways sometimes.

♪ To heaven above ♪ And that deep rich base voice indeed comes from this baby-faced young man who's not so young anymore.

- I grew up in a little town called Greer, South Carolina.

- [Jason] Ken Turner grew up in a time and place where church music wasn't just tradition, it was a way of life, gospel harmonies and quartet singing, shaping his musical taste.

- As I went along, I'd sing and sing.

Everything I'd do, I'd be singing, singing.

- [Jason] Those early years laying the foundation for what would become one of the most recognizable bass voices in Southern Gospel history.

- Had a little quartet.

I was singing Lee, and all of a sudden my voice started changing.

And one year, my voice dropped an octave.

At 17 years old, I started singing bass.

(singing indistinctly) - [Jason] After serving three years as a specialist in the US Army where he sang with various gospel and blues quartets.

- We had a barbershop quartet and it was good, wasn't it good?

- [Jason] Ken joined the Dixie Echoes, putting him on the national stage.

Audiences quickly began taking note of his deep booming voice.

(Ken sings indistinctly) - It's a thing like way down.

(sings indistinctly) Drop an octave.

Way down, way down, way down.

(singing indistinctly) - [Jason] Never formally trained, Ken learned how to develop his natural talent.

While many singers aim for range, Ken became known for depth, notes so low they could be felt as much as heard.

(Ken singing indistinctly) ♪ Ain't going to need this ♪ (Ken singing indistinctly) ♪ Ain't going to need this ♪ (Ken singing indistinctly) (Dixie Echoes singing indistinctly) - But the Lord just gave me that sing out like this, like I talk out like this.

A lot of people keep it in the throat, but when you learn how to talk out like this, it don't hurt your voice at all.

- [Jason] His dream was to someday sing with the Blackwood Brothers, pioneers in the Southern Gospel Christian music industry.

- The Blackwood Brothers, wow.

I'd watch them, I mean, listen to them on the radio and they were just phenomenal and I said, "I want to sing with them."

- I want you to make Ken Turner welcome here.

Would you do that, Mr.

Ken Turner, our bass?

- [Jason] Ken fulfilled that dream in 1971.

- When the bass singer left, they didn't even call anybody to tryout.

They called me.

♪ But my hanging days ♪ (sings indistinctly) - [Jason] For nearly two decades, Ken sang, recorded, and toured with the Blackwood Brothers, winning seven Grammy Awards with the band.

Six of those he's given away to family and friends, keeping just one for himself.

- That was my dream.

I did 64 albums with him.

- [Jason] Along the way, he met all sorts of celebrities, including Elvis.

- I was standing behind the stage and I heard somebody say, "Hey, Ken."

I turned around and it was Elvis.

He says, "Come on in, talk to me."

We talked about Army Days.

- [Jason] And performed on the Barbara Mandrell Show.

- Had my little camera.

"I want to have my picture made by Barbara Mandrell."

They said, "Oh, she don't have time to mess with you."

She heard him say that.

"I guess I do.

Give me that camera."

- [Jason] And at the same time, he was also known as the band's funny guy.

- Hey, fellas, that sure was pretty.

(attendees laughing) And I was always the showboater.

♪ There's a rainbow of love ♪ (indistinct) - [Jason] On the song Rainbow of Love- - It's a low down singing song.

- [Jason] Ken showed just how low he could go.

(Ken sings indistinctly) ♪ In stormy weather ♪ - In my blue coat, did you watch that?

I hit that.

That's the low C, the low C. That's what I see on the piano.

And it's pretty clear, wasn't it?

(laughs) ♪ Came down from above ♪ - [Jason] Ken's musical journey continued through the '90s and early 2000s with the Blackwood Gospel Quartet and the Crystal River Boys, while at the same time mentoring the next generation of singers.

- I teach them how not to be going down, and through the throat, but now hey, bring it up in here.

- [Jason] And he's often showcased his talents, mimicking various instruments.

(bright music) (bright music) Performing well into his 70s, Ken was inducted into the South Carolina Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2009.

(Ken sings indistinctly) ♪ Go marching in ♪ And thanks to YouTube, a whole new generation is being introduced to his vocal talents.

- Oh, that was unexpected.

- That was amazing.

That was cool.

- And so cool.

- [Interviewer] What do you think when you watch, when you pull up some of those videos?

- Well, I enjoy it.

Every once in a while, I'll go back and pull up the different ones.

(Ken singing indistinctly) - [Jason] Ken is slowing down these days.

He's 91 now, so it kind of goes with the territory.

He uses a walker, but still manages to get around his house.

- I'm old timey now.

(laughs) (gentle music) - [Jason] And while he may no longer be able to hit all those low, low notes the way he did for so many years after clearing his throat a little, Ken can still generate some of those epic sounds.

- My favorite songs are the old hymns.

♪ Oh, how much he cares for me ♪ - I love the story and I love the fact that I understand Ken isn't the only great singer in the family.

- Yeah, he's kind of passed this on down.

Well, Ken's daughter, Kenna Turner West, is a Nashville based gospel and country singer and songwriter.

She's garnered over a hundred song of the year nominations in various genres and is one of the most accomplished songwriters in Christian music today.

So it runs in the family.

Christian music, gospel music.

It's something that's being passed down generation to generation.

- I love it.

I love how you find these stories.

Keep them coming.

- It's fun.