15 moments from Tina Turner's incredible career
She was one of the most beloved popstars of all time
Tina Turner was one of the most iconic singers of all time. Not only did she have a hugely impressive back catalogue, including several albums which are being reissued in 2024, but she also possessed an incredibly unique voice - with it fair to say there's no mistaking Tina.
To celebrate the life and career of Tina, who sadly passed away in May 2023 at the age of 83, we've taken a look back through some of Tina's biggest career moments through the years - from starting out as a singer for ex-husband Ike Turner's band, to having her very own musical. Take a trip down memory lane with our Tina Turner career timeline.
Some of Tina Turner's biggest career moments over the years:
Career beginnings: The Ike and Tina Turner Revue
Scoring an early hit with 'A Fool In Love' in 1960, Ike and Tina Turner earned a GRAMMY Award nomination for their second hit, 'It's Gonna Work Out Fine'. However, they were best known as a live act. The Ike and Tina Turner Revue cut their teeth as a dynamic live draw on the chittlin' circuit, and they were eventually spotted by producer Phil Spector.
1965: 'River Deep – Mountain High'
With Tina Turner in front of the mic, Phil produced the 1965 monumental 'River Deep – Mountain High'. Surprisingly , the single flopped in the States, but landed in the Top 3 in the UK.
They then reached a wider audience in the US by supporting The Rolling Stones on their 1969 tour. Their two biggest hits, a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's 'Proud Mary' (1971) and their own 'Nutbush City Limits' (1973) followed.
1976: Tina and Ike split
Despite her appearing as The Acid Queen in Ken Russell's movie version of The Who's 'Tommy', Ike and Tina Turner's fortunes were on the wane. Ike's drug problems had escalated and their marriage was marred by domestic violence. She left him in 1976 and the couple eventually divorced in 1978, with Tina holding on to her stage name.
Tina played Las Vegas and made some less successful albums. By the time the 80s rolled by, it looked as if Tina Turner's career was over.
1982: The British Electronic Foundation
Tina Turner's comeback started thanks to the most unlikely of collaborations. In 1982, she hooked up with Heaven 17 members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh for their B.E.F. project (British Electronic Foundation). Their cover of The Temptations' 'Ball Of Confusion' secured her a deal with Capitol. Her new single, a cover of Al Green's 'Let Stay Together', was produced by Martyn Ware, and he and Heaven 17's Glenn Gregory backed her when she debuted the song on 80s pop show 'The Tube'.
1984: ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It’
The album that followed, 'Private Dancer', propelled Tina Turner into the mainstream and turned her into a global star. The single, 'What's Love Got To Do With It', was a worldwide smash hit. The album would go on to spawn some of her best-known singles including the title track and a cover of Ann Peebles' 'I Can't Stand The Rain'.
1985: Starring in Max Max Beyond Thunderdome
The success of the album helped to secure her second film role. Travelling to Australia, she starred as Aunty Entity alongside Mel Gibson in the 1985 post-apocalyptic action movie, Max Max Beyond Thunderdome.
Recording two songs for the film's soundtrack, 'We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)' became a massive international hit, securing a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song and a GRAMMY Award nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. It was also nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video.
1989: '(Simply) The Best'
She followed up 'Private Dancer' with 'Break Every Rule' in 1986, which featured the singles 'Typical Male', 'Two People' and 'What You Get Is What You See'. In 1989 Tina Turner released the ever-popular '(Simply) The Best'. It's one of her most iconic songs.
1993: What's Love Got To Do With It film
Tina's autobiography, I, Tina, was made into a film in 1993, borrowing its title from one of her most famous songs. Detailing her rise to fame and abusive marriage to Ike, the film starred Angela Bassett as Tina and Laurence Fishburne as Ike, with Angela winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. Tina also sang a Bond song, 'GoldenEye', for the 1995 film. The song had been written by The Edge and Bono from U2, who specifically had Tina in mind as the vocalist.
2000: Retirement
Tina embarked on the 'Twenty Four Seven Tour' in 2000, and at a concert in Zürich, Switzerland, she announced that she'd be retiring at the end of the tour. However, at the GRAMMYs in 2008, Tina took to the stage in a performance alongside Beyoncé, and went on her 'Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour', before retiring from performing in 2009.
2018: The Tina Turner musical
A jukebox musical based on Tina's life, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, opened in London in April 2018, starring Adrienne Warren as Tina (pictured together here on the stage on opening night). Tina also received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
2020: Happiness Becomes You and UK Top 40 hit across 7 decades
In August 2020 Tina announced her third book, Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good, which was published in December 2020.
The singer also reached a new music milestone after Kygo's remix of 'What's Love Got to Do with It' came out in July 2020, and Tina became the first artist to have a Top 40 hit across seven consecutive decades in the UK.
2021: Tina Documentary
With footage from interviews and performances over the years, Tina was able to tell her story in the Tina documentary film. It aired in the UK in March 2021 and shows the performer's incredible life, from her early career with Ike Turner, her marriage and achieving global stardom with record-breaking sell-out tours.
2021: Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In October 2021, Tina Turner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Angela Bassett, who portrayed Tina in the 1993 film about her life What's Love Got To Do With It?
In her speech, Angela said: "Now let us remember, Tina is already a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame from her earlier work with Ike Turner. However, what brings us here tonight is Tina's journey to independence. For Tina, hope triumphed over hate. Faith won over fear. And ambition eclipsed adversity."
Also in October 2021, Tina sold the rights to her music to BMG. She said of the deal: "Like any artist, the protection of my life's work, my musical inheritance, is something personal. I am confident that with BMG and Warner Music my work is in professional and reliable hands."
2022: Kristina Love joins the cast of the Tina Turner musical
As Tina - The Tina Turner Musical continued its West End run at the Aldwych Theatre, producers announced that Kristina Love was joining the production as Tina herself from 4th October 2022. Having played the role in Germany, Kristina shared the role with Elesha Paul Moses.
She said of joining the show: "I am so excited and humbled to revisit such a wonderful role, having previously played Tina in the Hamburg production. After having met her on my birthday in 2018, performing with her and receiving her blessing at the Hamburg opening, I count it a great honour to be entrusted with performing her life story. I am grateful to be continuing my Tina journey at the same time as making my West End debut, and I can't wait to join such an amazing and talented cast at the Aldwych Theatre."
2024: 'What’s Love Got to Do With It' (30th Anniversary Edition)
On 26th April 2024, 'What's Love Got to Do With It' (30th Anniversary Edition) was released. The brand new collection featured the fully remastered album, single edits, remixes and rarities. The box edition also included the full Live from San Bernardino show in 1993, on CD/DVD for the first time, plus a poster and 24-page booklet.
You can hear Tina Turner on the Greatest Hits Radio 60s playlist.
Read more:
Tina Turner: The pop icon behind 'Proud Mary' and many more hits
'Tina Turns The Country On!' to be reissued for its 50th anniversary
New album 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll' announced to celebrate Tina Turner's solo career