Mojo - The Music Magazine

Ike Turner, acknowledged as a founding father of rock’n’roll, died on December 12 of causes as yet undetermined, at home in San Diego, California at the age of 76.

Looming over his massive achievements as a guitarist, songwriter, recording artist, producer, talent-spotter, bandleader and trendsetter, were the fruits of a simmering temper liable to volcanic explosions, as one of his several wives, Tina Turner, attested. In London earlier this year to collect the MOJO Legend Award, where he was reunited with the Gorillaz’ Damon Albarn, on whose album he’d worked, Turner had looked in lean good health with his recording career back on track after 2006’s Risin' With The Blues had won a Grammy for best traditional blues album.

Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on November 5, 1931, named either Izear Luster Turner Jr or Ike Wister Turner, Turner learned the lesson of the Deep South’s racism very early on when his preacher father, Izear Luster Turner Sr, was dragged from the family home, kidnapped, beaten, tortured and dumped back in the front. He was cared for in a tent in the yard for two or three years, slowly dying from his injuries. Ike was about five at the time.

Music first rescued his life in the shape of Pinetop Perkins’ boogie-woogie piano style and he quickly picked up the rudiments. Gaining early experience playing behind bluesmen, at the end of his teenage apprenticeship he took his own Kings Of Rhythm to record at Sam Phillips’ Sun Studios in Memphis. Essentially a covers band, on the way to the studio they came up with Rocket 88, hymn to an Oldsmobile. Released under the name Jackie Brenston – Ike was never keen on the spotlight but the billing still rankled – the single’s driving boogie piano, Willie Kizart’s speaker-shredding electric guitar, Ray Hill’s rasping sax and Brenston’s conversational vocal was a seismic shift in blues and R&B template: rock’n’roll had arrived. A Number 1 R&B chart hit by June 1951, Turner’s place as an innovator was cemented.

Adding guitar to his instrumental armoury, Ike played on numerous Sun sessions and became a talent spotter for Modern label, notably identifying B.B. King’s potential. He moved his band to East St Louis, where in 1956 he met Annie Mae Bullock who became Tina Turner, a singer in his R&B revue. They married in 1958 and two years later A Fool In Love was Ike And Tina Turner’s first US Top 30 pop hit. It’s Gonna Work Out Fine the following year was an even bigger hit and their soul revue became a long-running, hard-working ’60s entity, racking up numerous R&B chart hits. In 1966, Phil Spector produced the classic River Deep Mountain High, with Ike banned from the studio. A huge UK hit, it flopped badly in the US. After supporting The Rolling Stones on tours in 1966 (UK) and 1969 (USA), Ike and Tina cashed in on the exposure with a 1971 pop hit cover of Proud Mary. But Ike’s drug intake and physically abusive behaviour was wearing Tina down and she fled him in 1976, later finding considerable solo success.

Ike became a pariah with the publication of I Tina, his ex-wife’s autobiography that detailed his treatment of her. His studios burnt down in 1982, he was jailed in 1990 for a drugs-driving offence and was further vilified after What’s Love Got To Do With It retold Tina’s life as a film. But music rescued him again when he put Kings Of Rhythm back together, returned to recording and gave his own version of his life in Takin’ Back My Name. Only music could ever be Ike Turner’s salvation.

Geoff Brown

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UPDATED:

The following statement was released earlier today (December 17):

For those of you who would like to extend your arms and embrace the Turner Family and loved ones of Ike with support and love. We have set up a online memorial for you to easily share with Ike's family and help to provide them comfort in this difficult time.

Iketurner.com is in the process of composing memories, thoughts, and messages to Ike as he travels on his journey from his closest friends as well as news, a photo gallery of Ike and industry friends and acquaintances. Stay Ike'en On