[190], Turner's second wife, Velma Davis (ne Dishman) is the elder sister of former Ikette Joshie Armstead. Ike Turner was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on November 5, 1931. first assistant director (as Barry Thomas) Rebecca Strickland Weathersby. He was a great innovator. At first, I had really been in love with him. [76] He also helped Buddy Guy record his second record;[77] resulting in the single "You Sure Can't Do" / "This Is The End" which Turner played guitar and composed the latter. A musician by profession Ike Turner Jr. was born in 1958, to father Ike Turner and mother Lorraine Taylor. [38][39] He played juke joints alongside other local blues artists such as Elmore James, Muddy Waters, and Little Walter. Unfortunately, his father is no longer with us, but how did his parents get along in the past? [50] Turner played piano on King's early records "You Know I Love You" and "3 O'Clock Blues", which became King's first two number-ones. [193], After Alice, Turner became involved with Annie Mae Wilson from Greenville, Mississippi. Her first husband, Ike Turner, adopted him after they tied the knot in 1962. [4] According to Joe Bihari, Turner had brought King to his attention years prior. I feel blessed to have had this experience and it has deeply inspired and nurtured me. [60] Turner also attempted to poach Elmore James from Trumpet Records and record him for Modern. We had fights and there have been times when I punched her to the ground without thinking. [2] He was instrumental in the early careers of various blues musicians such as B.B. Sex was power to me. But, sadly, in 2018 . [17][a][18], His mother remarried an artist named Philip Reese, who Turner described as a violent alcoholic. The success of the single was followed by a string of hits including "I Idolize You", "Poor Fool", and "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" which gave them their second million-seller and their first Grammy nomination. [248] By the early 1970s, he was heavily addicted to the drug, buying it in large quantities and sharing it with friends. [197], "I still love Tina as much as I ever loved herI wrote her a letter five years ago. In 1962, his father married Tina Turner and she adopted Ike Jr. [91] It sold more than a million copies, and won the duo a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group at the 14th Annual Grammy Awards. [17], According to Turner, he witnessed his father beaten and left for dead by a white mob. Her first husband, Ike Turner, adopted him after they tied the knot in 1962. . It was sampled by producer Goldie for his 1994 hit "Inner City Life", in the same year by Krome & Time on "The License", and by Paradox in 2002 on track "Funky Mule". Tina Turner and Ike Turner. [72], Turner maintained strict discipline and the band lived at his home on Virginia Place in East St. Louis which doubled as a studio. 11 on the R&B chart and it was a bigger hit in Europe. [16], On January 16, 2008, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office reported that Turner had died from a cocaine overdose. After she began to sing with Ike Turner's "Kings of Rhythm" in 1956, she gave up her dreams of wanting to be a nurse, and he changed her name to Tina Turner. We plan to record together. [206] Tina signed her legal name as Martha Nell Turner on multiple contracts. 1949),[192] but Turner denied that assertion in his autobiography (in which Velma is mistakenly referred to as Thelma): "I met Thelma Dishman, who, at that time, I thought was a pretty girl. [85] Impressed by her voice, Turner invited her to sing with the band. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. [119] In 1979, Turner spent time in the studio with Chaka Khan following her separation from her manager-husband. [191] Turner met her at the Cotton Club on Camplin Avenue in Yazoo City, Mississippi in 1948. The exception was Brenston who sold the rights to Phillips for $910. Craig's biological father was a saxophonist named Raymond Hill. [234], Turner had a daughter, Mia Turner (b. 61 on his list of 100 Greatest Guitarists and noted, "Turner was one of the first guitarists to successfully transplant the intensity of the blues into more commercial music. Why Did Tina Turner Leave Ike? He first embraced fatherhood with his live-in girlfriend, Lorraine Taylor, as they welcomed their first kid, Ike Turner Jr., in 1958. [118], After his breakup with Tina, singer Holly Maxwell sang with Turner on occasion from 1977 to 1985 and again for