Generated via Bing Chat; curated by Albert Williams [Photo] Turner during her 50th Anniversary Tour in 2009
Tina Turner, one of the most influential and successful singers of all time, has died at the age of 83 after a long illness, her representatives confirmed.
The superstar singer died peacefully at her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday, according to a statement from her publicist.
“With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model,” the statement said.
A life of music and resilience
Born Anna Mae Bullock on Nov. 26, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee, Turner began her career as a teenager, singing with Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm band. She married Ike in 1962 and they formed the duo Ike & Tina Turner, scoring hits such as “River Deep – Mountain High”, “Proud Mary” and “Nutbush City Limits”.
However, their relationship was marred by domestic abuse and infidelity, and Tina left Ike in 1976, divorcing him two years later. She later revealed her ordeal in her bestselling memoir “I, Tina” and the biopic “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, starring Angela Bassett as Tina and Laurence Fishburne as Ike.
Tina launched a solo career in the 1980s, reinventing herself as a rock icon and achieving global fame with albums such as “Private Dancer” and “Break Every Rule”. She won 12 Grammy Awards, including three for Record of the Year (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”, “We Don’t Need Another Hero” and “What You Get Is What You See”) and eight for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
She also starred in movies such as “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” and “Last Action Hero”, and performed on Broadway in “The Acid Queen”. She sold over 200 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, along with Ike.
In 1986, she became a Swiss citizen and married her longtime partner Erwin Bach in 2013. She retired from performing in 2009, but made occasional appearances to promote her musical “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”, which premiered in London in 2018 and on Broadway in 2019.
She also released a documentary titled “Tina” in 2021, which chronicled her life and career. In the film, she said she was happy with her legacy and ready to say goodbye to her fans.
“I’m a girl from a cotton field that pulled myself above the destruction and the mistakes,” she said. “And I’m here for you.”
Tributes pour in from fans and celebrities
Fans and celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to Turner, praising her talent, charisma and courage.
“Rest In Peace to our Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” tweeted Oprah Winfrey. “Your artistry influenced generations of music lovers. You are truly Simply The Best.”
“Thank you for your music, your heart and for being an inspiration to so many,” tweeted Alicia Keys. “You are a force that will never be forgotten.”
“What a woman. What a legacy,” tweeted Lenny Kravitz. “Thank you for showing me how to simply be the best.”
“I’m so sad to hear that my friend Tina Turner has passed away,” tweeted Cher. “She was a goddess on earth who gave us so much joy with her voice and spirit. I will always love you Tina.”
Turner is survived by her husband Erwin Bach, her sons Craig Raymond Turner and Ronald Renelle Turner, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.
Rock Legend Tina Turner Dies at 83 After Long Illness
Tina Turner, the legendary singer who rose from poverty and abuse to become one of the most successful and influential artists of all time, has died at the age of 83, her representatives announced.
The statement said Turner died peacefully at her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland, on Wednesday, after battling a long illness.
“With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model,” the statement said.
Born Anna Mae Bullock on Nov. 26, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee, Turner started singing as a teenager with Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm band. She married Ike in 1962 and they formed the duo Ike & Tina Turner, scoring hits such as “River Deep – Mountain High”, “Proud Mary” and “Nutbush City Limits”.
However, their relationship was marred by domestic abuse and infidelity, and Tina left Ike in 1976, divorcing him two years later. She later revealed her ordeal in her bestselling memoir “I, Tina” and the biopic “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, starring Angela Bassett as Tina and Laurence Fishburne as Ike.
A remarkable career and life story
Tina launched a solo career in the 1980s, reinventing herself as a rock icon and achieving global fame with albums such as “Private Dancer” and “Break Every Rule”. She won 12 Grammy Awards, including three for Record of the Year (“What’s Love Got to Do with It”, “We Don’t Need Another Hero” and “What You Get Is What You See”) and eight for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance.
She also starred in movies such as “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” and “Last Action Hero”, and performed on Broadway in “The Acid Queen”. She sold over 200 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists of all time. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, along with Ike.
In 1986, she became a Swiss citizen and married her longtime partner Erwin Bach in 2013. She retired from performing in 2009, but made occasional appearances to promote her musical “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”, which premiered in London in 2018 and on Broadway in 2019.
She also released a documentary titled “Tina” in 2021, which chronicled her life and career. In the film, she said she was happy with her legacy and ready to say goodbye to her fans.
“I’m a girl from a cotton field that pulled myself above the destruction and the mistakes,” she said. “And I’m here for you.”
Civil Rights era
- Tina Turner was a pioneer of girl power, a feminist movement that emerged in the 1990s and was influenced by the Black power movement of the 1960s and 1970s. She was one of the first female singers to break away from an abusive and controlling husband, Ike Turner, and establish herself as a solo superstar with her own voice and style
- Tina Turner was also a symbol of black excellence, as she achieved global fame and success in a music industry that was dominated by white artists and executives. She was one of the first black women to cross over to rock music and appeal to a diverse audience.
- She also inspired many other black artists, such as Beyoncé, who called her “the ultimate survivor” and “the queen of rock ‘n’ roll
- Tina Turner faced racism and discrimination throughout her career, especially in her early years with Ike Turner. She was often subjected to segregation, violence, and harassment by white audiences and promoters. She also struggled to gain respect and recognition from the mainstream media and awards shows. She once said, “I had to fight for everything I have today”.
- Tina Turner performed at several events that were related to black power and civil rights movements. For example, she sang at the Wattstax festival in 1972, which was organized by Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts riots. She is also remembered for her iconic performance at the 2000 Super Bowl XXXIV ahead of the showdown between the St Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans in Atlanta, Georgia.
Fans and celebrities mourn the loss of a music icon
Fans and celebrities took to social media to pay tribute to Turner, celebrating her talent, charisma and courage.
“Rest In Peace to our Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” tweeted Oprah Winfrey. “Your artistry influenced generations of music lovers. You are truly Simply The Best.”
“Thank you for your music, your heart and for being an inspiration to so many,” tweeted Alicia Keys. “You are a force that will never be forgotten.”
“What a woman. What a legacy,” tweeted Lenny Kravitz. “Thank you for showing me how to simply be the best.”
“I’m so sad to hear that my friend Tina Turner has passed away,” tweeted Cher. “She was a goddess on earth who gave us so much joy with her voice and spirit. I will always love you Tina.”
Turner is survived by her husband Erwin Bach, her sons Craig Raymond Turner and Ronald Renelle Turner, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren.
Generated via Bing Chat; curated by Albert Williams
Photos via Wikipedia
ALBERT WILLIAMS Reporting 
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