Yes, it’s Tina Turner’s 77th birthday. The triumphant survivor and trail blazer, sex symbol, dancer extraordinaire, and singer par excellence let’s hope is celebrating happily at home in Switzerland. The former Anna Mae Bullock deserves that much.
You can read the book she wrote with Kurt Loder, or watch the much praised movie “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” starring Angela Bassett to get the whole story of Tina’s amazing life. If you’re a certain age you may not know who she is. But if Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul, Tina is the High Priestess. She’s one of a kind.
Tina (and her talented but abusive husband Ike Turner) had already had hits in the 60s and lots of recognition. But in 1971 they burst out with a remake of John Fogerty’s “Proud Mary.”
Still, Tina’s life with Ike was in turmoil. And it was only around 1979 when she broke free of him that Tina had her Renaissance with a remake of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together.”
The subsequent album, “Private Dancer,” relaunched her into the stratosphere. “What’s Love Got to Do with It” became an international bestseller, and she never looked back.
All hail Tina! And here’s to more years of love, peace, and success!
