Tina Turner

Who Was Tina Turner?

Tina Turner, a legendary figure in the music world, began her career in the 1950s, performing with musician Ike Turner. Together, they formed the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, earning widespread acclaim for their dynamic live performances and hit recordings such as the top 5 single “Proud Mary.” After years of enduring domestic abuse, Tina left Ike in the 1970s, marking a pivotal point in her personal and professional life. Despite a slow start to her solo career, she achieved immense success in the 1980s with the release of her iconic album Private Dancer in 1984. Turner continued to produce chart-topping albums and singles, earning numerous accolades, including eight Grammy Awards and two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Later in life, she also became involved in the spiritual Beyond project. Tina Turner passed away on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83.

Early Life

Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee, to Floyd and Zelma Bullock, who were sharecroppers living in poverty. After her parents’ separation, Anna Mae and her sister were raised by their grandmother. When her grandmother passed away in the early 1950s, Anna Mae moved to St. Louis to live with her mother. A gifted singer from a young age, she sang in her church choir and soon immersed herself in St. Louis’s vibrant R&B scene, frequently visiting Club Manhattan. It was at this club in 1956 that she met Ike Turner, who led the Kings of Rhythm. Anna Mae, performing under the name “Little Ann,” quickly became a standout in the group’s performances.

Making the Charts: “A Fool in Love”

In 1960, Anna Mae’s big break came when another singer failed to appear at a Kings of Rhythm recording session. Taking the lead on a track titled “A Fool in Love,” Anna Mae’s powerful voice captivated listeners. The song was sent to a radio station in New York and released under the name Ike and Tina Turner. The track became a major R&B hit and eventually crossed over to the pop charts, propelling the group into the spotlight. The Ike and Tina Turner Revue quickly gained fame for its electrifying stage performances. Following the success of “A Fool in Love,” they released a string of hits, including “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine,” “Poor Fool,” and “Tra La La La La.”

Marriage to Ike Turner

As their popularity grew, Ike and Tina were married in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1962. Together, they had four sons: Craig, Ike Jr., Michael, and Ronnie. Craig was Tina’s son from a previous relationship with Kings of Rhythm saxophonist Raymond Hill. Ike adopted Craig, while Tina adopted Ike’s sons, Ike Jr. and Michael, from his prior marriage. Ronnie, their only biological child together, was born before their marriage in 1960.

Famed Interpretation of “Proud Mary”

In 1966, Tina and Ike Turner achieved new heights in their career with the recording of River Deep, Mountain High, produced by the legendary Phil Spector. While the title track failed to chart in the U.S., it became a top 5 hit in the UK, further cementing their international fame. Despite this success, the duo gained more recognition for their electrifying live performances than for their chart-topping hits.

Their popularity surged in 1969 as they toured as the opening act for the Rolling Stones, gaining a new wave of fans. In 1971, they rekindled their success with the album Workin’ Together, which included their renowned slow-to-fast rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary.” The track reached the top 5 on the U.S. charts and earned them their first Grammy. The performance of “Proud Mary” became a staple in their live shows, with Tina’s powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence, coupled with the Ikettes’ swirling, hand-rolling dance moves. Later, in 1973, Tina penned the autobiographical song “Nutbush City Limits,” which became a top 5 hit in the UK. The same year, she made her acting debut as the Acid Queen in The Who’s Tommy.

Divorce from Ike

Despite their musical success, Tina and Ike’s marriage was marred by turmoil. Tina later revealed the abusive nature of their relationship, admitting that she had attempted suicide due to the emotional and physical abuse she endured. In 1976, after a violent altercation in Dallas, the couple separated, both personally and professionally. By 1978, their divorce was finalized, with Tina citing Ike’s infidelity, substance abuse, and the abusive nature of their relationship.

Following her divorce, Tina’s solo career struggled initially. She famously left with “36 cents and a gas station credit card,” relying on food stamps and cleaning houses to make ends meet. Despite these hardships, she continued to perform in smaller venues and make guest appearances on other artists’ records, though success remained elusive in the early years.

