Tina... Ike is dead.

DarkFury · 12-12-2007, 07:38 PM

Rollin... down the river...

http://music.msn.com/news/article.as...88220&GT1=7702

Quote:

Musician Ike Turner Dies at 76
Dec. 12, 2007, 5:25 PM EST
The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO -- 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.

"He did pass away this morning" at his home in San Marcos, said Scott M. Hanover of Thrill Entertainment Group, which managed Turner's musical career.

There was no immediate word on the cause of death, which was first reported by celebrity Web site TMZ.com.

Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in 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."

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.

In a 2001 interview with The Associated Press, Turner denied his ex-wife's claims of abuse and expressed frustration that he had been demonized in the media while his historic role in rock's beginnings had been ignored.

"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.

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.

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.

And it would be another singer — a young woman named Anna Mae Bullock — who would bring Turner his greatest fame, and infamy.

Turner met the 18-year-old Bullock, whom he would later marry, in 1959 and quickly made the husky-voiced woman the lead singer of his group, refashioning her into the sexy Tina Turner. Her stage persona was highlighted by short skirts and stiletto heels that made her legs her most visible asset. But despite the glamorous image, she still sang with the grit and fervor of a rock singer with a twist of soul.

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."

But over the years their genre-defying sound would make them favorites on the rock 'n' roll scene, as they opened for acts like the Rolling Stones.

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.

Still, their hits were often sporadic, and while their public life depicted a powerful, dynamic duo, Tina Turner would later charge that her husband was an overbearing wife abuser and cocaine addict.

In her 1987 autobiography, "I, Tina," she narrated a harrowing tale of abuse, including suffering a broken nose. She said that cycle ended after a vicious fight between the pair in the back seat of a car in Las Vegas, where they were scheduled to perform.

It was the only time she ever fought back against her husband, Turner said.

After the two broke up, both fell into obscurity and endured money woes for years before Tina Turner made a dramatic comeback in 1982 with the release of the album "Private Dancer," a multiplatinum success with hits such as "Let's Stay Together" and "What's Love Got To Do With It."

The movie based on her life, "What's Love Got To Do With It," was also a hit, earning Angela Bassett an Oscar nomination.

But Fishburne's glowering depiction of Ike Turner also furthered Turner's reputation as a rock villain.

Meanwhile, Turner never again had the success he enjoyed with his former wife.

After years of drug abuse, he was jailed in 1989 and served 17 months.

Turner told the AP he originally began using drugs to stay awake and handle the rigors of nonstop touring during his glory years.

"My experience, man, with drugs — I can't say that I'm proud that I did drugs, but I'm glad I'm still alive to convey how I came through," he said. "I'm a good example that you can go to the bottom. ... I used to pray, `God, if you let me get three days clean, I will never look back.' But I never did get to three days. You know why? Because I would lie to myself. And then only when I went to jail, man, did I get those three days. And man, I haven't looked back since then."

But while he would readily admit to drug abuse, Turner always denied abusing his ex-wife.

After years out of the spotlight his career finally began to revive in 2001 when he released the album "Here and Now." The recording won rave reviews and a Grammy nomination and finally helped shift some of the public's attention away from his troubled past and onto his musical legacy.

"His last chapter in life shouldn't be drug abuse and the problems he had with Tina," said Rob Johnson, the producer of "Here and Now."

Turner spent his later years making more music and touring, even while he battled emphysema.

Accolades for his both his early and later work continued to come in as he grew older, and the once-broke Turner managed to garner a comfortable income as his songs were sampled by a variety of rap acts.

In interviews toward the end of his life, Turner would acknowledge having made many mistakes, but maintained he was still able to carry himself with pride.

"I know what I am in my heart. And I know regardless of what I've done, good and bad, it took it all to make me what I am today," he once told the AP.

Goodnight Ike... Yes, you will be remembered... for both the good and the bad.

mechmike0034 · 12-12-2007, 08:06 PM

Indeed - though, like the article said, he is most notorious for drug and spouse abuse (rumors abound that he was married 14 times!), Ike was a great bandleader and musical talent. Ike was a showman, and there aren't many showmen around any more.

He recorded Rocket 88 for Sam Phillips at Sun in 1951 (credited to vocalist Jackie Brenston and Ike's band The Delta Cats) which was one of the first "rock and roll" songs and also one of the first songs recorded with guitar distortion. Rocket 88 was also perhaps the first rock and roll car song - a genre which became a formula a few years later.

ShawnLee · 12-12-2007, 09:27 PM

Rest in Peace. Finally.

Sirrich3 · 12-12-2007, 09:37 PM

Yep...for the good and the bad...

johnnymk · 12-14-2007, 08:06 AM

Funny, but I just can't think of a hit song that Ike ever made. But there were a ton from Tina, the more talented of the pair.

