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."
Love Like Yours
Ike Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I made you blue
Instead of hurting back
You said "I love you"
That very day you won my heart
And my love for you shall never part
You have such an understanding way
'Cause a love like yours don't come knock, knock, knock, knocking
Knock, knocking everyday
Although I treated you bad from the start
Without question you gave me your heart
No, a love like yours don't come knock, knock, knock, knocking
Knock, knocking everyday
It's the little things you do
Oh, that mean so much
So very, very much
(Consideration), I never knew
That is, until I met you
Believe me
You made my life complete
And I know our love with all of my mind
You can believe gonna hold on tight
'Cause a love like yours don't come knock, knock, knock, knocking
Knock, knocking everyday
No, a love like yours don't come knock, knock, knock, knocking
Knock, knocking everyday
It's the little things you do
That mean so much
So very very much
(Consideration), No I never knew
That is, until I met you
Believe me
You made my life complete
And I know our love with all of my mind
You can believe gonna hold on tight
'Cause a love like yours don't come knock, knock, knock, knocking
Knock, knocking everyday
I said a love like yours, it don't come knocking
Knock, knocking everyday
I said a love like yours, it don't come, it don't come knocking
Knock, knocking everyday
'Cause a love like yours, it don't come knocking
The song "Love Like Yours" by Ike Turner is a heartfelt tribute to a partner who has shown unwavering love and understanding despite being mistreated in the past. The lyrics describe how the singer broke the heart of their lover and made them feel sad, but instead of retaliating, they chose to forgive and continue to love. The singer is amazed by their partner's understanding and the way they communicate their needs, as this is not something they have experienced before. The chorus repeats the phrase "a love like yours don't come knocking every day," emphasizing the rarity of such a special and genuine love.
The song's message is universal, reminding the listener of the importance of forgiveness, kindness, and understanding in a relationship. It also highlights the significance of appreciating the little things that partners do to show their love and affection. The lyrics express the singer's gratitude for their partner's influence in their life, concluding with a vow to hold on tight to their love.
Line by Line Meaning
I broke your heart
I hurt you emotionally
And I made you blue
And I made you sad
Instead of hurting back
Instead of retaliating
You said "I love you"
You expressed your love for me
That very day you won my heart
That's when I fell in love with you
And my love for you shall never part
And my love for you will never fade away
You have such an understanding way
You're very understanding
And I appreciate you need what I say
And I appreciate that you understand me
'Cause a love like yours don't come knock, knock, knock, knocking
Because a love like yours is rare
Knock, knocking everyday
Doesn't come around often
Although I treated you bad from the start
Although I didn't treat you well at the beginning
Without question you gave me your heart
You gave me your heart without hesitation
It's the little things you do
It's the small gestures you make
Oh, that mean so much
That mean a lot to me
So very, very much
So much indeed
(Consideration), I never knew
I didn't know what true consideration was
That is, until I met you
Until I met you
Believe me
Trust me
You made my life complete
You completed my life
And I know our love with all of my mind
And I'm sure about our love
You can believe gonna hold on tight
You can believe that I'll hold onto you tightly
'Cause a love like yours don't come knock, knock, knock, knocking
Because a love like yours is special
I said a love like yours, it don't come knocking
I mean it when I say that a love like yours is rare
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD, JR. HOLLAND, LAMONT DOZIER, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidclifton1390
Tina's voice is sensational in this great love song but unfortunately most people have forgotten this great 1966 tune. Music at its finest
@fritzh.8553
I have no idea why this song seems to be forgotten. Such a nice melody and sung by Tina in a such emotional and passionate way.
Very great song
@PippiGallagher
We lost Tina today. I came on here to play this song. Brilliant and underrated. Vale Tina 💔
@charlesfortescue8631
This is my favourite Tina Turner track (Ike was there too) but it's Tina that really excels. The intro is spine-tingling - but my only issue is that Phil Spector over-did the "wall of sound" in places, which drowned out some of Tina's best vocals ever.
@charlesfortescue8631
When I wrote this 9 months ago, I had no idea, we would be mourning the death of this amazing woman, who has died at the age of 83. Rest in peace you amazing woman, and incredible talent - you will be very long remembered.
@MarigracaVJ
Tina Turner e uma verdadeira rainha das canções!👏👏👏👏
@RickRox75
Excellent vocals from Tina Turner. Produced by Phil Spector, this original version was released in October 1966 made it to only No.16 in the charts on 24 November 1966. It was the follow up to River Deep Mountain High.
@barrymouatt3306
Love the wall sound which Phil Spector called it great sound and great times and music
@chygwelanmeneth
One of the best ever produced at Gold Star Studios.
@ryancrockford-musicuk1013
One of those end of the night songs. Whole lotta soul mixed with the Spector genius. What a track