Tina Turner

She was born Anna Mae Bullock in the small Tennessee town of Nutbush on November 26, 1939 to a Cherokee/Navajo mother and an African American father; but to the world over she is better known as Tina Turner. For some 50 years Turner has been strutting her stuff on stage with a big hairdo, in high stiletto heels and short costumes showing off her legs.

Back home in Nutbush Anna Mae wanted to be a nurse, but all that changed when she moved to St. Louis with her mother and discovered the vast music available there. When she was 18 Turner landed a job singing back up for Ike Turner and his band The Ike Turner Revue. One day the lead singer of the band did not show up for a recording session and Ike put young Anna Mae in front of the microphone intending to replace the vocal part later. But when Ike heard the young girl sing all of that changed; the taping stood as it was recorded and Ike had a new lead singer and a star.

It was Ike Turner who changed Ana Mae's name to Tina. That was not all Ike did; he was known for being abusive to Tina. Ike's abuse was not the first time Tina had seen some bad times; her parents split up when she was young. Eventually Tina went out on her own leaving Ike and the group.

In the eighties Tina revived her career this time as a solo artist. Since her release of "Private Dancer" which sold five million copies, Tina Turner went on to sell 60 million albums around the world. Her albums "All the Best", "Simply the Best", the soundtrack from "What's Love Got to Do With It", and "Break Every Rule" all sold one million copies and were certified platinum. Turner has sung duets with Bryan Adams, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, and Mick Jagger.

Besides a singing career Tina has had parts in the movie "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" and she played the Acid Queen in "Tommy". Turner was offered roles in "The Colour Purple" and "Thelma and Louise" but she turned them down. She also has a best selling autobiography "I, Tina" and a hit move about her life "What's Love Got to Do With It".

As a result of her hard work Tina has amassed seven Grammy Awards, is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of the Ike Turner Reviue, has a Lifetime Achievement Award from Music of Black Origin, and received the Kennedy Center Honours.

In 2000 Tina Turner retired from the stage but continues to entertain audiences with her music.