DarkFury · 12-14-2007, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnymk

Funny, but I just can't think of a hit song that Ike ever made. But there were a ton from Tina, the more talented of the pair.

Honestly, you don't get many "hits" when you play music in the "Blues" category.

However, according to Wikipedia, he did get a Grammy in 2007 for Best Traditional Blues Album category for the album, "Risin' With the Blues".

johnnymk · 12-14-2007, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkFury

Honestly, you don't get many "hits" when you play music in the "Blues" category.

However, according to Wikipedia, he did get a Grammy in 2007 for Best Traditional Blues Album category for the album, "Risin' With the Blues".

Well, since I'm not a Blues fan, I guess his "hits" escaped me.

DarkFury · 12-14-2007, 08:25 AM

Exactly.

Me too... I listen to R&B and Hip Hop mostly.

johnnymk · 12-14-2007, 10:18 AM

Going to a blues concert is probably like going to a James Taylor concert....totally boring.

Markel · 12-14-2007, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnymk

Going to a blues concert is probably like going to a James Taylor concert....totally boring.

Ack - I have memories of working at a construction site when the guy in the house behind was sitting at his pool with a James Taylor tape playing in the what I'm guessing was an 8-track, because the thing kept repeating the same songs for HOURS. Totally turned me off to James Taylor for the rest of my life.

mechmike0034 · 12-16-2007, 12:13 PM

Here's the real deal (warning - profanity) from one of Ike's bandmates, Steve Leigh:
http://www.sl-prokeys.com/ike/iketurner.htm

DarkFury · 12-16-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mechmike0034

Here's the real deal (warning - profanity) from one of Ike's bandmates, Steve Leigh:
http://www.sl-prokeys.com/ike/iketurner.htm

Wow....

Thanks for that link MM34. That recount by someone actually present really does shed alot of light on the "Ike and Tina" story that everyone currently goes by (i.e. "The Walt Disney recount of Tina's autobiography... "What's Love Got to Do with it".)

Like I mentioned earlier... "for the good and the bad", Ike will be remembered. Honestly, it just seems that the "the truth is only a matter of perspective" sometimes.

oblongmelon · 12-19-2007, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnymk

Going to a blues concert is probably like going to a James Taylor concert....totally boring.

OMG have you ever BEEN to a James Taylor concert? OMG he's SOOOO NOT BORING. I've seen him 5 times in concert and wish I had gone more..he's one artist worth paying money to go see.

johnnymk · 12-19-2007, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oblongmelon

OMG have you ever BEEN to a James Taylor concert? OMG he's SOOOO NOT BORING. I've seen him 5 times in concert and wish I had gone more..he's one artist worth paying money to go see.

Nope, and never plan to go to one.

A friend of mine who has practically identical tastes in music went to one years ago and told me he nearly fell asleep there.

I don't dislike his music. I just wouldn't want a steady dose of it.

Same with many singers or groups. I can listen to them, but just a song or two at a time.

mechmike0034 · 12-19-2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnymk

Going to a blues concert is probably like going to a James Taylor concert....totally boring.

Two words, my friend - Buddy Guy!

Two more - Johnny Winter!

Last, but not least, the Vaughan brothers...

12-12-2007, 08:06 PM	#2
mechmike0034 aka the keg killer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ala-effin'-bama! Posts: 2,738	Indeed - though, like the article said, he is most notorious for drug and spouse abuse (rumors abound that he was married 14 times!), Ike was a great bandleader and musical talent. Ike was a showman, and there aren't many showmen around any more. He recorded Rocket 88 for Sam Phillips at Sun in 1951 (credited to vocalist Jackie Brenston and Ike's band The Delta Cats) which was one of the first "rock and roll" songs and also one of the first songs recorded with guitar distortion. Rocket 88 was also perhaps the first rock and roll car song - a genre which became a formula a few years later. __________________ "The price of progress is trouble." (C. F. "Boss" Kettering) "50% of the American public has below-average intelligence. 70% of the American public now has regular access to the Internet. Do the math." (unknown)

12-12-2007, 09:37 PM	#4
Sirrich3 Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: In Sunny Southern California Posts: 3,950	Yep...for the good and the bad... __________________

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12-14-2007, 08:06 AM	#5
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Funny, but I just can't think of a hit song that Ike ever made. But there were a ton from Tina, the more talented of the pair.

12-14-2007, 08:25 AM	#8
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	Exactly. Me too... I listen to R&B and Hip Hop mostly.

12-14-2007, 10:18 AM	#9
johnnymk Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: May 2000 Location: LEVITTOWN< PA> USA Posts: 13,621	Going to a blues concert is probably like going to a James Taylor concert....totally boring.

12-16-2007, 12:13 PM	#11
mechmike0034 aka the keg killer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ala-effin'-bama! Posts: 2,738	Here's the real deal (warning - profanity) from one of Ike's bandmates, Steve Leigh: http://www.sl-prokeys.com/ike/iketurner.htm

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