Just about everybody knows Tina Turner’s personal story, and her trials and tribulations as part of the Ike and Tina Turner show, where Ike regularly beat her and treated her worse than a dog. That story is one of perseverance and overcoming adversity.
But man, what a voice. What a dancer. What an extraordinary presence. She was one of those rare human beings born with so much innate talent, it’s hard to comprehend how much greatness she had. If the average talented singer is like a string of firecrackers, Tina Turner was like the fireworks display on July 4, 1976, where it seemed like every ounce of gunpowder and sparkle in the world was up in the sky, exploding above you.
There was a long period of time, probably fifteen years or so, from the late 1950s through the mid-1970s, where the Ike and Tina Turner Show was the hottest live music show in the country. They were based out of St. Louis, so, growing up in Missouri, I probably heard more stories about Ike and Tina than anyone else. They played everywhere, constantly, sometimes two or three shows per night at different venues. I can’t tell you how many stories I heard about young white kids sneaking in to black roadhouses on the outskirts of town to see Ike and Tina. Their influence was immeasurable. The pace was relentless. In the midst of this workaholic pace, and despite constant abuse from Ike, Tina was just utterly magnetic. You couldn’t take your eyes off her.
Here’s a clip of what it was like, the band playing live, Tina and the dancers going through all their paces, and Tina just singing her ever-lovin’ ass off. It’s hard to view this clip and think of Tina Turner ever getting old and dying, but eventually time catches up to all of us. RIP Tina Turner, thanks for everything you gave us.