eight months in 1992. [72] The bands would play all-nighters in St. Louis, then cross the river to the clubs of East St. Louis, and continue playing until dawn. [38], Soon after the release of "Rocket 88", Turner moved to West Memphis, Arkansas and played with various local bands. This continued daily for some time. She made her recording debut on Turner's song "Boxtop", released on Tune Town Records in 1958. [165], Turner won Comeback Album of The Year for Here and Now at the W.C. I never sent itI was telling her in this letter that I'm sorry for putting her and the kids through that kind of stuff. He brought Emerson to record at Sun Records and backed him on guitar in 1954. Turner said, "we wanted to play blues, boogie-woogie and Roy Brown, Jimmy Liggins, Roy Milton. 1958) and Michael Turner (b. [27] One day Friskillo spotted Turner watching and put him to work; teaching him the ins and outs of the control room. [98] Impressed by their performance, Spector negotiated a deal with their manager Bob Krasnow, head of Loma Records, offering $20,000 to produce Tina and have them released from their Loma contract. [16], Ike Turner Jr. released an album, Hard Labor, in 1987. Ike even won a Grammy for producing 'Risin' with the Blues'. One of the Federal releases, "I'm Tore Up" / "If I Never Had Known You" featuring Billy Gayles became a regional hit. [181][217] In 2018, Tina told The Sunday Times that "as an old person, I have forgiven him, but I would not work with him. [130] Turner credited Joe Louis Walker with encouraging him to return to his roots in blues music. Two years after their divorce was finalized, Turner released the single "Party Vibes" / "Shame, Shame, Shame" from the album The Edge (1980) which peaked at No. The medicine is most commonly used as treatment for bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. [260][261], In the weeks leading up to his death, Turner became reclusive. In this never-before-seen exclusive. 1931, in Clarksdale, MS; died on December 12, 2007, in San Marcos, CA; married Lorraine Taylor (divorced); married Anna Mae Bullock (known as Tina Turner, 1962; marriage possibly not legal; divorced, 1978); married Jeanette Bazzell (divorced . Ike was always quite a character and was very candid about his struggles with addiction, sexual abuse as a child, and his abusive actions toward some women in his life. Initially, they played for segregated audiences at the black clubs in Illinois: Manhattan Club in East St. Louis, which Turner and his band built,[74] the Harlem Club in Brookline and the Kingsbury in Madison. ", In 1957, Turner met Anna Bullock (Tina Turner) at the Manhattan Club in East St. [228] Turner filed for divorce two months later on December 22, but after the divorce was granted they reconciled in 2007. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. [16] They married at A Special Memory Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on October 8, 2006. [70], In 1954, Turner visited his sister Lee Ethel Knight in St. Louis, Missouri. [221] According to Turner, Tina suggested Ann fill in as an Ikette because although she could not sing, she was attractive. [25] During breaks he would watch DJ John Friskillo play records at the radio station, WROX, located in the hotel. [16] He would fire anyone in his band who used any substances. However, it was a hit in Europe, reaching No. Izear Luster Turner Jr. was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on November 5, 1931[15][16] to Beatrice Cushenberry, a seamstress, and Izear Luster Turner, a Baptist minister. Barry K. Thomas. Ike Turner Music - Musician Why Famous: Part of the Ike & Tina Turner duo Age: 76 (11/5/1931 - 12/12/2007) Ike Turner Photos (2) Ike Turner's Relationships (6) Lorraine Turner Other - Spouse Sadly, two of Tina Turner's kids died in the singer's lifetime. : Turner Nervous About Restarting His Pop Career", "100 Greatest Guitarists: David Fricke's Picks", "King of Rhythm: Rock and Roll Pioneer Ike Turner November 5, 1931 December 12, 2007", "Early Wright, 84, Disc Jockey Who Made the Delta Blue, Dies", "Spotlight: Ike Turner Antone's, Midnight", "All the Blues Players Shacked Up at This Hotel", "Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm I'm Tore Up", "Most Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records", "Will the creator of modern music please stand up? [187], Turner claimed to have been married fourteen times. His ex-wife Audrey Madison claimed Turner was bipolar and that she was helping him with