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Biography:
Born Annie Mae Bullock, 26 November 1939, Brownsville, Tennessee, USA. A singer while in her early teens, this enduring artist was a regular performer in St. Louis's nightclubs when she was discovered by guitarist Ike Turner in 1956. She joined his group as a backing singer, but quickly became the co-star and featured vocalist, a relationship sealed two years later with their marriage. Ike And Tina Turner were a highly successful act on the R&B circuit, before expanding their audience through a controversial liaison with producer Phil Spector. They emerged as a leading pop/soul act during the late 60s/early 70s with tours in support of the Rolling Stones and hits with 'Proud Mary' (1971) and 'Nutbush City Limits' (1973).
However the relationship between husband and wife grew increasingly strained as Ike's behaviour became irrational. Tina walked out of their professional and personal relationship during a 1975 tour, incurring the wrath of concert promoters who remained unsympathetic when the singer attempted a solo act. During this time the singer appeared in Ken Russell's film of the Who 's rock-opera Tommy, offering an outrageous portrayal of the Acid Queen; however, this acclaimed cameo failed to successfully launch Turner's solo career.
Her career was rejuvenated in 1983 when British group Heaven 17 invited her to participate in an off-shoot project dubbed BEF. She contributed a suitably raucous version of the Temptations 'Ball Of Confusion' which, in turn, engendered a recording contract with Capitol Records. Turner's reading of Al Green's 'Let's Stay Together' reached the UK Top 10, while an attendant album, Private Dancer, hurriedly completed in its wake, spawned another major hit in 'What's Love Got To Do With It'. This melodramatic ballad topped the US chart, reached number 3 in Britain and won two Grammys as Record Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female. The title track, written by Mark Knopfler, was also a transatlantic hit. In 1984 Turner accepted a role in the film Mad Max Beyond The Thunderdome, the theme from which, 'We Don't Need Another Hero', was another international hit. The following year she duetted with Mick Jagger at the Live Aid concert and contributed to the US charity single 'We Are The World'.
Turner has since enhanced her popularity worldwide through a series of punishing tours, yet her energy has remained undiminished. Although commentators have criticised her one-dimensional approach, she enjoys massive popularity. She is truly happy with her present life and talks articulately about her difficult past. The voluptuous image is kept for the stage, while a quieter Tina offstage enjoys the fruits of her considerable success. Her 1985 autobiography was filmed in 1993 as What's Love Got To Do With It?, which also gave its title to a bestselling album and an extensive worldwide tour. Now allegedly retired from performing she released the title track from the James Bond movie Goldeneye in October 1995. The Bono /Edge composition had Turner sounding uncannily like Shirley Bassey (the vocalist on 'Goldfinger'). The Trevor Horn-produced Wildest Dreams was a further solid rock album, laying her strong R&B roots to rest.
Turner's latest album, Twenty-Four Seven has followed the success of previous albums, and has been accompanied by the sell-out tour by the same name, a tour which Turner claims will be the last. The album features work by Metro, the producers of Cher's 'Believe' album, the Spice Girls produces as well as more traditional work. The lead single, 'When The Heartache Is Over' has given Turner another top 10 single throughout Europe, and the Twenty-Four Seven album received the highest placed album for Turner in her career in the US charts.
Taken from Yahoo! Music and brought up to date
by G.D. Smith.
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