On September 1, 1984, Tina Turner had her first solo number one single in the United States with “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” The record, expressing a woman’s desire for erotic connection without romantic attachments, would go on to earn a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1985. It also became an anthem for women of all ages to embrace their strength and independence.
Born to poor sharecroppers in rural Tennessee in 1939, Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock) was raised by her grandmother after her parents split up. When her grandmother died, a pre-teen Turner found her way back to her mother who was living in St. Louis, MO. She immersed herself in the St. Louis R&B scene, and that’s where she met rock and roll pioneer/future husband, Ike Turner. They recorded and toured together as the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, with chart-topping songs including “A Fool In Love” and “Proud Mary.” Despite their artistic success, the couples’ professional and romantic relationship ended in divorce in 1978 when Turner finally fought back against Ike’s continuous physical abuse.
After the divorce, Turner struggled firing up her solo career. Having four children to support, the powerhouse singer had to resort to food stamps and housecleaning to make ends meet. She refused to let her singing dreams die with her divorce and in her mid-forties she staged her victorious comeback with her 1984 Grammy-winning album, “Private Dancer,” that went on to sell 20 million copies worldwide. Thanks to her signature raspy R&B vocals and iconic image, Turner ‘s music videos were MTV staples.
Dubbed the “Queen of Rock & Roll,” Turner went on to release many more hit albums and singles. These included “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” that coincided with her starring role opposite Mel Gibson in “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” and “I Don’t Wanna Fight” for the 1993 biopic, “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” In 2008, Turner announced her retirement from the music business with her final tour, Tina! 50th Anniversary Tour. She currently lives in Switzerland and married her longtime partner, German record exec Erwin Bach, in 2013. Turner’s success has proven that it’s never too late to fulfill your dreams, even if society deems you “past your prime.”