By: Daylun Armstrong, Jaden Majewski, and Valery Warner
March 12, 2020
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their own dreams”
Tina Turner, an African-American woman whose strength and resilience helped her climb her way back to the top of the music charts, endlessly fought for her rights as an artist after escaping a terribly abusive relationship with her ex-husband, Ike Turner. Not only does Turner embody strength, she embodies the voice of so many who feel voiceless.
Turner was born in Nutbush, Tennessee, on November 26, 1939, as Anna Mae Bullock (changed to Tina by her ex-husband) to Floyd and Zelma Bullock. Her parents had an on-and-off-again, volatile relationship and split up when she and her sister (Ruby Aillene Bullock) were young.
After the split of her parents (both Floyd and Zelma left), Turner was taken in by her grandmother. In her teenage years (1950s), her grandmother passed away, and she moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to be with her mother.
Music filled the streets and clubs of St. Louis, and Turner immersed herself in all of it. In 1956, at Club Manhattan, she met rock-and-roll pioneer, Ike Turner, who often played at the club with the Kings of Rhythm.
Knowing that she had a powerhouse voice ever since she was a little girl (singing in church), she wanted to perform with Ike and the Kings of Rhythm. After months of waiting and itching for a spot onstage, she finally got her chance at the age of 17. They were amazed at her voice, and she quickly became the highlight of the show.
In 1960, “A Fool in Love” was recorded and released but under the name “Ike and Tina Turner”. Not only did the name change, but so did their relationship. Their once-loving friendship turned into a brutal marriage that began in 1962.
Soon, they were on almost every television show, but as soon as the cameras were off, their life was not so glamorous. Also, racial discrimination fueled the music industry, and at times, the radio did not play their songs, they were not hired to play at certain clubs, they could not stay in certain hotels, and were often not given the pay that they deserved.
In 1969, the duo toured with the Rolling Stones, gaining them more world-wide notoriety and propelling their 1971 album Workin’ Together, which featured their first grammy-winning cover song, “Proud Mary”.
Even through the musical hits, the physical violence was much more prevalent in Turner’s life. The amount of abuse and infidelity that she faced at the hands of her husband was also witnessed by their children.
After their final, greatest hit as a duo, “Nutbush City Limits” (written by Tina Turner herself), she escaped in July of 1976 by running away from their hotel, across a highway, while Ike was asleep. Not only did she run away from her abusive life that day, she gained her independence, and there is bravery and strength that comes with that.
It was a struggle for many years after that day to become the “Queen of Rock n Roll”. She worked tirelessly performing almost 24/7, while even cleaning houses to make ends-meet to take care of her children.
Things started to look up with her new manager Roger Davies coming into her life. In 1983, her solo career finally started to take off when she recorded a remake of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together,” which topped the R&B charts.
In her mid-40’s, Turner was arguably better than ever. She is known for her energetic performances, raspy-golden voice, her famous legs, and chart-topping, Grammy-winning album Private Dancer, including the award winning song “What’s Love Got to Do With it (later turned into a movie of her life). From then on, there was no looking back.
Endless tour and ticket sales continued until she “retired” in 2009 at the age of 70 until a sequel to her bestselling memoir came out in 2018 (My Love Story) and a box-office-breaking musical, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.
Even through the hardships of abuse, sexism, racism, and health concerns, Turner proved to be beyond brave, beyond strong, and beyond a trailblazing inspiration to new artists. She continues to thrive in her life alongside her family, friends, and husband, Erwin Bach.
In the words of the “Comeback Queen” herself: “You asked me if I stood up for anything. Yeah, I stood up for my life.”
*Fun Facts:
- She became part of the religion of Buddhism in 1971. “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo” was the spiritual chant that helped her endure during difficult times.
- In 1989, she was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame (with ex-husband Ike Turner, not as a solo performer).
- She won 12 Grammy Awards.
- She is the only female artist to garner concurrent Grammy nominations for pop, rock, and R&B.
- She sold more concert tickets than any other solo performer in history, according to the Guinness World Records.
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 