“Tina was and will always be a legend not just in Rock but Soul, Pop and R&B,” says music and entertainment reporter Rudy Blair. “Her voice was original and her energy on stage infectious.”
“A legend” and “simply the best”. Those are the phrases on everyone’s lips as the world mourns the passing of Tina Turner at the age of 83. She’d had a long illness, including a battle with cancer, in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. Turner’s verified Instagram account posted a statement confirming the tragic news:
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow,” the statement read. “Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”
Known as the “Queen of Rock & Roll”, Tina got involved in the music scene when she was just 16. After moving to St. Louis, she met her future husband, Ike Turner. When the pair became a music sensation she changed her name from Anna Mae Bullock to Tina Turner. She became the lead vocalist for what became known as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.
Although Ike and Tina were a huge success, abuse darkened their marriage. Ike was physically abusive, with Tina once claiming he broke her jaw. He controlled their finances and trademarked Tina’s name, so she had no access to her own income. Tina eventually filed for divorce in 1976.
But the eighties proved that Tina was a force to be reckoned with. She released a number of popular songs, including her iconic 1984 album, Private Dancer. The single “What’s Love Got to Do with It” won the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1985.
“She influenced every artist out there from Janet Jackson & Beyoncé to Bryan Adams and Mick Jagger,” says Rudy. “She was a leader, one of the first to speak out about domestic violence and she proved she could change with the times having a stellar career in music and as an actor. There will never be another like Tina Turner.”
Tina released nine full-length studio albums, has won eight Grammys, three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – the first time in 1991 with Ike, and the second time in 2021, just ahead of her 82nd birthday.
In a statement to 705BLACKFLY.COM, former producer and veejay Craig Halket, who met Tina while working at MuchMusic, said she was more than just a spectacular performer.
“Tina Turner was a singular talent who defined the terms “survivor” and “overcoming adversity”, says Craig. “After escaping an abusive marriage, she became the icon of music she deserves to be, a role model to so many, and a positive force for all. Her music was distinctive. She made every song hers. So sad losing icons like Tina. She was an unparalleled talent. She set the standard.”
Renowned Canadian entertainment reporter and producer Teri Hart summed it up perfectly.
“Tina Turner was simply the best, a powerhouse entertainer. She paved the way for so many women with her talent, power, and convictions.”
Turner had two sons: Craig, with saxophonist Raymond Hill; and Ronald, with Ike Turner. (Craig Turner was found dead in 2018 of an apparent suicide). In a memoir published later in 2018, she revealed that she had received a kidney transplant from her second husband, former EMI record executive Erwin Bach, whom she married in Switzerland in 2013.
There’s no denying that Tina Turner was an icon who defied the boundaries of age, gender, and race. To be honest, she really was simply the best.
