Ike and Tina Turner

Tales of Ike Turner's abusive behaviour towards his greatly loved wife Tina may have tainted Ike and Tina Turner's legacy, but they still made one of the all-time great pop records, River Deep - Mountain High and influenced many who followed. Ike was the driving force in the operation, having achieved an early breakthrough with his band The Kings Of Rhythm, who had a hit in 1951 with the bluesy Rocket 88; sometimes claimed to be the first rock'n'roll record. Ike was playing at a club in East St Louis with the Kings Of Rhythm when a then 16-year-old Anna Mae Bullock jumped up on stage to sing with him. Impressed by her formidable, raspy voice, he invited her to join the group as a backing singer and changed her name to Tina and the Kings of Rhythm evolved into the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. They scored their first hit in 1960 with A Fool In Love but it was their sexy, all-action live shows which turned them into stars. Characterised by producer Phil Spector's famous Wall Of Sound, they recorded River Deep - Mountain High (written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich) in 1966 and their steamy, energetic show caused a sensation on tour with the Rolling Stones. Other hits followed - notably Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits - but their popularity declined with Ike's descent into drug addiction and violent behaviour. Tina eventually fled the marriage in 1976 and went on to become a major solo star, while her tumultuous 16-year marriage to Ike was documented in the movie What's Love Got To Do With It (1993). © ©Copyright Music Story 2020