Josh Turner brings HIS UNMISTAKABLE STYLE to stambaugh auditorium COUNTRY SINGER PACKS AN EMOTIONAL PUNCH

January 16, 2014 at 12:15a.m.

Country singer Josh Turner said while growing up he had plenty of punching bags.

There was his standing blow-up Incredible Hulk that quickly ended up punctured, as well as a homemade punching bag he would use. Today, the South Carolina native is talking about a different “Punching Bag,” which is the name of his 2012 album that included hit single “Time is Love.”

“There was a lot of my heart in that record,” said Turner, calling from San Antonio, Texas. “That record came together pretty easily. I felt like there was a lot of depth. It was a very creative record for me.”

One of the songs Turner said he’ll be playing at his Saturday show at Stambaugh Auditorium is, naturally, “Time is Love.”

“To me, that was a very inspirational song in spite of how energetic and hard-driving it is,” Turner said. “It was really inspiring for a lot of people who are fighting the struggles of everyday life. We all feel like a punching bag from time to time. It was kind of an uplifting record, but, stylistically, it was a more traditional country record than my previous album, ‘Haywire.’”

Over the past decade, the platinum-selling country crooner has sold more than 5 million albums and garnered four No. 1 hits — “Your Man,” “Would You Go With Me,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance” and “All Over Me.”

Not only did “Punching Bag” debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart, but Turner wrote eight of the albums 11 tracks. Also, the aforementioned “Time is Love” was named the No. 1 country song on Billboard’s Best of 2012 Chart.

Turner is one of those unique artists whose voice, a deep baritone, is instantly recognizable on the radio. Though his bass vocal may pigeonhole him into a certain style and dynamic, you won’t hear Turner complain.

For instance, when it comes to his next album, he knows exactly what he’s looking for.

“I’m not going to venture out away from who I am as an artist,” Turner said. “I do love trying different things. I love stretching my voice and trying to take that in different places, but there’s a line I won’t cross.”

He said that line includes a level of integrity that won’t find him singing about partying or philandering.

““I appreciate those kind of songs,” said Turner. “I’m a huge fan of artists who sang those kinds of songs. But for me, personally, I was raised up on Randy Travis, Vern Gosdin, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.

“Those guys sang about that kind of stuff, but at the same time they taught me how to be Josh Turner. But there are plenty of other topics out there that I will sing about. And I think my fans understand that and appreciate that.”

So that means you won’t be hearing a beer-on-a-beach song from Turner.

“Yeah,” he said, laughing, “And I’m OK with that.”