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."
It's Your Thing
Ike Turner Lyrics
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I can't tell you, who to sock it to
It's your thing, do what you wanna do
I can't tell you, who to sock it to
If you want me to love you, maybe I will
Believe me woman, it ain't no big deal
You need love now, just as bad as I do
Make's me no difference now, who you give your thing to
I can't tell you, who to sock it to
It's your thing, do what you wanna do
I can't tell you, who to sock it to
It's your thing, do what you wanna do
I can't tell you, who to sock it to
It's your thing, do what you wanna do
I can't tell you, who to sock it to
I'm not trying to run your life, I know you wanna do what's right
Give your love now, to whoever you choose
How can you lose, with the stuff you use now
It's your thing, do what you wanna do
I can't tell you, who to sock it to
It's your thing, do what you wanna do
Don't let me tell you, who to sock it to
It's your thing, I do what I wanna do
I can't tell you, who to sock it to
In "It's Your Thing" by Ike Turner, the lyrics communicate a message of empowerment and independence. The repetition of the phrase "It's your thing, do what you wanna do" emphasizes the idea that individuals should have the freedom to make their own choices and live life on their own terms. The song rejects the notion of control or influence from others, asserting that no one else has the right to dictate how one should live or who they should be involved with romantically.
The lyrics also address the concept of love and relationships. The line "If you want me to love you, maybe I will" suggests that while the singer is open to the possibility of love, they do not impose any expectations or conditions upon it. They emphasize that love should not be a big deal or a source of conflict, hinting at a more casual and carefree approach to relationships.
Furthermore, the lyrics express a sense of understanding and non-judgment. The lines "I'm not trying to run your life, I know you wanna do what's right" convey a respect for individual autonomy and personal decision-making. The song promotes the idea that people should be allowed to love and give their affection to whomever they choose, without facing judgment or interference from others.
Line by Line Meaning
It's your thing, do what you wanna do
You have the freedom to express yourself and make your own choices.
I can't tell you, who to sock it to
I have no right to dictate or control your relationships or personal decisions.
If you want me to love you, maybe I will
If you desire my affection, there's a possibility that I might reciprocate.
Believe me woman, it ain't no big deal
Trust me, it's not a significant matter or concern.
You need love now, just as bad as I do
You crave love and affection as much as I do.
Makes me no difference now, who you give your thing to
It doesn't matter to me anymore who you choose to share your love and intimacy with.
I'm not trying to run your life, I know you wanna do what's right
I don't want to control your existence, I understand that you strive to make morally sound decisions.
Give your love now, to whoever you choose
Offer your affection to whomever you select.
How can you lose, with the stuff you use now
You have no reason to fail or be unsuccessful when you possess the qualities you currently possess.
Don't let me tell you, who to sock it to
Refuse to allow me to dictate or influence your choice of intimate partners.
It's your thing, I do what I wanna do
Just like you, I exercise my own freedom to make decisions and act according to my own desires.
I can't tell you, who to sock it to
Once again, I have no authority to instruct or control your choice of intimate partners.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Ike & Tina Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind