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."
I Idolize You
Ike Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I can give to you.
And if you want some hugging,
Said I can hug some, too.
All I want, baby, now
Is some thought of you
And just a little of your affection,
'Cause you know that you are my man,
And I want you to forever be mine.
I idolize you (Yes, she idolize you)
These lyrics from Ike Turner's song "I Idolize You" speak to the deep and enduring love the singer has for her partner. She is offering herself completely to him - offering him love, affection, and attention. She wants him to understand that he is her world and that she will do anything to keep him by her side.
The singer sets the tone for the rest of the song with the opening lines, "If you want some loving, / That I can give to you." Here, she is emphasizing her availability for her partner's needs. She can give him love and comfort in any form he desires, whether that is "loving" or "hugging." She's willing to do whatever it takes to make him happy and satisfied.
The crux of the song is in the chorus, where she proclaims, "I idolize you." This is a powerful statement of love and devotion. She sees her partner as her hero and idol, someone she looks up to and admires. She wants him to know that he is the most important person in her life and that she will always support him and stand by his side.
Overall, "I Idolize You" is a powerful love song that speaks to the depth of the singer's feelings for her partner. It is a testament to the enduring power of love and the lengths that people will go to in order to keep the ones they love close.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want some loving,
If you desire affection from me,
That I can give to you.
I am capable of giving you that love.
And if you want some hugging,
If you want physical comfort,
Said I can hug some, too.
I am willing to provide that comfort.
All I want, baby, now
My current desire,
Is some thought of you
Is for you to be on my mind,
And just a little of your affection,
And to receive just a small amount of love from you,
You know, will see me through.
I know it will be enough to get me through tough times.
'Cause you know that you are my man,
Because you know that you are the one I love,
And I want you to forever be mine.
And I want to be with you forever.
I idolize you (Yes, she idolizes you)
I admire and respect you greatly.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IKE TURNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@trustar9040
This song gives me the chills. Tina's voice is strong and meaningful. She has a deep voice. This song a great song sung by Tina for Ike to realize Tina loves him. I like this song.
@brendawelch6477
My deepest condolences for Tina Turner family ❤❤❤ love her music since the sixty rest now easy with her heavenly father singing ❤❤❤
@melissaturner5143
My favorite song of hers. Rest in Peace queen
@markdouglas668
I hung out with Ike once and we sort of mind-melded. He is largely credited with inventing Rock 'N Roll in Rocket 88.
@user-dt8qm9dh5v
Tina Turner back when she was more a "blues shouter" than the smooth popular artist she became. On this, the day of her death, I can honestly say that "We idolized you".
@jj80251
i love tina forever
@cassandramuhammad4127
I remember this song she was still very young when she sang this song cause I was a child. Could have still been in her teens. I goggled it she was about 20 or 21 when she sang this song. My sisters and I used to sit on the front porch and sing this song.
@michelleagleton2344
RIP most courageous lady.
@torilee3804
Rest in Peace Queen 1939 - May 24, 2023
@charmainejonck7173
GOOD MEMORIES.❤❤❤❤❤❤