Jackson Reamey Turner

Jackson Reamey Turner

Jackson Reamey Turner died in a drowning accident on July 19, 2020 in Tulum, Mexico, at the age of 37. He was at turns a hip-hop artist, an academic, a music technology entrepreneur, and producer. He was always a seeker of truth. He lived a truly fascinating life, leaving behind hundreds of friends and admirers all over the world.

He is perhaps best known for his music which has been described as conscious and uplifting, combining elements of hip-hop, reggae, and soul. He rapped about love and loss, about oppression and resistance, and about human universality.

Jackson was born May 13, 1983 in New York City. His family moved to Rockland County, NY where he attended schools in Nyack, and went on to the University at Buffalo where he began studying Mandarin. Moving to Beijing, China, he finished his BA degree in 2005 and then received his MA degree in modern Chinese history at Peking University in 2010. Jackson then taught English language and literature at Beihang University before becoming an English language assessment consultant at The British Council in 2014.

In Beijing Jackson began writing and performing his own music as well as co-founding No Play Concepts, a studio and music company. He signed with TMG, China's largest recording label, and released his first of two albums, "The Foundation EP" in 2015.

In 2018 Jackson returned to New York, where he continued composing and recording. In 2019 he began working as an emerging markets analyst for a Brooklyn-based digital music service. In the summer of 2020 he set off for Tulum, Mexico to work remotely during the pandemic where, unfortunately, he drowned in a swimming pool at his residence in Tulum.

Jackson was a gentle soul who channelled his idealism and became deeply spiritual with a commitment to meditation, yoga and a healthy lifestyle. He approached others with openness, humility, and kindness. He could be quietly earnest or turn on a playful wit. He was a loyal friend and always ready to help others. He used his many talents to make the world a better place.

Jackson is survived by his mother Loraine "Laurie" Peek, his father Charles Turner, his step-mother Alexandria Lee, his grandmother Elaine Turner, his stepfather Shire Chafkin, his stepbrothers Max Chafkin and Casey Chafkin, his uncles Randy Peek and Hunt Wagstaff, and cousin Richard E. Peek IV. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Rockland food bank People to People. Learn more about Jackson and his musical legacy at: www.mykeeper.com/profile/JacksonTurner/