Road Trip Playlist: Ten songs to remember that Tina Turner will always be ‘simply the best’
Tina Turner, the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” died Wednesday, May 25 at 83.
Turner’s family shared the sad news of her passing. The iconic entertainer “died peacefully after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland,” said the statement shared with Rolling Stone. “With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model.”
The outlet mentioned that a cause of death was not immediately available, though Turner had a stroke and battled kidney failure and intestinal cancer in recent years.
Born Anna Mae Bullock on Nov. 26, 1939, Tuner was born in Brownsville, TN, and raised in nearby Nutbush, TN. She later popularized the small town with her single, “Nutbush City Limits.” Tuner emerged on the scene as Tina Turner in 1960 as a duo with singer/guitarist Ike Turner. Their first single was “A Fool In Love.” The duo went on to release hit singles, including “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine,” “River Deep – Mountain High” and “Proud Mary.”
With her volcanic stage energy, risque stage outfits, gravity-defying hair, and soulful take on Rock & Roll, Tuner quickly rose to stardom. By the time the group had dissolved in 1976, Tuner was noted as one of the most formidable music artists in the industry.
After the disbandment, Turner returned to music as a solo artist. In 1984 she released her fifth solo studio album, “Private Dancer.” The album contained one of her biggest singles, “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” which won Record of The Year at the Grammys in 1985.
Much of Tina’s life and abusive marriage to Ike Turner was depicted in the 1993 biographical film, “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” starring Angela Bassett as Turner. Turner overcame domestic violence, family trauma and music industry woes to become one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. Turner sold out arenas worldwide. She has stars located on the Hollywood and St. Louis Walk of Fame. She broke down doors in music as the first Black person and woman to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone and one of the first to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. In 2013, the 12-time Grammy winner became a citizen of Switzerland.
As the world mourns losing one of its most beloved stars, Detour wants to honor her with the art she left behind.
Check out our playlist of love for the “Queen of Rock’n’ Roll.”
“We Don’t Need Another Hero” (Mad Maxx Beyond Thunderdome soundtrack)
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.