Tina Turner: The Rock 'n' Roll Queen's Life and Romance

This article appeared in pinkpossible.com and has been published here with permission.

"Tina Turner is one of the rare people that can leave a mark so huge and touching in the world. From the second she stepped on stage until she finally said goodbye, she was making history. Her story, her journey, is one that has influenced countless and continues to do so." When the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, Tina Turner, left us on May 24th, 2023, it created a void in the world's heart. Over a period of over 50 years in the music industry, Turner bravely overcame hurdles in her private life and her career, to emerge as the memorable singer and performer we all cherished. Let's go on a journey exploring Tina Turner's path to stardom, including her highs and lows she experienced throughout her journey.

A Star Is Born

Born on November 26th, 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee, Anna Mae Bullock (who people would later come to know as Tina Turner) was the child of a home filled with discord. Her parents, Zelma and Floyd Richard, were not a happily married couple, and the continuous tension between them was deeply felt by young Anna Mae and her sister Alline. This familial strife was a heavy burden that they bore throughout their young lives.

Image by St Louis Public Schools/UPI/Shutterstock (13933602a)

Anna Mae never really experienced much affection from her mom and dad. It was clear to her, even when she was young, that she would have to stand strong and strive on her own for the stuff she desired in her life.

Difficult Childhood

Anna Mae and her sister, Alline, moved around a lot, staying with different family members. This happened because their parents were dealing with a number of problems. These included their unhappy marriage, the sudden departure of their mother from their home, and the very quick start of a new relationship for their father with a different woman.

Image by Jay Bernstein Public Relations, Los Angeles/Wikimedia Commons

The majority of the time, the girls had to look after themselves, especially when their father ceased to provide child support money to their aunt. Singing melodiously in the local church choir was one of the few memories Anna Mae managed to keep alive from her childhood. That, and the long, hot summers spent labouring in the fields, picking cotton and strawberries. Unbeknownst to all, these trying times were preparing a young girl for a future nobody could predict, a future where she would become a true legend.

Discovering Herself

Upon starting her journey through high school, Anna Mae began to shape her character and interests. She became part of her school's girls' basketball team, showing her athletic prowess. Also, during the half-time, she was a member of the cheerleading squad, adding to the school spirit with vigorous performances.

Image by Rob Mieremet/Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)

Through her high school years, Anna Mae made ends meet by taking up various part-time jobs. One of these jobs was working as a housekeeper for a well-off family in town, known as the Hendersons. Little did Anna Mae know, she was on the brink of finding her true calling, something that would completely transform her life forever.

Finding Music

After finishing high school, Anna Mae and her sister packed up and relocated to St. Louis, Missouri with their mom. They were now 17 and 20 years old, and they stumbled onto the vibrant R&B club scene of the city. The sisters found that the perfect way to spend their evenings were to move to the rhythm of the live bands playing their favorite music in these late-night venues.

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The two girls found themselves often at a local hotspot known as Club D'Lisa. Here, they discovered the widely loved R&B group, Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm, which consisted of eight band members. This group performed for an audience mixed with black and white people, a quite unusual scene for that period. The girls grew fond of such shows and soon became regular attendees.