Turner was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi on November 5, 1931, to Beatrice Cushenberry, a seamstress, and Izear Luster Turner, a Baptist minister. Ike got his first taste the music business at the age of eight, helping the DJ at a local Clarksdale radio station, WROX.
Turner was soon carrying amplifiers for blues singer Robert Nighthawk, who often played live on WROX. Growing up, Turner's idol Pinetop Perkins helped teach the young Ike to play boogie-woogie on the piano. Ike soon was enamored of other blues artists such as Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Charley Booker, Elmore James, Muddy Waters and Little Walter.
Ike Turner's actual music career began in earnest in the late-1940s where he formed a group he christened Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm. In 1951, the band recorded what some historians have called "the first rock and roll record" with "Rocket 88", credited to Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats (this band did not actually exist). Brenston was both the band's saxophonist and the lead vocalist of the song, and on the original Chess release was listed as the song's writer. "Rocket 88" was produced at Sun Studio in Memphis by Sam Phillips. The record was one of the first examples of guitar distortion, which happened by accident when one of the amplifiers was dropped before the recording.
Ike Turner & The Kings of Rhythm settled into local fame in St. Louis where the band locally recorded for a St. Louis label and even appeared on local television shows. Throughout this early period, Turner became a recording scout and A&R man for independent record companies including Sun Records, helping the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Elmore James and Otis Rush get signed. He also became a sideman playing guitar for these blues acts and more. Musically, Turner was known for his hard-hitting guitar style. He was known to put the whammy bar of his Fender Stratocaster to frequent use.
Turner's music career changed drastically after meeting a teenage singer from Nutbush, Tennessee, named Anna Mae Bullock, who demandingly grabbed a microphone during a singing session at one of St. Louis' nightspots and sang a B.B. King song in her now-trademark throated raspy vocals. Bullock's performance impressed Ike so much he allowed Anna to join his band as a background singer. However within a year, Ike's plans for Bullock changed after Anna recorded what he originally stated was a demo for a song that was to be sung by a male vocalist. After hearing her vocals, he let it be released under an independent label and in the process changed the name of the singer from Anna Mae Bullock to Tina Turner - naming her after Sheena - and the name of the band to the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. It is believed that this singular act is what propelled Tina Turner into the spotlight. "A Fool in Love" became a national hit in early 1960, reaching the top three in the R&B charts and becoming a top thirty pop hit in the process. From then until 1976, Ike & Tina Turner became one of the most explosive duos in rock & soul music.
After Tina abruptly left Ike after a violent altercation in 1976, Ike lost ground in the national music market. As a solo artist, he struggled to find success after Tina and after releasing two failed solo albums, had found himself facing drug and weapons charges, of which he was convicted in 1989.
When Ike was released from prison in 1993, he was met at the prison gate by Jeanette Bazzell who later became his wife. Jeanette was instrumental in helping Ike rebuild his career. She replaced Tina as Ike's lead singer and eventually they toured the world playing many blues festivals. After the intense negative publicity generated against him as a wife abuser by Tina's movie, "What's Love Got to Do with It", Ike's acceptance in the USA as a legendary blues artist and composer was limited, though better in other countries. During this time he recorded two solo albums in his own studio, and he wrote his autobiography called Taking Back My Name. He also re-recorded "I'm Blue" in a duet style with Billy Rogers. The remake received strong reviews from Billboard Magazine.
Ike was back on the road and back into recording music, which continued until his death. In 2001, Ike released the Grammy-nominated Here & Now album. In 2005, he appeared on the Gorillaz' album, Demon Days, playing piano on the track, "Every Planet We Reach Is Dead". In 2007, Ike won his first solo Grammy in the Best Traditional Blues Album category for the album, Risin' With the Blues. Shortly before his death, a collaboration between Turner and The Black Keys was planned, but the project would never be completed, .
Turner died on December 12, 2007 at 76 years of age at his home in San Marcos, California, near San Diego. Little Richard was asked by the family to speak at the funeral. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office reported that Turner died from a cocaine overdose complicated by "[...] other significant conditions, such as hypertensive cardiovascular disease and pulmonary emphysema."
Baby Baby Let's Get It on
Ike Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said now
Baby won't you hear what I say
I want your lovin' in the worst darn way so come on
Baby let's get it on!
Well you're the finest girl I ever found in my life
I wanna stick to you like white on white
So come on
Now I said now:
Baby
Baby
Baby
Get it on!
You know that I've been waiting too doggone long
So come on
Baby let's get it on!
Now you don't want me enough for me to turn me on
Come on
Baby
What you're waitin' on?
Come on
Baby
Baby
Baby
Get it on!
Now you're the finest girl just as fine as can be
I want ev'ry joy for you and me so come on
Baby let's get it on
In this song, Ike Turner expresses his desire for a woman who he thinks is the finest girl he has ever found in his life. He tells her how much she blows his mind and that he wants her loving in the worst way. He urges her to get it on with him, to stick to him like white on white, and that he has been waiting too long for her. He questions why she's waiting and finally asks her to get it on with him again.
The lyrics reflect a man's pursuit of a woman who he thinks is perfect for him. The repetition of the words "Baby" and "Get it on" emphasizes the urgency and passion that Ike feels towards the woman. He makes it clear that he wants to be with her in every way possible and sees no reason why she should be hesitant to be with him. Overall, the song has a playful and fun vibe that captures the excitement of pursuing one's desires.
Line by Line Meaning
You don't know girl how you blow my mind
You may not be aware of it, but you have a certain magnetism about you that leaves me in awe.
I said now Baby won't you hear what I say
I am emphasizing what I am about to say and I hope that you are listening to me.
I want your lovin' in the worst darn way so come on Baby let's get it on!
I have a very strong desire for your love and I am urging you to reciprocate that love with me.
Well you're the finest girl I ever found in my life
I have never met or seen any other girl more beautiful or alluring than you.
I wanna stick to you like white on white So come on Baby let's get it on
I have every intention of remaining close to you and making you mine. We should consummate our love.
Now I said now: Baby Baby Baby Get it on!
I am urging you to take action and engage in a physical and intimate relationship with me.
You know that I've been waiting too doggone long So come on Baby let's get it on!
I have been anticipating our connection for a lengthy period, you should reward my patience by agreeing to be intimate with me.
Now you don't want me enough for me to turn me on Come on Baby What you're waitin' on? Come on Baby Baby Baby Get it on!
I do not think your attraction to me is passionate enough to arouse me. Please take action and engage me sexually. Do not wait any more.
Now you're the finest girl just as fine as can be I want ev'ry joy for you and me so come on Baby let's get it on
I strongly desire that we experience sensual pleasure and subsequently build a loving bond between us. Let's engage in a physical relationship.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: IKE TURNER, TINA TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@auberthere3737
Her energy is just so incredibly admired
@paulow1938
That was pure FIIIIIRREEE. They dont make you anymore Ms Tina Turner. You were simple the best. Rest in peace to both legends .
@logantyrelle97
I am absolutely LOVING these Ike & Tina and Tina solo vids, especially the ones not seen since their original broadcast!! Thank you so much for uploading them!!
@sistasunshine1697
Oh my. This brings me waaaay back.😂 my parents would be playing this, JUNIOR and the all stars, marvin gaye, al green...thelma Houston....on and on in our basement in Chicago 1975.🎉❤❤❤ beautiful memories....
@inchworm2402
Such a catchy song. It's a banger. I always liked this track.
@JerjerB
One of the catchiest rythms ever
@BobbieSmith46
Regardless of their life off stage, they really look like they are fun with this song.
@hellochannel6344
That's about exactly what I was going to write 👍
@pryncecharming2133
So true!
That mark of a true professional.
@bid84
RIP Tina, always preferred her songs with Ike.