Music Legend Tina Turner Has Died (1939-2023)

The music world has lost a true legend today as the news has been circulating about the passing of the great Tina Turner at age 83. At the time of this posting, Turners COD has not yet been revealed but she was reported as being ill for a very long time with a number of different ailments. To say that she will be missed is an understatement.

The singer who was born Anna Mae Bullock was one who was a true coming from meager beginnings, faced tremendous adversity and triumphed at the end. A real life rags to riches story that was both chaotic and compelling at the very same time. Turner’s initial claim to fame was when she met and joined the band of guitarist Ike Turner as a part of his Kings Of Rhythm lineup. Some of their early hits came with “Nutbush City Limits”, “River Deep Mountain High” and of course “Proud Mary”. Sadly, the relationship with Ike was a tumultuous and abusive one that found her on her own and starting from the ground up.

Tina Turner’s comeback in the eighties was a tour de force with her album “Private Dancer” and hit’s like the title track and the absolute blockbuster number “What’s Love Got To Do With It”. From here the climb continued into the stratosphere into biographical films like “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and a jukebox musical on Broadway that I was very well-acquainted with in “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”. With far too many accomplishments to line out in this memorial reflection I will encourage those seeking the full history to click through into the Wikipedia entry for her.

I’ve embedded some of the videos that dominated the screens of MTV viewers back in the day for a nice remembrance. As I wrap this one up to publish, we thank the spirit of Tina Turner for bringing us all the musical gifts that she gave us. Rest in Peace Tina Turner, you were simply “The Best”…