Renowned rock'n'roll vocalist Tina Turner passed away at the age of 83, leaving behind a remarkable legacy
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Loading... - Benjamin Rogers
- 25 May 2023
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Turner, who transformed from a trailblazing rock'n'roll artist to a pop sensation in the 1980s, succumbed to a long-standing illness. Her health had been declining in recent years, having been diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and undergoing a kidney transplant in 2017.
Turner played a pivotal role in recognizing and elevating the contributions of Black women to the rock'n'roll genre. Her impact on the music industry was so profound that Mick Jagger himself acknowledged drawing inspiration from her energetic and high-kicking live performances, which influenced his own stage persona.
After enduring two decades of an abusive relationship with her former husband, Ike Turner, she made the courageous decision to break free and embark on a solo career. Overcoming initial setbacks, she eventually rose to become an iconic figure of 1980s pop culture with her groundbreaking album, "Private Dancer." Her remarkable journey was documented in three memoirs, a biopic, a jukebox musical, and the acclaimed 2021 documentary, "Tina."
In a statement released on Wednesday night, her publicist Bernard Doherty conveyed the news, saying, "Tina Turner, the 'Queen of Rock'n Roll,' peacefully passed away today at the age of 83 after a long battle with illness at her residence in Kusnacht, near Zurich, Switzerland. With her departure, the world mourns the loss of a musical legend and a role model." Scholar Daphne A. Brooks aptly described Turner's musical persona as a captivating blend of mystery, light, melancholy, and a ferocious vitality that often flirted with danger, in an article written for The Guardian in 2018.
Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, Turner grew up in Nutbush, Tennessee, where she vividly recalled picking cotton alongside her family during her childhood. She began singing in the local church choir and, as a teenager, managed to impress Ike Turner's band in St. Louis with her remarkable voice.
Although Ike initially declined her request to join the band, he changed his mind when he witnessed her seizing the microphone during a Kings of Rhythm performance, delivering a captivating rendition of BB King's "You Know I Love You." Ike then bestowed upon her the name Tina Turner, which he trademarked in case she ever decided to leave him, ensuring he could replace her in their act. Unfortunately, their relationship quickly turned abusive, and Turner experienced the full force of Ike's volatile nature when she attempted to leave the group early on, resulting in a physical altercation where he struck her with a wooden shoe stretcher.
"My relationship with Ike was doomed from the moment he realized I would become his source of income," Turner reflected in her 2018 autobiography, "My Love Story." She continued, "He needed to have complete control over me, both financially and psychologically, to ensure I would never leave him." Turner made her recorded debut under the name Tina Turner with the single "A Fool in Love" alongside Ike in July 1960, which climbed the US charts, marking the beginning of their string of successful releases.
However, it was their electrifying live performances that truly captivated audiences. Ike aggressively toured the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, captivating integrated audiences across the Chitlin' Circuit. In 1964, they signed with Warner Bros imprint Loma Records, releasing their first charting album, "Live! The Ike & Tina Turner Show."
During the latter half of the 1960s, the duo garnered attention from some of the biggest names in rock music. Phil Spector produced their 1966 single, "River Deep – Mountain High." They supported the Rolling Stones in both the UK and the US, and their Las Vegas residency attracted stars such as David Bowie, Sly Stone, Cher, Elvis Presley, and Elton John. In the 1970s, they continued their chart-topping and Grammy-winning streak until Turner finally decided to leave Ike, who had consistently subjected her to violence and infidelity, in 1976.
Her final single with the group was "Baby, Get It On," featured in the 1975 film adaptation of The Who's rock opera "Tommy," in which she portrayed the character Acid Queen, who shared the same name as her second solo album.
The divorce, which concluded in 1978, left Turner with only two cars and the rights to her stage name. Reflecting on the aftermath, she mentioned in the documentary "Tina," "Ike put up a fight because he knew what I would do with that name."
Undeterred by the challenges, Turner continued to pursue her solo career, although it wasn't until the release of her fifth album, "Private Dancer," in 1984 that she managed to shed her previous image as a shimmying rock'n'roller. This album propelled her into the realm of a powerful pop icon, complete with a mullet hairstyle and a penchant for leather attire. In the documentary "Tina," she referred to "Private Dancer" as her debut, stating, "I don't consider it a comeback. Tina had never truly arrived."
During the 1980s, Turner found solace and inspiration in Buddhism, particularly in the practice of chanting. Alongside her musical accomplishments, she starred in the film "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" opposite Mel Gibson in 1985. Her first memoir, the immensely successful "I, Tina," was published in 1986 and was later adapted into the 1993 film "What's Love Got to Do With It?," with Angela Bassett portraying Turner. In 1995, she recorded the theme song for the James Bond film "GoldenEye."
In 2000, Turner announced her retirement, a year after releasing her final solo album, "Twenty Four Seven." However, she made a triumphant return to the stage in 2008, performing alongside Beyoncé at the Grammy Awards and embarking on a final tour commemorating her 50-year career.
Turner also collaborated on the musical "Tina" with director Phyllida Lloyd, which premiered in 2018 and received critical acclaim, earning Laurence Olivier and Tony awards for its West End and Broadway productions. Reflecting on the musical, Turner stated, "This production is not solely about my stardom; it chronicles the journey I undertook to get there. I hope each night the audience takes away the message that you can transform poison into medicine."
Turner is survived by her second husband, German music executive Erwin Bach. They tied the knot in July 2013 after spending 27 years together and resided in Switzerland. In 2013, Turner renounced her US citizenship to become a Swiss citizen.
