I saw today that the great Ike Turner has climbed in his Rocket 88 and headed out. Try to forget his unsavory reputation for a moment, and think about his contribution to music especially what they say was the first song coined rock n roll. He wrote it, he and his band played it, but Jackie Brenston got credit for it........yep they say "Rocket 88" started it all. Turner was an incredible talent on guitar and piano and put on a great stage show. Lucky enough to see a few times. So go search for that song and turn up your speakers rock out w/ Ike one last time. It's a great drivin song.
Date: Dec 12, 2007 2:15 PM<br /><br /><br />Motown Legend's Success Was Overshadowed By Abusive Relationship With Ex-Wife Tina Turner<br />SAN DIEGO (AP) ― Ike Turner, whose role as one of rock's critical architects was overshadowed by his ogrelike image as the man who brutally abused former wife and icon Tina Turner, died Wednesday at his home in suburban San Diego. He was 76. <br /><br />"He did p*** away this morning" at his home in San Marcos, in northern San Diego County, said Scott M. Hanover of Thrill Entertainment Group, which managed Turner's musical career. <br /><br />There was no immediate word on the cause of death, which was first reported by celebrity Web site TMZ.com. <br /><br />Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in his later years, touring around the globe with his band the Kings of Rhythm and drawing critical acclaim for his work. He won a Grammy in 2007 in the traditional blues album category for "Risin' With the Blues." <br /><br />But his image is forever identified as the drug-addicted, wife-abusing husband of Tina Turner. He was hauntingly portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the movie "What's Love Got To Do With It," based on Tina Turner's autobiography. <br /><br />In a 2001 interview with The ***ociated Press, Turner denied his ex-wife's claims of abuse and expressed frustration that he had been demonized in the media, adding that his historic role in rock's beginnings had been ignored. <br /><br />"You can go ask Snoop Dogg or Eminem, you can ask the Rolling Stones or (Eric) Clapton, or you can ask anybody - anybody, they all know my contribution to music, but it hasn't been in print about what I've done or what I've contributed until now," he said. <br /><br />Turner, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is credited by many rock historians with making the first rock 'n' roll record, "Rocket 88," in 1951. Produced by the legendary Sam Phillips, it was groundbreaking for its use of distorted electric guitar. <br /><br />But as would be the case for most of his career, Turner, a prolific session guitarist and piano player, was not the star on the record - it was recorded with Turner's band but credited to singer Jackie Brenston. <br /><br />And it would be another singer - a young woman named Anna Mae Bullock - who would bring Turner his greatest fame, and infamy. <br /><br />Turner met the 18-year-old Bullock, whom he would later marry, in 1959 and quickly made the husky-voiced singer the lead singer of his group, refashioning her into the ***y Tina Turner. Her stage persona was highlighted by short skirts and stiletto heels that made her legs her most visible ***et. But despite the glamorous image, she still sang with the grit and fervor of a rock singer with a twist of soul. <br /><br />The pair would have two sons. They also produced a string of hits. The first, "A Fool In Love," was a top R&B song in 1959, and others followed, including "I Idolize You" and "It's Gonna Work Out Fine." <br /><br />But over the years they're genre-defying sound would make them favorites on the rock 'n' roll scene, as they opened for acts like the Rolling Stones. <br /><br />The densely layered hit "River Deep, Mountain High" was one of producer Phil Spector's proudest creations. A rousing version of "Proud Mary," a cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit, became their signature song and won them a Grammy for best R&B vocal performance by a group. <br /><br /><center><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="never" allowNetworking="internal" height="355" width="425" data="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gbfnh1oVTk0&rel=1"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" /> <param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Gbfnh1oVTk0&rel=1" /> </object>
Ike was a great talent that could rock the house. It is sad that he was rough on the women in his life. Lottsa substance abuse in all that and I think he changed as he sobered up. R.I.P. Rocket Man, your influence shall continue-Sololobo
As part of my misspent youth,I use to hang around recording studios in Memphis,Tn. I got to know some studio muscians at Sun.Told some great stories about Ike working as an A&R man as a teenager and dragging in people like Howling Wolf.He probably suffered from the side effects of the road as many a muscian does but he was a hell of a muscian and definetly changed the axis of music with his tunes.
****...... Ike turner was a slimeball, but he was one of my heros anyway.... I even signed up on the Hamb once as Ike Turner, but ryan kicked me off.... hahaha I was gonna bust some balls...... A Fool in Love..........
I met Ike about four years ago in a S.D. gas station. He was filling up his benz and I pulled in be hind him to fill up on my way back home to orange. I talked to him for about 5 minutes and he asked if I wanted his autograph, of course I said yes. He was the nicest and coolest famous person I have ever met. I will miss him he was a true rock and roll legend that most people over look that for some **** he did later in life. R.I.P. Ike
Maybe if I heard one, I'd be surprised. But I can honestly say I have no idea what he ever did. but I barely know what Tina did either.... Beside the Mad Max movie of course.
I'm grabbin some Colt 45 40oz-ers and going to start smacking b!tches up!!.. Serious tho....regardless of his personal life he was a great musican and one of my favorites..I've collected just about everything he has ever done.. R.I.P Ike
I wanted to name my son Ike but the wife would have nothing to do with that!! hahahah... Finally leaving Nutbush City. RIP Ike. -stick
Long Beach State 88.1 fm has a great all blues program weekends that covers some great old blues including Ike Turner . 88.1 (klac?) fm
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