In Memoriam

In Memoriam : Tina Turner, queen of rock-n-roll, dies at 83

Legendary singer Tina Turner, known as the Queen of Rock-N-Roll, has died at the age 83 after a long illness.

Published

1 year ago

May 24, 2023

Tina Turner (Photo By Philip Spittle • CC BY 2.0/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tina_Turner_50th_Anniversary_Tour.jpg#mw-jump-to-license)

Iconic singer Tina Turner, known as the Queen of Rock-N-Roll, has died. She was 83.

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Tina Turner passes away at 83

The news was confirmed on Turner’s official Facebook page. According to reports, Turner passed away after battling a long illness.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” the statement said on various social media accounts. “With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”

For some years before her passing, Turner had suffered from various illnesses, including a stroke in 2013, intestinal cancer in 2016 and a kidney transplant in 2017.

Tina Turner : Queen of Rock-N-Roll

Turner was a musical genius who persevered over personal trauma, as she fled an abusive relationship from her musical mentor and first husband, Ike Turner, to achieve pop stardom.

Rolling Stone once named her “one of the greatest singers of all time.”

Born Anna Mae Bullock on Nov. 26, 1939 in Nutbush, Tennessee, Turner began her music career as a youngster singing in the choir at Nutbush’s Spring Hill Baptist Church.

By her teenage years, she made a transition, fully immersing herself in the local rhythm and blues scene. In 1956, she would meet Ike Turner from the band, Kings of Rhythm, and became part of their act under the stage name, Tina Turner.

Together, they recorded hits in the 1960s including, “A Fool in Love,” “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine,” “I Idolize You” and “River Deep — Mountain High” as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.

In 1971, their cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” would become one of their biggest hits. Their song “Nutbush City Limits” also climbed the charts in 1973.

Turner also released two solo albums while she was a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue: “Tina Turns the Country On!” in 1974 and “Acid Queen” in 1975.

Divorce and solo career

In 1978, Turner divorced Ike, citing physical abuse and infidelity.

Following her divorce, Turner released her third solo album, “Rough,” an album of blues and disco cover songs with a rock influence. Soon after, her musical prowess would garner her the moniker, “Queen of Rock-n-Roll”.

In September 1984, she achieved her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” The song earned her a Grammy for record of the year in 1985.

Acting Career

She also shared her talents in acting, starring alongside Mel Gibson in the 1985 film “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” as the character Aunty Entity. The film was an international success and Turner received the NAACP Image Award for outstanding actress for her role in the movie. As part of the film, she recorded two songs: “We Don’t Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)” and “One of the Living.” “One of the Living” earned her a Grammy Award for best female rock performance.

Turner’s career continued to catapult, releasing her sixth solo album “Break Every Rule”, publishing her autobiography, “I, Tina,” getting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and going on her “Break Every Rule World Tour,” which began in March 1987 in overseas in Munich.

After her tour in 1989, she released “Foreign Affair”, which included her hit single “The Best.”

Tina Tuner Autobiographical Movie

Fans got to see a portrayal of Turner’s life on screen with the 1993 autobiographical film “What’s Love Got to Do With It”, starring Angela Bassett as Tina Turner and Laurence Fishburne as Ike Turner. Both actors received Oscar nominations for their roles.

In 2018, she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Turner is survived by her children, Raymond Craig, Ronnie Turner, Ike Turner Jr. and Michael Turner.

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Entertainment

In Memoriam: Tito Jackson (1953 – 2024)

Tito Jackson, a founding member of the Jackson 5 along with his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael, has died at 70.

Published

2 weeks ago

September 16, 2024

Unheard Voices Staff

Photo Credit: David Sedlecký, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tito Jackson, a founding member of the Jackson 5 who, along with his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael, became a teen heartthrob in the 1970s, has died.

He was 70.

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Passing details on Tito Jackson

According to a statement released by a spokesperson for the family, Jackson died Sunday from a heart attack while driving to Oklahoma from New Mexico. Jackson had been recently living in Oklahoma, about 25 miles northeast of Tulsa, reports Tulsa World.

He told the publication that he ‘found the peace he was looking for’ in the small city of about 20,000 residents.

‘I always wanted to get away from the West Coast and experience living somewhere with new people and new culture,’ Jackson said.

The singer also revealed his family had some roots in nearby city of Tulsa, where his uncle Samuel Jackson ran an undertaking business in 1917.

Jackson said his uncle’s business was burned down during the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921, but they were able to rebuild the funeral home.

Tito Jackson’s music career

Toriano Adaryll Jackson was born on Oct. 15, 1953, in Gary to Joe and Katherine (Scruse) Jackson. Tito was the charming guitarist in the Jackson 5, a skill he said he picked up by watching his father. The elder Mr. Jackson died in 2018.

