From Yahoo:

Musician Ike Turner dies at 76

12/12/2007 4:36 PM, AP


Ike Turner, whose role as one of rock's critical architects was overshadowed by his ogrelike image as the man who brutally abused former wife and icon Tina Turner, died Wednesday at his home in suburban San Diego. He was 76.

"He did pass away this morning" at his home in San Marcos, in northern San Diego County, said Scott M. Hanover of Thrill Entertainment Group, which managed Turner's musical career.

There was no immediate word on the cause of death, which was first reported by celebrity Web site TMZ.com.

Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in his later years, touring around the globe with his band the Kings of Rhythm and drawing critical acclaim for his work. He won a Grammy in 2007 in the traditional blues album category for "Risin' With the Blues."

But his image is forever identified as the drug-addicted, wife-abusing husband of Tina Turner. He was hauntingly portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the movie "What's Love Got To Do With It," based on Tina Turner's autobiography.

From CNN:

SAN DIEGO, California (AP) -- Ike Turner, whose role as one of rock's critical architects was overshadowed by his ogrelike image as the man who brutally abused former wife Tina Turner, died Wednesday at his home in suburban San Diego. He was 76.


Ike Turner won a Grammy for best traditional blues album for 'Risin' With The Blues' on February 11.

1 of 2 "He did pass away this morning" at his home in San Marcos, said Scott M. Hanover of Thrill Entertainment Group, which managed Turner's musical career.

There was no immediate word on the cause of death, which was first reported by celebrity Web site TMZ.com.

Turner managed to rehabilitate his image somewhat in later years, touring around the globe with his band the Kings of Rhythm and drawing critical acclaim for his work. Watch a report about Turner's death »

He won a Grammy in 2007 in the traditional blues album category for "Risin' With the Blues."

But his image is forever identified as the drug-addicted, wife-abusing husband of Tina Turner. He was hauntingly portrayed by Laurence Fishburne in the movie "What's Love Got To Do With It," based on Tina Turner's autobiography.

In a 2001 interview with The Associated Press, Turner denied his ex-wife's claims of abuse and expressed frustration that he had been demonized in the media while his historic role in rock's beginnings had been ignored.

"You can go ask Snoop Dogg or Eminem, you can ask the Rolling Stones or (Eric) Clapton, or you can ask anybody -- anybody, they all know my contribution to music, but it hasn't been in print about what I've done or what I've contributed until now," he said.

Turner, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is credited by many rock historians with making the first rock 'n' roll record, "Rocket 88," in 1951. Produced by the legendary Sam Phillips, it was groundbreaking for its use of distorted electric guitar.

But as would be the case for most of his career, Turner, a prolific session guitarist and piano player, was not the star on the record -- it was recorded with Turner's band but credited to singer Jackie Brenston.

And it would be another singer -- a young woman named Anna Mae Bullock -- who would bring Turner his greatest fame, and infamy.

Turner met the 18-year-old Bullock, whom he would later marry, in 1959 and quickly made the husky-voiced woman the lead singer of his group, refashioning her into the sexy Tina Turner. Her stage persona was highlighted by short skirts and stiletto heels that made her legs her most visible asset. But despite the glamorous image, she still sang with the grit and fervor of a rock singer with a twist of soul.

The pair would have two sons. They also produced a string of hits. The first, "A Fool In Love," was a top R&B song in 1959, and others followed, including "I Idolize You" and "It's Gonna Work Out Fine."

But over the years they're genre-defying sound would make them favorites on the rock 'n' roll scene, as they opened for acts like the Rolling Stones.

The densely layered hit "River Deep, Mountain High" was one of producer Phil Spector's proudest creations. A rousing version of "Proud Mary," a cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit, became their signature song and won them a Grammy for best R&B vocal performance by a group.

Still, their hits were often sporadic, and while their public life depicted a powerful, dynamic duo, Tina Turner would later charge that her husband was an overbearing wife abuser and cocaine addict.

In her 1987 autobiography, "I, Tina," she narrated a harrowing tale of abuse, including suffering a broken nose. She said that cycle ended after a vicious fight between the pair in the back seat of a car in Las Vegas, where they were scheduled to perform.

It was the only time she ever fought back against her husband, Turner said.

After the two broke up, both fell into obscurity and endured money woes for years before Tina Turner made a dramatic comeback in 1982 with the release of the album "Private Dancer," a multiplatinum success with hits such as "Let's Stay Together" and "What's Love Got To Do With It."

The movie based on her life, "What's Love Got To Do With It," was also a hit, earning Angela Bassett an Oscar nomination.

But Fishburne's glowering depiction of Ike Turner also furthered Turner's reputation as a rock villain.

Meanwhile, Turner never again had the success he enjoyed with his former wife.

After years of drug abuse, he was jailed in 1989 and served 17 months.

Turner told the AP he originally began using drugs to stay awake and handle the rigors of nonstop touring during his glory years.

"My experience, man, with drugs -- I can't say that I'm proud that I did drugs, but I'm glad I'm still alive to convey how I came through," he said.

"I'm a good example that you can go to the bottom. ... I used to pray, `God, if you let me get three days clean, I will never look back.' But I never did get to three days. You know why? Because I would lie to myself. And then only when I went to jail, man, did I get those three days. And man, I haven't looked back since then."

But while he would readily admit to drug abuse, Turner always denied abusing his ex-wife.

After years out of the spotlight his career finally began to revive in 2001 when he released the album "Here and Now." The recording won rave reviews and a Grammy nomination and finally helped shift some of the public's attention away from his troubled past and onto his musical legacy.

"His last chapter in life shouldn't be drug abuse and the problems he had with Tina," said Rob Johnson, the producer of "Here and Now."

Turner spent his later years making more music and touring, even while he battled emphysema.

Accolades for both his early and later work continued to come in as he grew older, and the once-broke Turner managed to garner a comfortable income as his songs were sampled by a variety of rap acts.


In interviews toward the end of his life, Turner would acknowledge having made many mistakes, but maintained he was still able to carry himself with pride.

"I know what I am in my heart. And I know regardless of what I've done, good and bad, it took it all to make me what I am today," he once told the AP.

Ike's contributions at Sun should not be overlooked. He did some great work with Howlin'Wolf there, and also worked with Elmore James and Sonny Boy Williamson. He was a great musician. As the article mentions, it's too bad he'll be most remembered as the guy who slapped Tina around, but I suppose he brought that on himself.

This is really sad news. Although most people (justifiably) will never forgive him for his brutality to Tina, Ike Turner's enormous contributions to music were persistently overlooked and underrated (not justifiably).

To me, Ike and Tina Turner was the business, the hottest revue in showbusiness. And the records! I've got a deep run of Ike and Tina, but only one solo album by Tina. I want to hear "Rocket 88", it's out now on a Jackie Brenston compilation.

Nothing ever justifies hitting a woman. That being said, is there any possibility that Tina may not have been the easiest person to be with? Plus, with drugs and alcohol around, what may once have been a mild-mannered person can change one into a monster. I'm not well-versed on Ike's situation and circumstances.
In thinking about Ike's passing, I was thinking that it was still proper to send along condolences.

Self-defense does. Absent that kind of circumstance, though, nothing justifies hitting anyone, regardless of gender.

http://www.nme.com/news/ike-turner/33198



Ike Turner's widow ask Tina Turner to 'forgive' him

Dec 14, 2007

Ike Turner’s widow Jeanette Turner has asked Tina Turner to forgive him.

Turner passed away earlier this week (December 12) in San Diego.

Tina Turner’s official statement read: ”Tina hasn’t had any contact with Ike for more than 35 years. No further comment will be made.”

However Jeanette Turner said: “ I know that she was hurt. But there’s something called forgiveness and I know Ike really forgave himself, which is really hard to do.”

She added: “I’m not defending what he did. I’m not saying he didn’t do what he did when he was with Tina or me. But he was a human being. And being all of that, he’s still a child-like person- pure and a good person always willing to help people.”

She told EURweb: “He was a human being and he helped Tina... he helped a lot of people.”

Hi Ven,
Yes, you're correct on that point. I am of small stature myself and I know that I, myself, could be targeted for physical abuse if I ever allowed it to occur. I've had women who've hit me on one of my shoulders and my arms hard enough that it didn't exactly tickle. So, I'm pretty sensitive to the possibilities.
Before the record companies as we know it cease to exist, I'd really be interested in getting a well-done brand new comp done (in light of Ike's passing) of his instrumental work he did back in the early days. I'd really like to have something of his guitar material because of the fact that he influenced so many people. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking perhaps Varese Sarabande would have the early stuff since they've done Sun material before?

http://www.nme.com/news/ike-turner/33364

Phil Spector criticises Tina Turner at Ike Turner's funeral

Dec 23, 2007

Phil Spector criticised Tina Turner during his eulogy at Ike Turner’s funeral.

Ike Turner passed away last week (December 12) in San Diego.

According to Fox News, Spector laid into the singer during the funeral of the guitarist on Friday (December 21) at the Greater Bethany Community Church in Gardena California.

He said: “Ike made Tina the jewel she was. When I went to see Ike play at the Cinegrill in the 90s…there were at least five Tina Turners on the stage performing that night, any one of them could have been Tina Turner.”

Spector then criticised Turner’s autobiography ’I, Tina’, he said: “I have an ambivalence towards Oprah Winfrey. She made Tina Turner’s book into a bestseller which demonized and vilified Ike. The book wouldn’t have sold 10 books. It was badly written. It was a piece of trash and because Oprah idolized Tina she didn’t feel it wrong to vilify a brother.”

Spector who produced the Ike and Tina track ’River Deep, Mountain High’ then slammed the film version of the book ’What's Love Got To Do With It’, he called it a “piece of trash movie."

Boy, I know I'd be just heartbroken if a murderer badmouthed me like that.

I picked up Capitol's "Blues King Pins" entry of Ike's. It is a nice, single disc comp of pre-Tina recordings... he features him both on Piano and guitar. It is amazing how quickly he picked up the guitar. Slashing solos within a year...

a nice comp... very open to others!

Thanks NoURider. I'm going to have to look around and see if it can still be picked up somewhere.