Tina Turner’s ex-husband passes away
Dec 18, 2007
IKE Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in the past few years, touring the globe and drawing acclaim that included his first solo Grammy earlier this year. But the 76-year-old’s prodigious musical legacy was forever tarnished by his image as the drug-addicted, brutally abusive former
IKE Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in the past few years, touring the globe and drawing acclaim that included his first solo Grammy earlier this year. But the 76-year-old’s prodigious musical legacy was forever tarnished by his image as the drug-addicted, brutally abusive former husband of Tina Turner.
Turner, known with his ex-wife for such songs as River Deep, Mountain High and Proud Mary, died last Wednesday at his suburban home. No cause of death was immediately given.
In interviews toward the end of his life, Turner acknowledged many mistakes. “I know what I am in my heart. And I know regardless of what I’ve done, good and bad, it took it all to make me what I am today,†said recently. In her 1987 autobiography, I, Tina, Tina Turner narrated a harrowing tale of abuse, including suffering a broken nose.
Ike was hauntingly portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the movie What’s Love Got To Do With It, based on Tina Turner’s autobiography. In a 2001 interview, he denied his ex-wife’s claims of abuse and expressed frustration that he had been demonised in the media while his historic role in rock’s beginnings had been ignored.
Turner, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is credited by many rock historians with making the first rock ‘n’ roll record, Rocket 88, in 1951. Produced by the legendary Sam Phillips, it was groundbreaking for its use of distorted electric guitar.
Turner’s profile grew after he met 18-year-old Anna Mae Bullock in 1959. He quickly made the husky-voiced woman the lead singer of his group, refashioning her into the sexy Tina Turner.
Tina Turner declined to comment on her ex-husband’s death. “Tina is aware that Ike passed away. She has not had any contact with him in 35 years. No further comment will be made,†her spokeswoman, Michele Schweitzer, said.
The pair, who had two sons, produced a string of hits with Ike Turner on guitar or piano. The first, A Fool In Love, was a top R&B song in 1959. Rolling Stone executive editor Joe Levy said such songs acted as musical representations of their personal relationship.
“He’s the big, ominous voice. She’s the passionate, emotional voice.†Their densely layered hit River Deep, Mountain High was one of producer Phil Spector’s proudest creations. A rousing version of Proud Mary, a cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit, became their signature song and won them a Grammy for best R&B vocal performance by a group.
Though they were known publicly as a powerful, dynamic duo, Tina Turner later said her husband was secretly an overbearing wife abuser and cocaine addict. She said the cycle ended after a vicious fight between the pair in the back seat of a car in Las Vegas, where they were scheduled to perform. It was the only time she ever fought back against her husband, she said.
Ike Turner denied his ex-wife’s claims of abuse, despite acknowledging in his 1999 autobiography, Takin’ Back My Name, that he hit Tina. After they broke up, both fell into obscurity and endured money woes for years before Tina Turner made a dramatic comeback in 1984 with the release of the album Private Dancer.
The Associated Press
Turner, known with his ex-wife for such songs as River Deep, Mountain High and Proud Mary, died last Wednesday at his suburban home. No cause of death was immediately given.
In interviews toward the end of his life, Turner acknowledged many mistakes. “I know what I am in my heart. And I know regardless of what I’ve done, good and bad, it took it all to make me what I am today,†said recently. In her 1987 autobiography, I, Tina, Tina Turner narrated a harrowing tale of abuse, including suffering a broken nose.
Ike was hauntingly portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the movie What’s Love Got To Do With It, based on Tina Turner’s autobiography. In a 2001 interview, he denied his ex-wife’s claims of abuse and expressed frustration that he had been demonised in the media while his historic role in rock’s beginnings had been ignored.
Turner, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is credited by many rock historians with making the first rock ‘n’ roll record, Rocket 88, in 1951. Produced by the legendary Sam Phillips, it was groundbreaking for its use of distorted electric guitar.
Turner’s profile grew after he met 18-year-old Anna Mae Bullock in 1959. He quickly made the husky-voiced woman the lead singer of his group, refashioning her into the sexy Tina Turner.
Tina Turner declined to comment on her ex-husband’s death. “Tina is aware that Ike passed away. She has not had any contact with him in 35 years. No further comment will be made,†her spokeswoman, Michele Schweitzer, said.
The pair, who had two sons, produced a string of hits with Ike Turner on guitar or piano. The first, A Fool In Love, was a top R&B song in 1959. Rolling Stone executive editor Joe Levy said such songs acted as musical representations of their personal relationship.
“He’s the big, ominous voice. She’s the passionate, emotional voice.†Their densely layered hit River Deep, Mountain High was one of producer Phil Spector’s proudest creations. A rousing version of Proud Mary, a cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit, became their signature song and won them a Grammy for best R&B vocal performance by a group.
Though they were known publicly as a powerful, dynamic duo, Tina Turner later said her husband was secretly an overbearing wife abuser and cocaine addict. She said the cycle ended after a vicious fight between the pair in the back seat of a car in Las Vegas, where they were scheduled to perform. It was the only time she ever fought back against her husband, she said.
Ike Turner denied his ex-wife’s claims of abuse, despite acknowledging in his 1999 autobiography, Takin’ Back My Name, that he hit Tina. After they broke up, both fell into obscurity and endured money woes for years before Tina Turner made a dramatic comeback in 1984 with the release of the album Private Dancer.
The Associated Press