TINA TURNER

This week on 'Classics', Fluid brings to you from outside the Shores of Africa, one of the greatest female vocalist of all time, the Queen of Rock n Roll- Tina Turner; whose music and Lifestory has been a source of inspiration and Liberation to many women all around the world and she's known as the woman who never gave up....

Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939. She grew up in a small town called Nutbush, Tennessee to a mixed race couple (African American, Navajo and Cherokee) in the segregated south and was raised as a Baptist, her family were share-croppers and her parents fought constantly. Anna Mae (Tina Turner) was 10 when she and her elder sister were abandoned by their mother and 13 when their father left.

Anna Mae was raised by her sister, her cousins and her grandmother. When her grandmother died, Anna Mae moved to St. Louis, Missouri, for a reunion with her estranged mother.

For Anna Mae, now a precocious 16-year-old, the move opened the door to a new world of Rhythm and Blues, of music and nightclubs, and she was smitten. It wasn’t long before she came to know Ike Turner’s band The Kings of Rhythm, who played at Club Manhattan, which she used to frequent. It was during a performance of theirs, in 1956, that the young Anna Mae was called on stage to sing. She shone with a natural talent for performing, which caught Ike’s eye

Her break into music finally came the day a singer failed to turn up for Ike’s recording session of ‘A Fool in Love’ (1960). He asked Anna Mae to provide the vocals, fully intending to later replace them. Ike quickly changed his mind when he heard her spine-tingling rendition of the song. That was the moment that Ike decided to make Anna Mae his. He changed her name to Tina Turner, and when ‘A Fool in Love’ became a hit, he made her a full band member. In his eyes, she was a necessary part in his quest for international stardom. Ike also made Tina his wife in 1960 and their son, Ronnie, was born in 1964.

Tina's marriage to Ike ended in 1974 due to the excessive abuses she faced in their marriage leaving the marriage with no assets but the name Tina Turner.  She wrote about it all in her autobiography 'I, Tina', which was made into the movie 'What’s Love Got to Do with It' (1993). Ike was later convicted on drug related charges and served time in a California State Prison.

 Amongst some of her songs are 'What's Love got to do with it',' We Don't Need Another Hero', Acid Queen' in 1975 and following that with a cameo role in the film 'Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band' (1978). Two more albums followed, 'Rough' (1978) and 'Love Explosion' (1979), 'Private Dancer' in 1984 and by that summer, world sales reached 11 million. ‘Better Be Good To Me’ and the massive ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’ which spent three weeks at number one on the charts. This single was later winner of the prestigious Grammy awards.

Tina’s achievements on record, on screen, and as an author are extensive. With more than 50 years in the music business, she is one of the most commercially successful female rock stars to date. She had become a legend in her own time, with her powerful voice – sometimes gritty, sometimes sultry, always attention-grabbing, her incredible legs, her huge hair, and her time-tested beauty; she makes an unforgettable story of a very special lady.

In 2002, Turner released the album 'All The Best', which peaked at number six in the UK singles chart and features some of the star's biggest hits. It also included three new recordings, as well as a duet Turner sang for the 'Brother Bear' film soundtrack.

The singer performed alongside Beyonce Knowles at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008, her first major appearance in a number of years. She later that year embarked on a 50th anniversary tour. The tour proved hugely successful, grossing more than $130 million between the North American and European legs giving out more energy than ever before.

Tayo Ankra.