Solo Comeback: “Private Dancer” and “What’s Love Got to Do With It”

In 1983, Turner began to regain momentum with a remake of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” which reached the top 5 on the U.S. R&B charts and the top 10 in the UK. The following year, her solo album Private Dancer was released to massive critical acclaim and commercial success. The album sold over 20 million copies worldwide and earned Turner four Grammy Awards. Private Dancer featured several successful singles, including the empowering anthem “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” which reached No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts and won the Grammy for Record of the Year. Other notable hits included the smooth-jazz title track “Private Dancer” and “Better Be Good to Me,” both of which also reached the top 10.

By the mid-1980s, Turner was in her 40s and renowned not only for her energetic performances but also for her raspy vocal style and signature look, often featuring short skirts that showcased her famous legs and voluminous, punk-inspired hair.

Late ’80s: “Mad Max” Movie, Autobiography, and More Albums

In 1985, Turner starred in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, contributing the No. 2 pop hit “We Don’t Need Another Hero.” The following year, she published her autobiography I, Tina, which was later adapted into the 1993 film What’s Love Got to Do with It, starring Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne. The film’s soundtrack, featuring a mix of classic songs and new hits, went double platinum, and both lead actors earned Oscar nominations for their performances.

Turner’s second solo album, Break Every Rule, released in 1986, included the hit single “Typical Male,” which reached No. 2 on the pop charts. She followed this with Tina Live in Europe (1988), which won the Grammy for Female Rock Vocal Performance, and Foreign Affair (1989), which outperformed Private Dancer in global sales, thanks to hits like “The Best.”

“Wildest Dreams” and Final Tour

In the 1990s, Turner continued to release successful albums, including Wildest Dreams (1996) and Twenty Four Seven (1999). She contributed to several film soundtracks, including the James Bond theme song “Goldeneye,” a U.K. top 10 hit, and “He Lives in You” for The Lion King 2.

In 1991, Ike and Tina Turner were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, though Ike was unable to attend due to serving time for drug possession. Ike passed away in 2007 from a drug overdose. In 2008, Turner launched her Tina! 50th Anniversary Tour, which became one of the highest-grossing tours of that year and marked her final tour. Afterward, she retired from the music business but occasionally made appearances and recordings.

Turner’s influence remained undeniable, as evidenced by her cover appearance on Vogue in 2013, which became an iconic image widely shared across the globe.

Later Years

In her 70s, Tina Turner faced several significant health challenges. Just three months after marrying Erwin Bach in 2013, she suffered a stroke. In 2016, she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer, and the following year, she underwent a kidney transplant, with Bach serving as the donor.

Despite these hardships, Turner made a triumphant return to the public eye in 2018. She was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award alongside other music legends such as Neil Diamond and Emmylou Harris. This recognition marked the beginning of a memorable year for the 78-year-old icon.

In March of that year, Turner made headlines by revealing that she had forgiven her ex-husband, Ike Turner, for the abuse she endured during their marriage. In an interview with The Times of London, she shared, “As an old person, I have forgiven him, but it would not work with him. He asked for one more tour with me, and I said, ‘No, absolutely not.’ Ike wasn’t someone you could forgive and allow him back in.”

Later that same year, in April, her musical legacy was celebrated with the opening of TINA: The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre in London. The production went on to open on Broadway in New York City the following fall, allowing fans to relive Turner’s greatest hits on stage.

However, Turner also faced personal tragedy in the summer of 2018, when she learned of the death of her eldest son, Craig, who passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 59. Turner later reflected on this loss in her second memoir, My Love Story, which was published in October 2018.

In October 2021, Turner was once again inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, this time as a solo artist. Earlier that year, HBO released a biographical documentary titled Tina, which included archival footage and interviews with Turner, Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey, and others. Another notable honor came in the form of a Tina Turner Barbie doll, further cementing her place in pop culture.

The following year, Turner endured another heartbreaking loss with the death of her son Ronnie at the age of 62. He passed away from complications of colon cancer and cardiovascular disease. In a poignant Instagram post, Turner wrote, “Ronnie, you left the world far too early. In sorrow I close my eyes and think of you, my beloved son.”

Death

Tina Turner passed away on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83, in her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, near Zurich. Her representative confirmed that she died peacefully following a long illness, marking the end of an extraordinary life shaped by both remarkable triumphs and personal tragedies.