The Legacy of Tina Turner

You may know rock-and-roll legend Tina Turner by her hit songs, “Simply The Best” and “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” You may also idealize her as a star in her trademark short dress and an icon who sold 100 million records, won twelve Grammys, and brought joy to full stadiums.

However, many of Turner’s contemporaries defined her career not by her unquestionable talent, but by her physically and emotionally abusive ex-husband, Ike, with whom she originally performed many of the hit songs that we now attribute to her.

Turner’s transformation from her abusive marriage to a distinguished solo career has empowered women for decades and become a symbol of resilience against abuse.

In July 1976, Tina Turner left an abusive marriage to her husband Ike Turner, the other half of the famous music duo, “Ike and Tina.” Ike was both physically and emotionally abusive for years, controlling every aspect of her life. He left her with trauma that triggered a suicide attempt and nightmares that stayed with her for life. How- ever, Turner found the resilience and power to escape, seeking to reinvent herself as a single Black solo artist in a white-dominated space. Leaving the man involved in her initial success and reinventing herself at an age far beyond that of the average female musician could have ruined her career or worse, but Turner persevered.

Although Turner put hard work into succeeding as a solo artist, those individual efforts did not stop others in the music industry from defining her career by her past marriage. For example, in interviews, Turner was regularly asked about Ike instead of her career pursuits. Chorus teacher Ms. Alison Levosky argues that this paradigm persists even today: “Women who have careers in the arts get defined by their... male counterparts—whether that’s a spouse or whomever they’re dating at the time.”

Turner persisted through the consistent denial of her capabilities as a solo musician, recording hits such as “River Deep - Mountain High.” Despite the rocky start to her career, Turner finally became known for her individual talent. Winning countless awards and redefining the music industry as a rock-and-roll and feminist icon, many remember her as part of the highest echelon of musical legends.

Upper School Math teacher Ms. Nicole Sin Quee considers Turner “her own great artist,” stating she was “fine standing on her own.”

Turner’s story of breaking free was instrumental in changing the narrative around domestic abuse, especially within the music industry. Domestic abuse sometimes goes undetected; how- ever, Turner not only spoke out about her experience but turned her pain into a beautiful, successful career, inspiring many others. While Ike’s abuse was a major part of Turner’s earlier life and career, her legacy proves that building oneself up from such a negative situation and channeling one’s pain into art can lead to success and healing.

Tina Turner’s dream was to be the first Black female rock artist to fill stadiums in the same way that white male artists such as The Rolling Stones did. She realized that dream when she appeared in front of 180,000 people in Rio in 1988.

Middle and Upper School Music Teacher Mr. Tyler Walker says Turner “broke down barriers in rock-and-roll, opening up many opportunities for women after her.” Turner was the fifth woman ever to be inducted into the Rock-and-roll Hall of Fame, with 60 talented women following her.

Junior Ansh More puts Turner’s story perfectly: “Especially in the 70s, it was difficult to imagine a woman as a star on her own, without a man, and I think that Tina really changes the narrative on that. She was so much better on her own...Most modern-day stars would be nothing without Tina Turner.”