Ike & Tina Turner

Tales of Ike Turner's abusive behaviour towards his greatly loved wife Tina may have tainted Ike and Tina Turner's legacy, but they still made one of the all-time great pop records, River Deep - Mountain High and influenced many who followed. Ike was the driving force in the operation, having achieved an early breakthrough with his band The Kings Of Rhythm, who had a hit in 1951 with the bluesy Rocket 88; sometimes claimed to be the first rock'n'roll record. Ike was playing at a club in East St Louis with the Kings Of Rhythm when a then 16-year-old Anna Mae Bullock jumped up on stage to sing with him. Impressed by her formidable, raspy voice, he invited her to join the group as a backing singer and changed her name to Tina and the Kings of Rhythm evolved into the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. They scored their first hit in 1960 with A Fool In Love but it was their sexy, all-action live shows which turned them into stars. Characterised by producer Phil Spector's famous Wall Of Sound, they recorded River Deep - Mountain High (written by Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich) in 1966 and their steamy, energetic show caused a sensation on tour with the Rolling Stones. Other hits followed - notably Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits - but their popularity declined with Ike's descent into drug addiction and violent behaviour. Tina eventually fled the marriage in 1976 and went on to become a major solo star, while her tumultuous 16-year marriage to Ike was documented in the movie What's Love Got To Do With It (1993).

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