Turner, Tina (1938–)

African-American rock-and-roll singer. Born Anna Mae Bullock, Nov 26, 1938, in Nut Bush, TN; m. musician Ike Turner (sep. 1976, div. 1978); companion of Erwin Bach, EMI record company executive, for many years; children: (Raymond) Craig Turner; (with Ike Turner) Ronald Renelle Turner.

After meeting Ike Turner, began performing professionally while attending high school in St. Louis, MO; became featured singer of Ike and Tina Turner Revue, recording "A Fool in Love" (1960) and "River Deep, Mountain High" (1965); with band, opened for Rolling Stones during US tour (1969), which resulted in several pop chart hits: "I've Been Loving You Too Long," "Got to Take You Higher," "Bold Soul Sister," "Honky Tonk Woman" and "Proud Mary" (1970); appeared in film version of The Who's rock opera Tommy (1974); abandoned both Turner and his band because of Ike's abusive treatment (1976), refusing all compensation as part of their divorce; rebuilt career performing 6 nights a week in small clubs; after meeting an Australian manager who promoted her, released album Private Dancer (1984), which included "What's Love Got to Do With It"; soon far eclipsed whatever fame she had achieved previously with Turner's band; appeared in film Mad Max—Beyond Thunderdome (for which she sang the title song, "We Don't Need Another Hero"); went on tour which earned nearly $25 million (1997). At Grammys, awarded Best Female Pop Vocal for "What's Love," while her work on the album Better Be Good to Me earned Best Female Rock Vocal and "What's Love" was named Best Record of the Year (1984); inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1991).

See also autobiography (with Kurt Loder) I, Tina (Morrow, 1986); (film) What's Love Got to Do With It?, starring Angela Bassett, based on autobiography (1993); and Women in World History.