Tina Turner Dead at 83

Anna Mae Bullock, better known as Tina Turner, who would go on to sell 200 million records and rack up eight Grammy Awards has died at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland. She was 83 years old.

Turner had suffered several health issues in recent years include cancer, a stroke, and kidney failure.

Turner rose to fame with her husband Ike Turner in the 1960s with songs such as Proud Mary and River Deep, Mountain High. During her relationship with Ike, she suffered physical and emotional abuse from Ike. It was Ike who changed her name to Tina Turner without her knowledge.

After divorcing Ike in 1978, she would go on to have greater success as a solo artist in the 1980s. This would culminate with her 1984 landmark album Private Dancer featuring the hits, What’s Love Got to Do With It, Better Be Good to Me, and Private Dancer.

She had several film roles including The Who’s 1975 Rock Opera, Tommy in which she played the Acid Queen. She had a starring role1985 film Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome which featured the hit song, We Don’t Need Another Hero.

Her high energy performances earned her the name “Queen of Rock n’ Roll”.

In addition to her 8 Grammy Awards, she earned 3 Grammy Hall of Fame awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2021, she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She had previously been inducted with Ike Turner in 1991.

Later in life she married her second husband, long-time companion German music executive Erwin Bac. She would move to Switzerland with Bac and take Swiss citizenship.

Tragedy struck Turner in 2018 when her eldest song Craig committed suicide. Craig was the son of Turner’s former bandmate, Raymond Hill. Another son Ronnie, whose father was Ike Turner died in 2022.

Image Credit: Tina Turner Social Media