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."
Mississippi Rolling Stone
Ike Turner Lyrics
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Jesus, keep me from all wrong,
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to thee.
Just a closer walk to Thee,
Jesus grant my humble plea!
Daily walking close to thee,
Through this world of toils and snares,
If I falter Lord, who cares,
Who with me my burden shares?
None but thee, my dear Lord, none but thee.
Just a closer walk to Thee,
Jesus grant my humble plea!
Daily walking close to thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
When the journey here is o'er,
Time for me will be no more,
Guide me to thy distant shore,
To thy shore, O dear Lord, to thy shore.
Just a closer walk to Thee,
Jesus grant my humble plea!
Daily walking close to thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
In Ike Turner's song "Mississippi Rolling Stone," the lyrics serve as a plea and a prayer to Jesus for strength and guidance. The opening line, "I am weak but thou art strong," acknowledges the singer's vulnerability and reliance on Jesus' strength to keep them from doing wrong. They express contentment in simply walking close to Jesus, finding satisfaction in their closeness to Him.
The refrain, "Just a closer walk to Thee, Jesus grant my humble plea! Daily walking close to thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be," reinforces the desire to be near Jesus constantly and humbly asks for His granting of that wish. The singer acknowledges the challenges and trials of the world by mentioning "toils and snares," but they express the belief that only Jesus truly cares and shares their burdens.
The final verse refers to the end of the journey on Earth, where time ceases to exist. The singer asks Jesus to guide them to His "distant shore," representing the afterlife or ultimate salvation. The repetition of the refrain throughout the song emphasizes the desire for a closer relationship with Jesus and the trust in His guidance.
Overall, "Mississippi Rolling Stone" is a devotional song that showcases a deep sense of faith and reliance on Jesus for strength, comfort, and guidance. The lyrics reflect a longing to be close to Him and a recognition of His power in overcoming weaknesses and challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
I am weak but thou art strong,
Although I am vulnerable and feeble, you are powerful and mighty.
Jesus, keep me from all wrong,
Jesus, protect me from falling into sin or making harmful choices.
I'll be satisfied as long
I will experience contentment and fulfillment as long as
As I walk, let me walk close to thee.
I remain in close proximity to you and live according to your guidance.
Just a closer walk to Thee,
All I desire is to have a more intimate relationship with you.
Jesus grant my humble plea!
Jesus, please accept my sincere and modest request.
Daily walking close to thee,
Every day, I aim to be near you and follow your teachings.
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
I surrender to your will and ask you to allow it to happen.
Through this world of toils and snares,
In this challenging and deceptive world,
If I falter Lord, who cares,
If I stumble or lose my way, who will be concerned about me?
Who with me my burden shares?
Is there anyone willing to share the weight of my struggles?
None but thee, my dear Lord, none but thee.
Only you, my beloved Lord, are the one who supports and understands me.
When the journey here is o'er,
When my time on this earth comes to an end,
Time for me will be no more,
There will no longer be any time available for me.
Guide me to thy distant shore,
Lead me towards your faraway destination or heavenly realm.
To thy shore, O dear Lord, to thy shore.
I long to reach your shore, O cherished Lord, your eternal dwelling place.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MILTON BATISTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind