From rural roots to international stardom
The worlds of music and entertainment this week mourned the loss of dynamic singer/dancer/actress Tina Turner, the undisputed Queen of Rock 'n Roll who died in Switzerland on Wednesday at age 83 following a long illness.
“I'm so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner,'' Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger wrote on his Twitter page. “She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.''
Jagger was said to have developed his energetic stage presence by watching Turner's high-octane performances.
Gloria Gaynor called Turner an conic legend who paved the way for so many women in rock music, “Black and White.''
“She did with great dignity and success what very few would even have dared to do in her time and in that genre of music,'' Gaynor said.
Turner was a two-time inductee into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, first as part of a duo with husband Ike Turner then later as a solo artist.
“Two-time inductee Tina Turner worked hard to reimagine the role of a Black woman in rock & roll–one that was firmly placed front and center,'' according to a statement from The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “During her time in the duo Ike and Tina Turner (inducted in 1991), her electric onstage presence forever raised the bar for live performance.
“Their hits ‘River Deep-Mountain High' and ‘Proud Mary' endure to this day. But this Queen of Rock & Roll went on to make music history again with her solo career (for which she was inducted again in 2021) and with her bravery in sharing her life story as a book, film, and Broadway musical. There was nothing her deep, robust voice couldn't do, as displayed on her solo hits like ‘What's Love Got to Do with It' and ‘Private Dancer.'''
Musician Bryan Adams wrote on Twitter, “I'll be forever grateful for the time we spent together on tour, in the studio and as friends. Thank you for being the inspiration to millions of people around the world for speaking your truth and giving us the gift of your voice.''
Singer Ciara wrote, “Heaven has gained an angel. Rest in Paradise, Tina Turner. Thank you for the inspiration you gave us all.''
Laker legend Magic Johnson posted a photo with Turner on his Twitter page, noting that she gave “one of the best live shows I've ever seen.''
“Tina would have so much energy during her performances and was a true entertainer,'' Johnson said. “She created the blueprint for other great entertainers like Janet Jackson and Beyoncé and her legacy will continue on through all high-energy performing artists. Cookie and I are praying for her husband and all of her friends and family.''
Flowers were placed on Turner's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Wednesday afternoon. She received the star in front of the Capitol Records building in 1986.
In addition to her singing career, Turner occasionally showed up on the big screen, most notably portraying The Acid Queen in the 1975 film version of The Who's rock musical “Tommy.'' She also appeared in the Beatles musical “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,'' played a mayor in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film “Last Action Hero'' and portrayed the leader of a post- apocalyptic wasteland city in “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.''
“The world lost a legend today,'' the SAG-AFTRA union said in a statement, noting that Turner had been a member of the union since 1961. “Tina Turner was a genre-defying powerhouse singer, dancer, actress and author who rightfully earned the title of rock 'n roll queen. She broke down barriers for generations of artists to come.''
