A Bit About John and Lynda

August 2019, Lynda was sitting enjoying her lakeside view from her home in Kenora, Ontario, Canada.  At that same time, John was busy working in his studio, Purple Mountain Music LLC, in Nashville, Tennessee.  As each of them scrolled through their respective social media platforms, they each noticed an advertisement for an info session on Sync Songwriting. Curious, they sat through it. When the session was over, Lynda hit enroll from her computer in Canada.  John did the same from where he sat.
A couple of weeks into the course, there was a requirement to reach out and co-write with someone new.  Lynda reached out to ask John if he'd consider it....as their catalog continues to grow, the rest as they say is history!
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John Neil Martin

John Neil Martin, has been a student of the art and craft of music since the age of six, when his parents noticed his ability to pull music from the keys of his Grandmother’s old piano. His love of music had him creating ping-pong recordings before he was ten years old, his first exposure and understanding of multi-track recordings. By fifteen he was writing his own music, playing in a basement band in high school and working as a session musician, having already studied piano, drums, violin and guitar.

While still in high school, Bob Cook, the station manager at WBKY FM (University of Kentucky’s Classical/Jazz radio station)  hired John to work at the station to do transmitter checks and tape editing. John quickly became their recording engineer. His passion for sound and sound design has been the foundation of a lifelong commitment to understanding all aspects of music developing his skills as a musician, entertainer and producer.

In the music program at Western Kentucky University, John pursued a double major in piano and guitar, before moving on to Transylvania University where he majored in piano with a minor in composition, and started working in recording studios. He spent a lot of time jamming, writing and recording with other Lexington artists such as Troy Gentry (Montgomery Gentry), Tim Chewing (Shania Twain, John Michael Montgomery, Richard Marx) and Paul Martin (Marty Stuart, Oak Ridge Boys).  Near the end of his studies, the band John played keyboards in signed a record deal. 
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After several years of touring, Sonny Moorman signed John to a publishing deal with Group Effort Sound Studios in Cincinnati, writing songs for Taylor Dayne, under producer Rick Wakeman, among others.  A few years later, John started his own studio, Mount Echo Studio.
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John's production caught attention of Gary Hardy who had recently reopened the iconic Sun Studio in Memphis. After several months of commuting between Cincinnati and Memphis, John was asked if he would relocate to Memphis to run Sun Studio Beale at the newly acquired space in the historic Old Daisy Theatre. 

Heavily influenced by the creative, organic style of Daniel Lanois and having studied the artistry of George Martin, producer for the Beatles, at Sun, John worked with a number of artists and bands, honing his skills and continually experimenting with sound design and techniques. Having the opportunity to know and spend time with Shelly Yakus, chief recording engineer for Tom Petty, gave both direction for, and validation to John’s love for experimentation with sound. Some Sun Studio highlights included engineering on Billy Lee Riley’s Grammy nominated album, ‘Hot Damn’ and Marty Stuart's album ‘The Pilgrim’ which won Nashville Music Award for Best Country Album of the Year in 2000.  He produced for a host of bands and artists, including critically acclaimed “Full Blown Possession” for Sub Pop Records, the last album for The Grifters.  John also worked on the soundtracks for Chris Carter’s “Millennium” TV series and Mike McCarthy’s “Sore Losers”.  

Today, in Nashville, John's studio, Purple Mountain Music, is located 30 minutes from Music Row. John designed the space very specifically to meet the needs of his equipment and his clients. His word-of-mouth success as a producer has now positioned him to be able to pick projects where he’s also involved in the writing, to ensure the passion and love for writing that brought him to music is honored. 

A composer, first and foremost, John composes music in almost all genres including orchestral, part writing and chamber music as was required in university.  Training and structure aside, John believes that when writing, the best moments are those when the song comes to you and through you, seemingly writing itself, a phenomena John Lennon expressed as “channeling”.

An experienced co-writer, John brings true collaboration to each piece being created, giving the best of himself to the work, while simultaneously drawing the best from those he works with. A lifelong learner of all aspects of music, and the production thereof, his music and sound has been influenced by old-school icons including John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen to name a few.

John is a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, bass, piano, drums, synths and more) who is able to step in, as needed, to bring the best to the work being done. 

​To read John's full range of skills and experience visit his website here.

Lynda Dobbin-Turner

Lovingly dubbed, Granny Unicorn, Lynda's very first memory is of singing and music has been a part of her journey in all the years since.  Piano lessons morphed into songwriting by the time she was eleven.  At sixteen, her mother showed up at home with an old second-hand electric guitar, much to her dad's dismay.  As the family peacekeeper, Lynda picked it up to start learning and has never put it down. 

Lynda is a believer that we all come into this world with something we are destined to offer.  She came in with an armful of music, but like so many other creative people, she learned that life doesn't always align in ways that allow us to offer those gifts all the time.  Music took a sabbatical from her life during her twenties, when an unhealthy relationship made it too difficult to pursue. In the years following, when music felt safe enough to return, it became part of her healing journey. 

The birth of her son, Shane, in 1992 required her to set music aside for many years once again when Shane was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. All her creativity was focused on him and his needs, creating an inclusive, accepting world for Shane to thrive in, despite his serious, physical challenges. Simultaneously, Lynda was also tending to her responsibility running the family farm and cattle operation after being widowed in 2001.

In 2005 she was finally able to give music a seat at the table once again. Remarried, with the love and support of her amazing husband, Cecil Turner, her passion for song reignited. Lynda has since released 3 full-length albums of original tunes and penned dozens more. She also made a commitment to herself to perform her music live whenever the opportunity presented itself. 

Songwriting has always been her greatest go-to as a way to work through the challenges, heartaches, and celebrations that come with a life well-lived.  Her own experience, when blended with her talent for wordsmithing and toplines, combine to create songs that are relatable, heartfelt and infused with hope. 

When the magic of circumstance introduced her to John in 2019, stars seemingly  aligned as John  offered her the gift of knowledge and experience that her own life path had not provided. As her writing partner, John has shared the education, talent, and wisdom acquired in his own musical journey. His support and encouragement have opened up an amazing world of collaboration, connections, and opportunities. 

In exchange, as a 'Unicorn', Lynda is able to offer a rare combination of raw talent and a passion for music that is blended with a vast knowledge of administration, research, documentation, and business. Her years as a leadership trainer, coach, and author are regularly put to use and her attention to detail ensures order as she and John continue their co-writing partnership. 

Lynda frequently refers to their collaboration as 'synchro-destiny' as the best way way to describe it. It's truly a world where anything is possible!