The Story of Tina Turner: Her Songs, Career and Ike

She was born on November 26, 1939 in Nutbush, Tennessee. Her name was "Anna Mae Bullock". Anna Mae worked in the cotton fields until, when she was just sixteen years old, she began a singing career by performing in Ike Turner's traveling show. Ike saw that Anna Mae had enormous vocal talents, so he took her under his wing and guided her for success. After touring together for a few years, Ike and Anna Mae finally married in 1958. Anna Mae Bullock was now known as... Tina Turner.

Ike and Tina made several records together, their biggest hit being "Proud Mary" which was released in 1970. Though they had successful careers singing together, their marriage was not as triumphant. It was said to have been marred by Ike's compulsive control of her as well as his abusive behavior.

Finally, Tina had enough in 1976. She walked away from Ike, their marriage, and their crowd-pleasing act to start a solo career. Their divorce became final in 1978. But Tina Turner didn't start to make a comeback on her own until she signed on with Capitol Records in 1982. From that time on, there was no stopping her. Two years later, Tina Turner recorded the Top 20 hit, "Let's Stay Together." Later the same year, Tina released her first solo hit, "What's Love Got To Do With It." This song was number one on the "Billboard Hot 100 chart", and it held its place for three straight weeks.

Later that same year, Tina released an album titled, "Private Dancer," and it quickly rose to be a gold, then a platinum album, for Tina.

The following year, 1985, was also a boon time for this sexy, talented singer. Tina Turner started out the year by winning not one, but, two American Music Awards. She then won three Grammy Awards. Two of the awards were for Record of the Year and Best Vocal Performance on "What's Love Got To Do With It. The third Grammy was for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance on the song, "Better Be Good To Me".

Following her recording successes, in June of the same year, Tina took to the movie screen where she starred as "Aunt Entity" in the action movie, "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome." Tina also recorded two songs for the movie: "We Don't Need Another Hero" and "One Of The Living."

Two months later, Tina Turner's long, illustrious career as a talented singer, and, as an accomplished actor, was honored when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

And finally, Tina finished the year by winning a "Best Actress Award" from the NAACP for her spectacular performance as "Aunt Entity" in "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome."

During the next several years, Tina Turner's enormous success grew as she continued to tour and release songs. In October of 1986, for example, she cranked out another number one hit with the song, "Typical Male"... In September of 1989, she released her "Foreign Affair" album. Two months later, in November, it was certified as being a gold album...In October of 1991, her album titled, "Simply The Best", which was a collection of Tina Turner hits, was released. She was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with her ex-husband Ike Turner...the list of Tina's accomplishments goes on and on.

Finally, after being in the music business for nearly four decades, Tina Turner's touring schedule slowed down in 1991. One of her tours that year was supposed to her last. But if you've ever seen her in concert, she doesn't stand still for very long on the stage...and neither did Tina Turner's career.

She went on to perform even more concerts and release more songs. In 1997, for example, Tina's "Wildest Dreams Tour" grossed more than $24 million.

In the fall of 2000, when she had become sixty years young, Tina Turner took a renewed look at her life and her career. She had completed a United States tour that year, and followed that with a few more performances. Finally, she ended the year with a concert in Anaheim, California. It is said to be the last tour for Tina Turner.

Last tour or not, Tina Turner definitely left the music world while she was on the top. Tina has won seven Grammy awards to date. She is heralded as being one of the most entertaining acts in the music world.

If you want to learn more about her triumphant life, you can see the 1993 movie, "What's Love Got to Do With It?" It's based on Tina Turner's autobiography which is titled, "I, Tina'', (Avon, 1987.)