Rock Legend Tina Turner Dies at 83

By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer

Tina Turner, the “Queen of Rock ‘n Roll’ whose legend skyrotted after overcoming a bitter, violence-filled marriage and divorce to musician Ike Turner, has died at the age of 83.

The superstar’s family confirmed her death in a statement on Wednesday, May 24, noting that Turner died “peacefully” at her home near Zurich, Switzerland.

“Starting with her performances with her ex-husband Ike, Turner injected an uninhibited, volcanic stage presence into pop,” Rolling Stone’s

Brittany Spanos declared in a tribute.

“Even with choreographed backup singers — both with Ike and during her own career — Turner never seemed to reign in,” Spanos, who co-authored the tribute with David Browne, asserted.

“Her influence on rock, R&B and soul singing and performance was also immeasurable,” the tribute noted.

Turner’s music and performance style has served as inspiration for multiple generations of artists.

“Her delivery influenced everyone from Mick Jagger to Mary J. Blige, and her high-energy stage presence (topped with an array of gravity-de- fying wigs) was passed down to Janet Jackson and Beyoncé.

“Turner’s message — one that resounded with generations of women — was that she could hold her own onstage against any man.”

Born Anna Mae Bullock in Tennessee in 1939, Turner started her career in 1958 as the lead singer for Ike Turn- er and his Kings of Rhythm band.

Later, the couple changed the name to the Ike & Tina Revue and spun out hit after hit with songs like “Nutbush City Limits,” “River Deep,” and the seminal “Proud Mary.”

Following a tumultuous and abusive relationship, Tina escaped from Ike’s clutches in 1976 with no money and just the clothes on her back that reportedly were bloodied following Ike’s latest assault.

During divorce proceedings, Tina simply demanded that she keep her stage name which the judge granted. With assistance from rock stars like Mick Jagger and David Bowie, Turner rebounded several years later and topped the pop music charts with her 1984 solo album, Private Dancer.

The album included a bevy of hit singles, including a remake of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” and “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” which became the title of her successful 1993 biopic starring Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne.

In 1986, Tina wrote her memoir, “I, Tina,” which writers used to create the film, What’s Love Got to Do With It.”

She then enjoyed the starring role alongside Mel Gibson in the 1995 movie, “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.”

Over her career, Turner earned 11 Grammy Awards, and sold an estimated 180 million records globally. Read more on washingtoninformer.com.