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Tales of Ike Turner's abusive behavior towards his greatly loved wife Tina may have tainted Ike and Tina Turner's legacy, but they still made one of the all-time great pop records, “River Deep - Mountain High,” and influenced many who followed in their wake. Ike was the driving force in the operation, having achieved an early breakthrough with his band The Kings Of Rhythm, who had a hit in 1951 with the bluesy “Rocket 88,” which is sometimes called the first rock 'n' roll record. Ike was playing at a club in East St. Louis with the Kings Of Rhythm when a then 16-year-old Anna Mae Bullock jumped up on stage to sing with him. Impressed by her formidable, raspy voice, he invited her to join the group as a backing singer and changed her name to Tina. She first appeared on the single “Boxtop” in 1958 before their musical collaboration was reborn and renamed Ike & Tina Turner (or The Ike & Tina Turner Revue) in 1960. They scored their first hit in 1960 with “A Fool In Love” but it was their sexy, all-action live shows which turned them into stars. Characterized by producer Phil Spector's famous Wall Of Sound, they recorded “River Deep - Mountain High” (written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich) in 1966 and their steamy, energetic show caused a sensation on tour with the Rolling Stones. Other hits followed – most notably “Proud Mary” (1971) and “Nutbush City Limits” (1973) - but their popularity declined with Ike's descent into drug addiction and violent behavior. Tina eventually fled the marriage in 1976 and went on to become a major solo star, while her tumultuous 16-year marriage to Ike was documented in the movie What's Love Got To Do With It (1993). Ike Turner attempted several comebacks but ultimately failed without the magic of Tina at his side. Tina Turner became a rock and soul icon and effectively retired from music in 2009. Ike Turner died on December 12, 2007, at the age of 1976. Tina Turner died on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83.
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