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Tina Turner

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After almost fifty years in the music business, Tina Turner has become one of the most commercially-successful international female rock stars to date. Her sultry, powerful voice, her incredible legs, her time-tested beauty and her unforgettable story all contribute to her legendary status.

Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, in Haywood County, Tennessee, to Zelma Priscilla (Currie) and Floyd Richard Bullock. Her family were sharecroppers. Tina was raised in the segregated South. She and her elder sister were abandoned by their sparring parents early on, and were then raised by their grandparents. After her grandmother's death, she eventually moved to St. Louis, Missouri to reunite with her mother. This opened up a whole new world of R&B nightclubs to the precocious 16-year-old. Called up to sing on-stage with Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm in 1956, she displayed a natural talent for performing which the band leader was keen to develop. Soon, Anna Mae's aspirations of a nursing career were forgotten and she began to hang around with the group. When the singer booked to record "A Fool in Love" failed to turn up for the session, Ike drafted in Anna Mae to provide the vocal with the intention of removing it later. However, once he heard her spine-tingling performance of the song, he soon changed his plans. He changed her name to Tina Turner and when the record became a hit, Tina became a permanent fixture in Ike's band and his quest for international stardom. One thing led to another: they were married in Mexico between the births of Tina's two sons - the first a result of an earlier relationship with a musician, the second with Ike.

Before too long the Ike and Tina Turner Revue was tearing up large and small R&B and soul venues throughout the early and mid-1960s. The hits were relatively few, but the unsurpassed energy and excitement generated by the live stage show (read: Tina) made the Revue a solid touring act, along with the likes of James Brown and Ray Charles. Their greatest attempt to "cross over" came in 1966 with the historic recording of the Phil Spector production, "River Deep, Mountain High". While it was a commercial flop in the United States, it was a monster hit in Europe - and the start of Tina's European superstar status, which never faded during her long stint of relative obscurity in America in the late 1970s. The Revue entered that decade as a top touring and recording act, with Tina becoming more and more recognized as the star power behind the group's international success. Ike, while having been justly described as an excellent musician, a shrewd businessman and the initial "brains" behind the Revue, was also described (by Tina and others) as a violent, drug-addicted wife-beater who was not above frequently knocking Tina (and other women) around both publicly and privately. Despite hits such as "Proud Mary" and Tina's self-penned "Nutbush City Limits", further mainstream success eluded the group and Ike blamed Tina. After years of misery and a failed suicide attempt, Tina finally had enough in July 1976, when she fled the marriage (and the Revue) with the now-famous 36 cents and a Mobil gasoline credit card.

Tina, now nearing 40, endured a long and, at times, humiliating trek back to superstardom through working many substandard gigs and performing a repertoire of current Top 40 hits and old Ike & Tina tunes in hotel ballrooms and supper clubs. She now admits she was having the time of her life at this point, simply putting together her own show and performing. She refused to wrangle for a settlement from the divorce, despite being in huge debt to all the tour promoters she had let down by fleeing the Revue. After an appearance on Olivia Newton-John: Hollywood Nights (1980), Tina - in a wise business move - persuaded Newton-John's management team to take her on. With Roger Davies at her side, Tina's profile began to rise, and performances alongside the likes of Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones introduced her to the rock market she so wanted to pursue.

The European release of her cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" in 1983 was a major turning point in Tina's career. The record hit #6 in the British chart and Capitol Records were soon demanding a full album. "Private Dancer" was hurriedly produced in England in two weeks flat. The rest is rock and roll history. The next single - "What's Love Got to Do with It?" - became Tina's first #1 single the following year and the album hung around the Top 10 for months, spawning two further hits. At the 1985 Grammy Awards, her astonishing comeback was recognized with nominations in the rock, R&B and pop categories and rewarded with four trophies. Since that time, the successes have just kept coming: a starring role in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985); duets with Bryan Adams, David Bowie, Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger amongst others; several sell-out world tours; a string of hit albums and awards; a bestselling autobiography, "I, Tina"; and the blockbuster biopic What's Love Got to Do with It (1993) chronicling her life.

After her "Twenty Four Seven Millenium Tour" in 2000, Tina announced she would retire from the concert stage, but continue to record and play live on a smaller scale. Four years later, at age 65, she released a career retrospective entitled "All the Best" featuring new recordings, and reached #2 in the American album chart, her highest ever placing for an album there. She ended 2005 as one of five recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, the highest form of recognition of excellence in the arts in America. Despite changing the direction of her working life, she will always be remembered as a dynamic live performer and recording artist, able to thrill audiences like no other woman in music history. Tina Turner is the undisputed Queen of Rock and Roll.

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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD to Launch Digital Lottery for Bass Performance Hall Engagement

Enter the digital lottery for a chance to score discounted tickets to the Bass Performance Hall engagement of To Kill a Mockingbird. Don't miss this critically acclaimed play based on Harper Lee's classic novel.

Photos: Celebs Turn Out to Celebrate the New Cast of TINA �" THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL

Last night, celebrities gathered to celebrate the new cast of the West End production TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL which is based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner and was produced in association with Tina Turner herself. See photos from the evening!

Eric Berryman, Johanna Day & More Join SCENE PARTNERS World Premiere at Vineyard Theatre

Discover the latest additions to the cast of 'Scene Partners' at the Vineyard Theatre. Learn more about the exciting world premiere production and stay up-to-date with the latest news.

Full Cast Set For the UK and Ireland Tour of HAMILTON

Full Casting Announced for HAMILTON UK and Ireland Tour, opening at the Manchester Palace Theatre on Saturday 11 November 2023. Find out who is starring in the show and learn more about the upcoming tour here!

TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Extends Booking in the West End

The hit West End production TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL which is based on the life of legendary artist Tina Turner and was produced in association with Tina Turner herself, will extend booking until 14 September 2024. Learn more about the musical and find out how to get tickets for the new dates here!

Bay Area Cabaret Reveals 2023-24 Season Lineup

Bay Area Cabaret has announced the 2023-24 season starring five exceptional and critically acclaimed cabaret, jazz and Broadway artists, all to be presented at the famed Venetian Room, Fairmont San Francisco, beginning Sunday, October 29 through Sunday, April 14. Learn more about the full season lineup here!

What We Know So Far About DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES on Broadway

Days of Wine and Roses is set to transfer to Broadway, starring Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James, who led the production off-Broadway earlier this year. Running for 16 weeks only, performances will begin on January 6, 2024 at Studio 54. 

MILLENNIALS ARE KILLING MUSICALS Off-Broadway Cast Recording Available to Stream Now

The original Off-Broadway Cast Recording of Millennials Are Killing Musicals has been released in digital and streaming formats on Friday, September 15. Find out where to listen here!

Broadway at the Bass Engagement of SIX On Sale Tomorrow

Performing Arts Fort Worth, the non-profit owner and operator of Bass Performance Hall, announced today that tickets for SIX will go on sale tomorrow, September 15 at 10am. The Tony Award-Winning electrifying new musical phenomenon SIX by Tony Award winners Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss will make its Bass Hall debut in a limited engagement November 28 – December 3 as part of the 2023-2024 Broadway at the Bass Season presented by PNC Bank.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK Original Broadway Cast Recording to be Released on 2-Disc CD

NEW YORK, NEW YORK's Original Broadway Cast Recording will be available on 2-disc CD on Friday, September 15.

Review: TINA, THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL at The Paramount

Dear Readers, I’m thrilled to say that my opinion of “Tina, The Tina Turner Musical”, currently playing at the Paramount, has changed. I saw it way back in 2018 in London and was not impressed. The show, while having tons of talent, also had tons of problems. Fast forward to now and it seems like some of those issues have been fixed. Some, but not all. But still making for a better evening than I expected.

Tickets Go On Sale This Week For TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL in Kansas City

PNC Broadway in Kansas City has announced that tickets for the national tour of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL will go on sale Friday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. Find out how to get tickets here!

TINA �" THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Will Headline the NRL Grand Final Entertainment

The National Rugby League (NRL) has announced that a very special performance from TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL will headline the entertainment at this year’s NRL and NRLW Telstra Premiership Grand Final, at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on Sunday 1 October.

Photos: FROZEN Extends West End Booking Until June 2024; Plus New Rehearsal Photos!

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The FSCJ Artist Series Kick Off Event Announced For October 2

The FSCJ Artist Series, sponsored by VyStar Credit Union, will kick off the 23/24 Broadway in Jacksonville season with its Annual Open House at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.

JAGGED LITTLE PILL Launches Digital Lottery for Run at Bass Performance Hall

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Eisemann Center Presents Hosts Free Screening of 20 FEET FROM STARDOM

Eisemann Center Presents will host a free screening of the Academy Award-winning documentary 20 FEET FROM STARDOM in the Bank of America Theatre on Thursday, September 28 at 7:00 pm. Learn more about the film and find out how to attend the screening here!

Exclusive: Oh My Pod U Guys- Ben Bogen Is a Teenage Dream

Listen to the latest episode of Oh My Pod U Guys hosted by Jake Workman. Jayke is Joined by Bway performer and teacher, Ben Bogen! Ben shares about his time in Frozen on Broadway, and covering multiple roles in the national tour and off-broadway companies of Jersey Boys, including Frankie Valli.

New Cast Set for MOULIN ROUGE! The Musical in the West End

An all new cast is taking the stage in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, as it enters its third year at the Piccadilly Theatre in London. From 16 October 2023, Tanisha Spring will play Satine and Dom Simpson  joins the cast as Christian. Learn more about the show here!

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