n St. Louis, Bullock attended Sumner High School.[20] Around this time, Bullock's sister was taking her to several nightclubs in the city. At Club Imperial one night, Bullock met Mississippi-born rhythm and blues musician Ike Turner and later asked him if she could sing for him. Ike was initially skeptical, but after much persistence on Bullock's part, he decided to let her perform for him.[21] Thus, Bullock became an occasional vocalist in Ike's shows at the age of 18. Going by the name "Little Ann," Bullock was also the spotlight of a soul revue led by Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm band.[22]
[edit] Mainstream success
In 1960, when a singer scheduled to record the song, "A Fool in Love", did not appear, Bullock stepped in and recorded the vocals instead. "A Fool in Love" was a huge R&B hit reaching #2, crossing over to the top 30 of the US pop chart. Ike changed Bullock's name to Tina Turner[23] and that of his band to The Ike & Tina Turner Revue. In 1962, the two married in Tijuana, Mexico.[24] (According to Tina's bio on web site, the couple married in 1958.[25])
Turner raised four sons — Ike Jr. and Michael (from Ike's previous relationship), Craig (born 1958, from her earlier relationship with Raymond Hill, a saxophone player in Ike's band) and Ronald (fathered by Ike; born 1961).[26]
Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, Tina and Ike rose to stardom. As times and musical styles changed, Tina developed a unique stage persona which thrilled audiences of the group's live concerts. Tina and the Revue's backup singers, the Ikettes, wove intricate and electrifying dance routines into their performances and influenced many other artists, including Mick Jagger (for whose 1966 UK tour they opened).
Tina and Ike Turner recorded hits in the 1960s that include "A Fool in Love", "It's Gonna Work Out Fine", "I Idolize You" and "River Deep, Mountain High" with producer Phil Spector in his Wall of Sound style. By the end of the decade, the couple incorporated modern rock styles into their act and began including their interpretations of "Come Together", "Honky Tonk Woman" and "I Want to Take You Higher" to their stage show.
Their high-energy cover version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1968 "Proud Mary" remains Turner's signature hit and one of her longest enduring standards. "Proud Mary" was the duo's greatest commercial success, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1971.[27] The single eventually won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.[28]
[edit] Decline in popularity
While many of its original recordings failed to chart, the Ike and Tina Turner Revue was lauded by the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Sly Stone, Janis Joplin, Cher, James Brown, Ray Charles, Elton John and Elvis Presley.[29] A one night gig at a small, predominantly black supper club could be followed in the same week by a show at a major venue in Las Vegas or a national TV appearance. Ike acted as the group's manager and musical director, making all decisions and ruling the act with an iron fist. While he was a fine musician and an early rock 'n' roll influence, Ike's control of the Revue's management, recording contracts and performances eventually led to their decline as his drug abuse worsened. This controlling (and often violent) atmosphere caused the musicians and backup singers to come and go frequently. Tina later reported being isolated and physically abused by Ike on a regular basis for most of their marriage.
By the 1970s, Tina's personal life and marriage were falling apart. Ike's drug use led to increasingly erratic and physically abusive behavior. Their act was losing speed largely due to Ike's refusal to accept outside management of their recording or touring, as well as the cost of maintaining his allegedly voracious cocaine habit. Touring dates began to decline and record sales were low; their last success was "Nutbush City Limits", a song penned by Tina Turner about her home town, that reached #22 on the Hot 100 and #4 in the United Kingdom in 1973.[30]
Having opened his own recording studio, Bolic Sound, following the lucrative success of "Proud Mary", Ike produced Tina's first solo album, Tina Turns the Country On in 1974. It failed to make an impact on the charts, as did Tina's follow-up solo album Acid Queen (1975), which was released to tie in with Tina's critically acclaimed big-screen debut in the The Who's rock opera, Tommy.
Tina and Ike had a violent fight before an appearance at the Dallas Statler Hilton in July 1976, where Tina was again physically abused. She left Ike that day, fleeing with nothing more than thirty-six cents and a Mobil gas station credit card in her possession. She spent the next few months hiding from Ike while staying with various friends.[31][32]
Tina would later credit her newfound Nichiren Buddhist[33] faith and chanting Nam Myoho Renge Kyo, which she adopted while visiting a friend in 1974, with giving her the courage to strike out on her own. By walking out on Ike in the middle of a tour, she learned she was legally responsible to tour promoters for the canceled tour. Needing to earn a living, she became a solo performer, supplementing her income with TV appearances on shows such as The Hollywood Squares, Donny and Marie, The Sonny & Cher Show and The Brady Bunch Hour.[34]
The divorce was made final in 1978 after sixteen years of marriage. Tina later accused Ike of years of severe spousal abuse and rampant drug addiction in her autobiography I, Tina that was later adapted for the film What's Love Got to Do with It?. In the divorce, she completely parted ways with him retaining only her stage name and assuming responsibility for the debts incurred by the canceled tour as well as a significant IRS lien.[35]
[edit] Life after the Revue
In 1978, Tina released her third solo album (and her first album since her separation from Ike) entitled Rough on EMI Records. It was a departure from the funky rhythm and blues sound of the Revue, and featured strong readings of rock songs, demonstrating the direction she wanted her musical career to progress. The album did not sell well and received no certifications. 1979's disco-infused Love Explosion album also failed on the charts.[36]
Tina continued to perform shows around the United States and Europe but without any hit albums, her career continued a downward spiral. In 1982, she teamed up with B.E.F. for a remake of the Temptations' "Ball of Confusion".[37] The producers were impressed by the recording so they persuaded her to record a cover of Al Green's Let's Stay Together.
