Ike Turner was an American musician, bandleader, songwriter, record producer and talent scout.
An early pioneer of 1950s rock and roll, he is best known for his work in the 1960s and 1970s with his then-wife Tina Turner as the leader of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.
Turner was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on November 5, 1931.
He began playing piano as a child and by the late 1940s had played with a number of the leading blues musicians in the Mississippi Delta region.
While in high school he formed a band, the Kings of Rhythm. In 1951, Turner recorded the single “Rocket 88” with the Kings of Rhythm.
Turner went on to produce a number of other hit records for the Kings of Rhythm, including Shake, Rattle and Roll and I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby.
Ike Turner career
Turner began his career in the early 1950s, playing piano and organ with a number of blues and R&B bands.
In 1951, he recorded the single “Rocket 88” with his band, the Kings of Rhythm. The song is considered to be one of the first rock and roll records ever made.
In the mid-1950s, Turner began working as a talent scout for Sun Records. He was instrumental in the early careers of various blues musicians such as B.B.
King, Howlin’ Wolf, and Bobby Blue Bland. In 1954, Turner relocated to East St. Louis where his Kings of Rhythm became one of the most renowned acts in Greater St. Louis.
In 1960, Turner formed the Ike & Tina Turner Revue with his then-wife, Tina Turner.
The Revue became one of the most popular live acts in the world, and they scored a number of hit singles, including River Deep – Mountain High, Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits.
He died in 2007 at the age of 76.
How much was Ike Turner’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ike Turner had a net worth of $500,000 at the time of his death in 2007.
His primary source of income was his music career.
He was a successful musician, songwriter, and producer, and he earned a significant amount of money from his work.
Ike also earned money from touring and from licensing his music.
Ike Turner marriage life
Ike Turner was married twice; his first marriage was to Zelma Currie in 1952.
By the time they divorced in 1960, the couple had two children together, Ike Turner Jr. and Ronnie Turner.
In 1960, Turner married singer Anna Mae Bullock (later known as Tina Turner), and had two had a son together, Craig Turner.
The couple’s marriage was often tumultuous, and Turner was physically and emotionally abusive towards Tina.
In 1976, Tina Turner left Ike Turner and filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized in 1978.
Ike Turner children
Ike Turner had six children with three different women.
They are;
- Ike Turner Jr. (born 1958) with Lorraine Taylor
- Michael Turner (born 1960) with Lorraine Taylor
- Ronnie Turner (born 1960) with Tina Turner
- Craig Turner (born 1958) with Tina Turner
- Ike Turner III (born 1978) with Afton Williams
- Mia Turner (born 1981) with Afton Williams
Ronnie died in December 2022 at the age of 62 while Craig died by suicide in July 2018 at the age of 59.
Ike Turner death
Turner died on December 12, 2007, at his home in San Marcos, California, from a cocaine overdose.
He was 76 years old.
Turner had a long history of drug addiction, and he had been in and out of rehab for many years.
In the months leading up to his death, he had been struggling with depression and anxiety.
