A beloved artist in the music world has passed away.
Tina Turner, the iconic singer, died at the age of 83, as confirmed by her team on May 24. The announcement was made through a statement posted on her social media pages, expressing great sadness over the loss. The statement acknowledged Tina’s immense talent and her ability to captivate millions of fans worldwide with her music and unwavering passion for life. She was hailed as an inspiration to future generations of artists. The statement also extended heartfelt condolences to her family, emphasizing that Tina’s music would be her lasting legacy. The world mourned the loss of a dear friend and talented musician in Tina Turner.
This tragic event follows the passing of Ronnie, the son of Tina and Ike Turner, five months earlier. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office confirmed that Ronnie, 62 years old, died on December 8 due to complications from metastatic colon carcinoma. Tina paid a heartfelt tribute to her son in a moving Instagram post on December 9, expressing her deep sorrow and the feeling that Ronnie’s departure from the world came far too soon.
Born as Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, Tina Turner grew up in Nutbush, Tennessee, a rural town. Her childhood was marked by singing in the church choir, but her family life was strained due to her father’s alleged abusive behavior toward her mother. When Tina was 11, her mother left the family and moved to St. Louis, leaving Tina and her two older sisters to be raised by their maternal grandparents and other relatives.
During her teenage years, Tina split her time between Tennessee and Missouri. In St. Louis, she and her sisters frequented local blues lounges, including the Manhattan Club, where Ike Turner and his band Kings of Rhythm performed in the late 1950s.
In her memoir, “My Love Story” published in 2018, Tina reminisced about her initial lack of physical attraction to Ike but was captivated by his musical talent. Ike initially opposed Tina joining his band, but after hearing her perform B.B. King’s “You Know I Love You” during an intermission, he changed his mind. Their relationship started as a professional one, while Tina dated Raymond Hill, a saxophone player, and welcomed their son Craig in 1958. Eventually, Tina and Ike’s relationship turned romantic, leading to their marriage two years after the birth of their son. (Craig tragically died by suicide in 2018.)
Tina revealed in her memoir the doomed nature of her relationship with Ike, describing how he saw her as a means to generate income and exerted control over her economically and psychologically. He even changed her name against her wishes. Tina gave birth to Ronnie in 1960, but behind closed doors, she endured verbal and physical abuse from Ike.
Despite the tumultuous relationship, Ike and Tina achieved fame as a couple on stage during the 1960s, with hits like “A Fool in Love,” “It’s Going to Work Out Fine,” “I Idolize You,” and “I Can’t Believe What You Say.” Their versions of The Beatles’ “Come Together” and Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” solidified their status as superstars, with Tina earning the title of “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
In 1976, after enduring years of torment and abuse, Tina finally left Ike. The movie “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” released in 1993, depicted the moment when Tina managed to escape their tumultuous relationship. While on tour, she secretly left their hotel room with only a Mobil credit card and 36 cents in her pocket while Ike was asleep. Tina filed for divorce shortly after and the legal separation was finalized in 1978. (Ike passed away in 2007 at the age of 76.)
Contrary to the expectations of critics at the time, Tina’s musical career did not end with her separation from Ike. She defied the odds and proved her detractors wrong. In her memoir, she acknowledged the obstacles she faced as a 39-year-old woman of color during those times but expressed her determination to keep going.
Her solo album “Private Dancer,” released in 1984, included hits like “Better Be Good To Me” and the now-iconic “What’s Love Got to Do with It.” The album earned her four Grammy Awards and marked a resurgence in her career. Tina continued her success with songs like “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” for the soundtrack of “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” and the theme song for the James Bond film “GoldenEye” in 1995.
Throughout her career, Tina Turner amassed numerous accolades, including three American Music Awards, 12 Grammys, and a Kennedy Center Honor. She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, once alongside Ike in 1991 and later as a solo artist in 2021.
In her personal life, Tina found love with music executive Erwin Bach, whom she first met in 1986. After 27 years of dating, the couple finally tied the knot in July 2013.
As the world remembers Tina Turner, let’s take a moment to reflect on her journey through the years.