With the underwhelming performance of "Rough" and "Love Explosion", EMI Records parted ways with Turner. She was unable to immediately secure another major label deal as many US and UK labels felt her popularity had passed. Turner divided her time between appearing at small venues in the US and UK (mainly Las Vegas) to keep herself in the public eye, and she remained quite popular as a stage act.[38]
Tina Turner in the Bulgarian evening show Every Sunday, 1981
In December 1983, Turner's cover of "Let's Stay Together" hit No.6 in the UK and also became a hit in several European countries including the Netherlands where it peaked at No.5.[39][40] In March 1984, "Let's Stay Together" hit No.26 on the US Billboard 100 singles chart.[41] The song entered the top-5 on both the R&B and Dance charts.[42][43]
Tina Turner Bio
Johnny Gill (New Edition)
Gill was born in Washington, D.C., the son of a minister. He started singing at age five in a family gospel group called "Wings Faith" which included his brothers Bobby, Jeff, and Randy Gill (himself a solo recording artist and member of the group II D Extreme). His recording career began in 1983 when his childhood friend, singer Stacy Lattisaw, convinced him to record a demo. This demo fell into the hands of the president of Atlantic Records, and his self-titled debut album was released shortly thereafter, featuring the minor hit, "Super Love". Gill then teamed up with Stacy for a duet album, which featured their first hit together, "Perfect Combination." A second album on Atlantic Records, yielded the song "Half Crazy," which is still a fan favorite.
Gill began a new chapter in his career in 1987, when he was recruited by Michael Bivins to be the new fifth member of New Edition, a 1980s R&B group. The previous fifth member, Bobby Brown had been voted out of the group and enjoyed a successful solo career before reuniting with the group as a sixth member.
With Gill, the oldest member, as one of the lead singers the group developed a more mature, adult sound, hitting the charts with songs such as "Can You Stand The Rain," "N.E. Heartbreak," and the Gill-led "Boys To Men."
Continuing his role as a romantic balladeer while emerging as a New Jack Swing star, he released a second self-titled album in 1990 which included the hits "My, My, My," "Rub You the Right Way," "Fairweather Friend" and "Wrap My Body Tight". On this album, Gill played guitar, bass, bongos, and drums in addition to performing lead and background vocals. In 1991, he was featured in Perri "Pebbles" Reid's hit single "Always" from the album of the same name, along with Pebbles' cousin, R&B singer, Cherrelle. The single made the R&B Top 20 shortly after its release.
In 1993, Gill released another solo project, Provocative, which included the songs "Quiet Time to Play," "A Cute, Sweet, Love Addiction," and a moving gospel, "I Know Where I Stand." In 1996, Gill was reunited with New Edition, including Brown, as they recorded Home Again, an album noted for the singles "Hit Me Off" and "Still In Love". The title song, "Home Again," although not released as a single is one of the most impressive vocal performances recorded by the group to date.
In 1996, Gill also released Let's Get the Mood Right, which included the title song, "Love In an Elevator," and "Maybe" which is considered by many to be one of his greatest vocal performances ever. The following year, he collaborated with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat to form the supergroup LSG (Levert/Sweat/Gill) which resulted in the multi platinum debut album, Levert-Sweat-Gill, and a follow-up album in 2003 entitled LSG2.
Gill, the only member of New Edition who is not from Boston, was raised in Washington DC where he attended Kimball Elementary, Sousa Junior High, and Duke Ellington School of the Arts. His career dictated that he complete his high school education through the services of a tutor. Gill had planned to attend college and pursue a degree in electrical engineering, but his career came first.
His latest recording, "You For Me (The Wedding Song)" from the Madea's Family Reunion soundtrack received strong reviews from music critics as well as the general public. In 2008, Gill, as a member of New Edition, was the recipient of the Golden Note Award at ASCAP's 21st Annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards.
On September 27, 2008, he began touring with Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown in a new group named Heads of State.
With over 80 television and film appearances as a singer and actor, Gill earned much acclaim for his cameo role on the hit TV show, Family Matters (TV series) and recently thrilled audiences singing "You For Me" in the movie "Madea's Family Reunion."
In October 2004 Rub You The Right Way appeared in popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on R&B, Soul radio station CSR 103.9. Gill most recently starred in the 2009 stage play "A Mother's Prayer", which also stars Robin Givens, Shirley Murdock and Jermaine Crawford. In July 2010 Notifi Records based out of St. Louis, MO signed Gill to a recording contract with new music due in 2011.
Johnny Gill Bio
Man, this is a tough one.
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