Rock ‘N’ Roll Icon Tina Turner Dies At 83
The world woke on Thursday, May 25 to the news that the “Queen Of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Tina Turner has died aged 83. Turner was known as one of the top recording artists of all time and succumbed to her battle with a long illness; she died peacefully in her home in Switzerland, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
A story filled with tragedy, triumph and Tina Turner magic
Born into a poor farming community in Nutbush, Tennessee, her real name was born Anna Mae Bullock. With one of the most recognisable voices in rock ‘n’ roll, her career initially blossomed in the 1950s performing alongside her husband Ike Turner. She became a hit with the MTV generation in the ’80s as a solo performer with her music video for What’s Love Got To Do With It, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
Turner’s personal life was fraught. Her marriage to singer Ike was abusive and it wasn’t until 1976 that Tina was able to escape Ike’s controlling behaviour over her life and career. The divorce left Turner destitute, with no money, no recording contract, and living off food stamps while performing in cocktail lounges to make ends meet, reports The Times.
Staging what is considered one of music’s greatest comebacks, Turner sought the support of fellow rock icons The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and David Bowie to regain her footing and launch a new solo career as rock ‘n’ roll’s ultimate diva. The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart booked Tina Turner as their support act while Bowie strong-armed his record company EMI into signing Turner.
Turner won six of her eight Grammy Awards in the 1980s. The decade saw her land a dozen songs in the Top 40, including Typical Male, The Best, Private Dancer and Better Be Good to Me, reports Sydney Morning Herald. Her star was blazing bright as ever and her arc of redemption affirmed.
In 1985, Turner met German music executive Erwin Bach and took up residency in Europe with him. She released two studio albums in the 1990s that sold well, especially in Europe, recorded the theme song for 1995 Bond movie GoldenEye and staged a successful world tour that spanned 2008 and 2009. Afterwards she retired and married Bach, relinquishing her US citizenship and becoming a Swiss citizen.
Following her marriage to Bach, Turner suffered a stroke and had to learn to walk and talk again, reports The Times. Three years later she was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. Kidney failure followed and she underwent a transplant in 2017. Turner is not only one of music’s fiercest singers, she was a pillar of resilience and strength in the face of adversity.
A musical theatre production, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, celebrates the story of a woman who pushed boundaries, faced challenges head-on, and dared to defy the bounds of her age, gender and race to succeed against all odds, and is currently playing in theatres around the world.
News of Turner’s death shook the industry with an outpouring of love coming from celebrities, friends and fans. Diana Ross tweeted to say she felt shocked and saddened by the news, and Sir Elton John described Turner as a “total legend”. Turner’s manager of 30 years, Roger Davies, called her “a unique and remarkable force of nature with her strength, incredible energy and immense talent. From the first day I met her in 1980, she believed in herself completely when few others did at that time.”
