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."
The Loco-Motion
Ike Turner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Come on baby, do the Loco-motion)
I know you'll get to like it if you give it a chance now
(Come on baby, do the Loco-motion)
My little baby sister can do it with me;
It's easier than learning your A-B-C's,
So come on, come on, do the Loco-motion with me.
You gotta swing your hips, now.
Well, now, I think you've got the knack.
Now that you can do it, let's make a chain, now.
(Come on baby, do the Loco-motion)
A chug-a chug-a motion like a railroad train, now.
(Come on baby, do the Loco-motion)
Do it nice and easy, now, don't lose control:
A little bit of rhythm and a lot of soul.
So come on, come on, do the Loco-motion with me.
Move around the floor in a Loco-motion.
(Come on baby, do the Loco-motion)
Do it holding hands if you get the notion.
(Come on baby, do the Loco-motion)
There's never been a dance that's so easy to do.
It even makes you happy when you're feeling blue,
So come on, come on, do the Loco-motion with me.
The lyrics to Ike Turner's song "The Loco-Motion" describe a popular dance craze that everyone is participating in. The singer encourages the listener to give it a try and assures them that they will enjoy it if they give it a chance. The dance is portrayed as being simple and fun, even easier than learning the alphabet. The singer's baby sister is able to do it, emphasizing the simplicity of the dance.
The song suggests various movements to accompany the dance, such as swinging hips, jumping up and back, and making a chain like a moving train. The goal is to have a smooth and controlled motion while maintaining a sense of rhythm and soul. The lyrics also highlight the joy that the Loco-motion dance brings, stating that it can even make someone happy when they're feeling down.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's doin' a brand-new dance, now
Everyone is participating in a new and exciting dance
I know you'll get to like it if you give it a chance now
I am confident that you will enjoy it if you just try
My little baby sister can do it with me; It's easier than learning your A-B-C's
Even my young sister can perform this dance; it's simpler than learning basic alphabet
So come on, come on, do the Loco-motion with me
I urge you to join me in performing the Loco-motion dance
You gotta swing your hips, now
Move your hips in a swinging motion
Come on, baby. Jump up. Jump back
Come on, my dear. Jump upwards then jump backwards
Well, now, I think you've got the knack
Now, I believe you have grasped the technique
Now that you can do it, let's make a chain, now
Since you have mastered the dance, let's form a chain
A chug-a chug-a motion like a railroad train, now
Perform a rhythmic motion resembling the movement of a train
Do it nice and easy, now, don't lose control: A little bit of rhythm and a lot of soul
Perform the dance smoothly and without losing control; focus on the rhythm and emotion
Move around the floor in a Loco-motion
Glide across the dance floor while executing the Loco-motion
Do it holding hands if you get the notion
If you feel like it, perform the dance while holding hands
There's never been a dance that's so easy to do
There has never been a dance that is as simple to perform
It even makes you happy when you're feeling blue
Even during times of sadness, it can bring you happiness
So come on, come on, do the Loco-motion with me
I encourage you to join me in performing the Loco-motion dance
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King, Gerry Goffin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind