Ike Turner

Ike Turner: A Complex Legacy in R&B and Rock & Roll

Ike Turner was an influential figure in the world of R&B and rock & roll, with a career marked by both musical innovation and personal controversy. Born Ike Wister Turner on November 5, 1931, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, he initially believed his name was Izear Luster Turner Jr., named after his father, a minister who died after a violent attack by a mob. Raised by his mother, Turner’s musical journey began at an early age, learning to play boogie-woogie piano and later guitar. He would go on to become one of the pioneers of early rock & roll.

Early Musical Career and “Rocket 88”

In the late 1940s, Turner formed a group called the Kings of Rhythm, which laid the foundation for his musical career. In 1951, he and his band recorded the song “Rocket 88” at Sun Studios in Memphis. Often considered the first rock & roll recording, the song became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard R&B chart. Though the track was credited to vocalist Jackie Brenston, it was Turner’s instrumental work that drove the success.

During this period, Turner worked extensively in the Memphis music scene, collaborating with blues legends like Elmore James and Buddy Guy. He also scouted talent for Modern Records, helping to launch the careers of icons like B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf.

Ike and Tina Turner: The Rise of a Duo

In 1956, Turner’s life took a dramatic turn when he met a young singer named Anna Mae Bullock, who would later become known to the world as Tina Turner. Ike helped craft her stage persona and they soon became the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Their energetic performances and soul-infused rock hits brought them significant commercial success. They released several notable tracks, including “A Fool In Love,” “I Idolize You,” and “It’s Going to Work Out Fine,” which earned the duo their first Grammy nomination.

Their biggest hit, a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary,” earned them their only Grammy Award together in 1971. They also gained wider exposure after being invited to tour with the Rolling Stones in the late 1960s, which introduced their dynamic act to rock audiences worldwide.

Behind the Scenes: A Troubled Marriage

While their professional partnership flourished, their personal relationship was troubled. Ike and Tina married in 1962 and shared a family with their son, Ronnie, along with Ike’s sons Ike Jr. and Michael, and Tina’s son Craig. However, the marriage was marred by Ike’s drug addiction, infidelity, and years of physical abuse. Tina eventually left Ike in 1976, and their divorce was finalized in 1978. Tina later detailed the abuse in her 1986 autobiography I, Tina, which became the basis for the 1993 film What’s Love Got to Do with It, portraying Ike as a violent and troubled figure.

Although Ike denied many of the accusations, he admitted to hitting Tina in his 1999 autobiography Takin’ Back My Name.

Solo Career and Later Years

After the dissolution of Ike & Tina Turner, Ike continued to pursue music, finding renewed success in the blues genre. In 2006, he won a second Grammy for his album Risin’ with the Blues. Despite his musical achievements, Turner’s legacy was overshadowed by his personal struggles with addiction and the allegations of abuse.

Ike Turner passed away in 2007 at the age of 76 due to a cocaine overdose. His contributions to music, particularly as a pioneer of rock & roll and R&B, remain undeniable, though his personal life continues to cast a shadow over his legacy.

Drug Addiction and Prison Sentence

While Tina Turner’s solo career reached new heights in the 1980s and 1990s, Ike Turner’s life took a downward turn. His professional struggles were compounded by personal challenges, particularly his addiction to cocaine. After a fire destroyed his studio in 1982, Ike’s drug use spiraled out of control. He faced multiple arrests and once estimated his monthly drug expenses exceeded $35,000.

In 1989, his addiction culminated in an 18-month prison sentence for cocaine possession. During his incarceration in San Luis Obispo, California, Ike was unable to attend the 1991 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. Despite this, Ike later reflected positively on his time in prison, telling The Los Angeles Times, “I think prison may have been one of the best things that ever happened to me. You see, I got in deep with drugs, and jail has a way of putting things back into their proper perspective. It teaches you to appreciate life.”

Later Professional Success

After his release from prison, Ike Turner achieved a career resurgence, this time free from drug addiction. In 2001, he released Here and Now, his first commercial album in 23 years, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album. A year later, he received the 2002 Comeback Album of the Year Award at the W.C. Handy Blues Awards. In 2006, his album Risin’ with the Blues won the Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album, solidifying his return to the music scene.

Wives and Children

Known for his complex personal life, Turner claimed to have been married up to 14 times. His confirmed marriages include four wives, and he fathered six children throughout his relationships: Ike Jr., Michael, Twanna, Craig, Ronnie, and Mia.

In the late 1950s, Turner had two sons, Ike Jr. and Michael, with then-girlfriend Lorraine Taylor. Around the same period, he fathered a daughter, Twanna, with Pat Richard. His most famous marriage was to Tina Turner, with whom he had a son, Ronnie, in 1960. Ike adopted Tina’s son, Craig, from a previous relationship, and Tina adopted Ike’s sons, Ike Jr. and Michael. Their turbulent marriage lasted 16 years, ending in separation in 1976 and divorce in 1978.

In 1981, Ike married Margaret Ann Thomas, a backup singer in his band. The two had a daughter, Mia, in 1969. Afterward, Turner married Jeanette Bazzell Turner in 1995, and their marriage lasted until 2000, though they remained on amicable terms after the split. His final marriage was to Audrey Madison Turner in 2006, though they divorced the same year.

Death

Despite a period of sobriety and renewed professional success, Ike Turner relapsed into drug addiction later in life. On December 12, 2007, he died of a cocaine overdose in his San Marcos, California, home. His death at age 76 was also attributed to high blood pressure and emphysema.