his illness, a claim supported by Turner's personal assistant and caretaker, Falina Rasool. Ike and Tina Turner pictured with their son and step-sons Michael Turner (Son of Ike & Lorraine Taylor), Ike Turner, Jr. (Son of Ike & Lorraine Taylor), Craig Hill (Son of Tina & Raymond Hill) and Ronnie Turner, circa 1972 Credit: Getty. Rasool said she talked to Turner about his bipolar disorder and witnessed its effects. Turner's vocalist Johnny O'Neal had left to sign a solo contract with King Records, so Jackie Brenston, a saxophonist in the Kings of Rhythm, sang lead vocals while Turner was on piano. Speaking on his early marriages, he said: "You gave a preacher $2, the papers cost $3, that was it. Despite the fact that he was born to Ike and Lorraine, the 62-year-old was adopted by Tina Turner after exchanging vows with his father, Ike, in 1962. He had a son Ronald "Ronnie" Turner (1960-2022) with Tina Turner. Tina was 18 when she gave birth to Craig, whose father was in Ike Turner's band; . Ike & Tina Turner pose for a portrait with their son and step-sons in circa 1972. [79] Turner released two singles on the Stevens label (No. Unfortunately, his parents separated a few years after his birth. "[231], Turner had six children. We just switched around. "[8], Turner was first married at 16 years old to Edna Dean Stewart of Ruleville, Mississippi. "The texture and flavor of R&B owe a lot to him. Craig died in an apparent suicide in 2018. In May 1989, Turner was arrested on drug charges in West Hollywood. Audrey Turner did an interview with Afro and stated that her husband, Ike, used to beat her because he had bipolar disorder, which caused severe mood swings and his cocaine use only exaggerated the problem. He found the experience terrifying and from then on preferred not to be the focus of attention, but rather to be in the background controlling the show. In order to view the video, please allow Manage. It had three custom single coil 1960s Strat pickups. When Bullock became pregnant by Hill, they lived with Turner and his live-in girlfriend Lorraine Taylor. [144], In his career, Turner originally worked in the style of 1950s R&B, or post-jump blues. But he was totally unpredictable," she said. Ike Turner [1]1931-2007 Songwriter, musician, music producer Often vilified for the widely reported . He didn't find out he was bipolar until much later in life, after Audrey (whom Ike began dating in the early 2000's) convinced him to . [32] At some point in the 1940s, Turner moved into Clarksdale's Riverside Hotel. [190] The couple married on September 19, 1950. Related To Alan Taylor. [53] Artists Turner discovered for Modern and Sun include Bobby Bland, Howlin' Wolf, Rosco Gordon, Boyd Gilmore, Houston Boines, Charley Booker, and Little Milton. [129][3] In August 1997, Turner returned to his hometown Clarksdale to headline the 10th Annual Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival. She is an American entrepreneur and also identifies herself as a motivational speaker. Trumpet found out and Modern had to cancel the record. [16] [126] Turner later appeared on the song "Love Gravy" with Rick James for the soundtrack album Chef Aid: The South Park Album. "Ike Turner is a very important man in American music," he said. The album received positive critical reception, and was nominated for best Blues Album at the 7th Annual Independent Music Awards. In 2009, a judge ruled that the handwritten will was invalid and that Turner's children were legally the direct heirs of his estate.[265]. However, born in Missouri, Ronnie grew up in Los Angeles, where his family moved. [92], In 1961, Turner played piano on Albert King's first hit record, "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong". [164] He was honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 2001. Professionally, he is also a musician and singer. They rekindled their friendship years after their divorce, and she found Turner unconscious at his home the day he died. [239][240], Ronnie Turner was in a band called Manufactured Funk with songwriter and musician Patrick Moten. [62] In 1952, Turner discovered Little Junior Parker in West Memphis, and they formed a band with Matt "Guitar" Murphy. [17] Turner was the younger of their two children, his sister, Lee Ethel Knight, was "some ten years" his senior. Ike Turner was the innovator, for rhythm and blues and for rock 'n' roll. Turner was cremated after the funeral service. [12], Their mainstream success provided Turner with the finances to open his own recording studio, Bolic Sound in Inglewood, in 1972. In those days blacks didn't bother with divorces. I never knew he was no musician. CIRCA 1972: Ike & Tina Turner pose for a portrait with their son and step-sons in circa 1972. In 1959, he was born a year after his brother, Ike Turner Jr. Craig's biological father was a saxophonist named . [29] Performances typically lasted for about twelve hours, from early evening to dawn the next day. [8], As a teenager, Turner joined a local rhythm ensemble called the Tophatters who played around Clarksdale, Mississippi. 