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Tina Turner

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in 1939 in Brownsville, Tennessee, and died in 2023 in Switzerland. As a child she sang in the church choir, and in 1956 she moved to St. Louis. There she met Ike Turner and his band, the Kings of Rhythm. One evening she picked up the microphone and sang a song by B.B. King, after which Ike made her the group's singer. He gave her the name Tina. In 1960 A Fool in Love came out, the first record by Ike and Tina Turner. The Ike and Tina Turner Revue, with the Ikettes as backing singers and dancers, became famous for its explosive performances.

Music and breakthrough

In 1966 Phil Spector produced River Deep, Mountain High, which reached number three in Britain and flopped in the United States. It earned the group a place as support act to the Rolling Stones. In 1971 Proud Mary, a cover of a song by Creedence Clearwater Revival, became their biggest hit, and Nutbush City Limits followed. In 1976 Tina left Ike and began a solo career. With Let's Stay Together in 1983 and above all the album Private Dancer in 1984 she made a major comeback. What's Love Got to Do with It won the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1985 and became her only number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Influence

Turner also sang Better Be Good to Me, We Don't Need Another Hero and the title song of the Bond film GoldenEye. She acted in films such as Tommy and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. With her powerful voice and energetic stage presence she broke down barriers in rock music, and she is called the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner and notice the calm beginning and the switch to a frenzied tempo. Can you hear how Tina's voice becomes rougher and wilder as the song moves on?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists