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."
How Many More Years
Ike Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have I got to let you dog me around
How many more years?
Does I got to let you dog me around
I'd soon rather be dead
Sleeping six feet in the ground
I'm gonna fall on my knees
I'm gonna fall on my knees
I'm gonna raise up my right hand
Said, I'd feel much better, darlin'
If you'd just only understand
I'm goin' upstairs
I'm gonna bring back down my clothes
I'm goin' upstairs
I'm gonna bring back down my clothes, get them all
If anybody ask about me
Just tell 'em I walked out on
you cold
The song "How Many More Years" by Ike Turner & Jackie Brenston is a blues classic that features powerful and soulful lyrics about a relationship that has become difficult and unbearable. The song begins with the question "How many more years?" which implies that the singer has been trapped in a toxic relationship for a long time and is finally ready to break free.
The next few lines reveal the frustration and anger the singer feels towards their partner. The phrase "let you dog me around" implies that the partner has been treating the singer like a dog or a slave, making them do things against their will. The singer then states that they would rather be dead than continue living in this way.
The second verse of the song shows the singer's desperation to find a way out of the relationship. They promise to fall on their knees and raise their hand in prayer, hoping for the strength to leave. They then plan to pack up their clothes and leave without any explanation to anyone who asks about them.
Overall, the song portrays the pain and suffering that can be caused by a toxic relationship. The singer is desperate for a way out and is willing to leave everything behind just to find some peace of mind.
Line by Line Meaning
How many more years?
How much longer must I endure this mistreatment?
Have I got to let you dog me around
Do I have to tolerate your oppressive behavior?
How many more years?
How much longer must I endure this mistreatment?
Does I got to let you dog me around
Am I obligated to put up with your mistreatment?
I'd soon rather be dead
I would prefer to be dead than continue to suffer under your oppression
Sleeping six feet in the ground
Buried in a grave six feet deep, relieving me of my suffering
I'm gonna fall on my knees
I will kneel in submission
I'm gonna raise up my right hand
I will lift up my right hand as a symbol of surrender
I'm gonna fall on my knees
I will kneel in submission
I'm gonna raise up my right hand
I will lift up my right hand as a symbol of surrender
Said, I'd feel much better, darlin'
Because it would greatly improve my mental state,
If you'd just only understand
if only you would recognize my pain and stop oppressing me
I'm goin' upstairs
I am heading upstairs
I'm gonna bring back down my clothes
To retrieve my belongings
If anybody ask about me
If anyone inquiries as to my whereabouts
Just tell 'em I walked out on
Inform them that I have left indefinitely, ending this oppressive relationship
Lyrics ยฉ Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHESTER BURNETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Eis Vogel
She is a beautiful, wise soul. Don't give anyone free rent space in your heart or mind. Rest in peace, Anna Mae Bullock
Tiny Towz
Thank you for quoting a Tolerism. ๐ฉ๐ฝโโ๏ธ
James WhiteSr
โคโค ๐ฏ๐ฏ๐
Piscean Dreams
โ@Tiny Towzwhat?
Piscean Dreams
She was!
Tiny Towz
@Piscean Dreams
Huh?
Buchanan Jeneen
"It's better to forgive in your mind & heart than to suffer in your soul."
-Jeneen N Buchanan ๐
Sylvie Jacquemot
Exactement
James WhiteSr
Yessss๐ฏ