1960), with Lorraine Taylor. [202] At the time, he was still legally married to Alice Bell. . 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. People like that wouldn't have had the source material on which they drew."[9]. They started dating in 1986, shortly after her first marriage with Ike. He took ventured into the music industry just like his parents. [21][28], Turner was inspired to learn the piano after he heard Pinetop Perkins play at his friend Ernest Lane's house. [185], In 1999, Turner published his autobiography Takin' Back My Name: The Confessions of Ike Turner. [111] Artists who recorded there included Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Duane Allman, Little Richard, Gayle McCormick, and Frank Zappa. "[34] Turner kept the name throughout his career, although it went through lineup changes over time. [210] Their divorce was finalized on March 29, 1978. Unfortunately, Ike and Lorraine parted ways shortly after Turner Jr. and his sibling's arrival. She had a stroke, got diagnosed with intestinal cancer, and both her kidneys failed, requiring dialysis. Sadly, Tina Turner son Michael Turner, has been maintaining privacy since day 1. [72] In addition, Turner recorded numerous sessions for Stevens with various vocalists and musician lineups of the Kings of Rhythm. When Turner applied for his first passport in the 1960s, he discovered that his name was registered as Ike Wister Turner. Only 100 specimens were made, retailing at $3,399.99. He is buried at the Glen Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California. Also, I wanted the general public to have a better outlook and perspective on where Ike was mentally and emotionally, because so often, as a nation, we turn on people who have mental health issues and define them by their behaviors rather than their condition. [186] It was written with Nigel Cawthorne and Little Richard wrote the introduction. [172] On August 6, Clarksdale officials and music fans gathered to unveil a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail and a plaque on the Clarksdale Walk of Fame in downtown Clarksdale honoring Turner and his musical legacy. [138], After his death in 2007, Turner's autopsy and toxicology report showed he was taking Seroquel at the time of his death. [104][105] This exposure introduced them to a wider audience outside of R&B. [97][91], In 1965, Phil Spector saw them perform at a club on the Sunset Strip and invited them to film The Big T.N.T. [184], In 2015, TV One's Unsung offered some redemption with "The Story of Ike Turner", which documented his career along with his trials and tribulations. They had been married for 1.7 years. Ike Turner Net Worth: Ike Turner was an American musician, songwriter, and producer who had a net worth of $500,000 at the time of his death . The song reached No. Craig Turner, who was born on August 20, 1958, was the son of Turner and saxophonist Raymond Hill. Ronnie Turner Age, Background. [12], Turner began working on a collaboration album with Gorillaz's producer Danger Mouse and the Black Keys in early 2007. [12] Ike & Tina Turner won Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group for "Proud Mary" in 1972. The late Ike Turner stated quite often that he was married a whopping 13 times in his 76 years of life. [112] During this period, Turner produced singer Judy Cheeks' debut album Judy Cheeks (1973),[113] and the last album by the Ikettes, (G)Old & New (1974). Ike Turner Jr became Tina's son after she adopted him in 1962, following her marriage to Ike. [16][188] He often married another woman before divorcing his existing wife. [148] Turner was an early adopter of the Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, buying one from O.K. According to Turner, they did not consummate their marriage. [80], In 1957, Ann Bullock accompanied her sister Alline Bullock to watch Turner and the Kings of Rhythm at the Manhattan Club in East St.