The illustrious Tina Turner, renowned for her captivating voice and vibrant stage persona in the world of rock, has passed away at the age of 83.
An official statement was released by her representative, stating, “Today, Tina Turner, hailed as the ‘Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ has peacefully passed away at her residence in Kusnacht, near Zurich, Switzerland, following a protracted illness. With her departure, we have lost a music legend and a role model.”
Born and raised in the United States, Turner’s undeniable talent and charismatic performances led her to become a stalwart figure in rock music. Her career was marked by legendary hits such as The Best, Proud Mary, Private Dancer, and What’s Love Got to Do With It.
Among the first to pay tribute were Mick Jagger, Diana Ross, Bette Midler, Giorgio Armani, and Bryan Adams. Jagger, the lead singer of the Rolling Stones, praised her, stating, “She was incredibly talented, inspiring, warm, humorous, and generous. She provided me with invaluable support in my early years, and her memory will always be cherished.”
Turner initially rose to fame in the 1960s when she began performing alongside her former husband, Ike Turner. Their collaboration resulted in classic hits such as River Deep, Mountain High and Nutbush City Limits. However, her turbulent marriage, marred by Ike’s domestic abuse, came to light in the 1993 Oscar-winning film, “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” where Angela Bassett delivered a powerful portrayal of Tina.
Despite her career seemingly coming to a standstill by the late 1970s, Turner’s resilience led to a remarkable comeback in the 1980s. Her cover of Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together in 1983 reignited her popularity. Following this, she signed a contract with Capitol Records, resulting in the release of the multi-million-selling album Private Dancer in 1984. This iconic album solidified her status as a global superstar.
Among the most recognizable songs of her career is The Best, a Bonnie Tyler cover featured in her 1989 album, Foreign Affair. Another classic, Proud Mary, saw Turner delivering energetic dance performances well into her seventies.
Her renewed fame also led to an appearance in 1985’s Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome alongside Mel Gibson, resulting in the hit song We Don’t Need Another Hero.
Born as Annie Anna Bullock in November 1939 in a segregated hospital in Tennessee, Turner took on Swiss citizenship a decade prior to her demise. She spent her final years on a vast estate on Lake Zurich with her husband, Erwin Bach, a former EMI record executive, who was sixteen years her junior. Turner revealed in 2018 that Bach had donated one of his kidneys to her after she battled intestinal cancer and a stroke.
Reflecting on their meeting in 1985, Turner had once expressed to Oprah Winfrey, “He had the most beautiful face. It was impossible not to notice him. It felt like a soul connection. I was shaking.” Her powerful legacy in the music world will continue to inspire for generations to come.
#TinaTurner #QueenOfRockNRoll #MusicLegend #staticlivemagazine #staticlivemusic