Tito was the second oldest, after Jackie, followed in age by Jermaine, Marlon and Michael.

The Jackson 5 was a household name in the 1970s, regularly appearing on television, sometimes next to Cher or Diana Ross. With more than a dozen albums with a line of hits that included “ABC” and “I’ll Be There”, their music was a soundtrack for a young generation.

Legacy

Tito is survived by his three sons Taj, 41, Taryll, 39, and TJ, 46 – who were in the band 3T – and nine grandchildren.

Tito’s sons shared a picture and an emotional tribute to their father, writing: ‘It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us.

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A post shared by 3T (@3tworld)

“We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken. Our father was an incredible man who cared about everyone and their well-being.

‘Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as “Coach Tito” or some know him as “Poppa T.”

‘Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously. It will forever be “Tito Time” for us. Please remember to do what our father always preached and that is “Love One Another.” We love you Pops. Your boys, Taj, Taryll and TJ.’

In Memoriam

In Memoriam : Frankie Beverly (1946 – 2024)

Frankie Beverly, the Legendary R&B singer, songwriter, and producer, has passed away. He was 77.

Published

2 weeks ago

September 11, 2024

Unheard Voices Staff

Frankie Beverly, the Legendary R&B singer, songwriter, and producer, has passed away. He was 77.

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Passing details for Frankie Beverly

His family shared the news on Instagram.

According to the post, Beverly, whose real name is Howard Stanley Beverly, died on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

“He lived his life with pure soul as one would say, and for us, no one did it better. He lived for his music, family and friends,” the post read.

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A post shared by Frankie Beverly And Maze -(Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly) (@frankiebeverlyandmaze)

The statement did not reveal the circumstances of his death.

Music career

A Philadelphia native, Beverly got his start in music at a young age, performing as a soloist in church while growing up in the city’s East Germantown neighborhood. As a teen, he sang with an ensemble called “The Silhouettes” before forming his own doo-wop group, “The Blenders.”

He then formed the group “Raw Soul” with his Philly friends in 1970, which would eventually become known as “Frankie Beverly and Maze.” Beverly then moved to San Francisco where he worked with the legendary Marvin Gaye, according to Beverly’s website.

“The Motown master would take the group under his wing and it was Gaye who suggested the group change their name. Frankie Beverly and Maze was born,” the website read.

Beverly was the lead singer, songwriter, producer and founder of the band Frankie Beverly and Maze. The group is a staple in the Black community, famously known for the songs “Before I Let Go,” “Joy and Pain,” and “Happy Feelin’s”. It’s not a cookout, family reunion, a party, and for some, the electric slide, without a Frankie Beverly and Maze song. Beverly’s “Before I Let Go”, was covered by Beyoncé in 2019 in her live album “Homecoming.”

Before his passing, Beverly and his band just completed their “I Wanna Thank You Farewell Tour” earlier this summer.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Frankie Beverly And Maze -(Maze Honoring Frankie Beverly) (@frankiebeverlyandmaze)

In Memoriam

In Memoriam: James Earl Jones (1931 – 2024)

Born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, MS, Jones was an acclaimed star of the stage and screen, widely known for his distinctive voice that enamored audiences.

Published

2 weeks ago

September 11, 2024

Unheard Voices Staff

Photo Credit: Stuart Crawford, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Legendary actor James Earl Jones has passed away.

Jones died at his home in Dutchess County, NY, according to a family rep.

He was 93.

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James Earl Jones was a revered actor

Born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, MS, Jones was an acclaimed star of the stage and screen, widely known for his distinctive voice that enamored audiences.

The actor amassed nearly 200 screen credits during his brilliant 60-year career. He is best known in the film series Star Wars as the villain Darth Vader, Field of Dreams as Terence Mann, Coming To America as King Jaffe Joffer, and as well as many other films and Broadway shows. He also voiced The Lion King‘s Mufasa in both the 1994 animated film and 2019 hybrid remake.

Films

Among his dozens of other films are The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976), A Piece of the Action (1977), Conan the Barbarian (1982), Soul Man (1986), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Patriot Games (1992), Sneakers (1992), The Sandlot (1993), Clear and Present Danger (1994), Judge Dredd (1995), Gang Related (1997) and Coming 2 America (2021).

Television

Jones had many television guest roles on such classics as The Big Bang Theory, House, Two and a Half Men, Homicide: Life on the Street, Frasier, Touched by an Angel, Law & Order, Sesame Street, Highway to Heaven, NYPD Blue, Guiding Light, As the World Turns; and miniseries Roots: The Next Generation and Jesus of Nazareth.

Broadway

He also appeared in almost two dozen Broadway shows, from his first starring role Sunrise at Campobello (1958) and most recently in The Gin Game (2017).

He also starred in stage classics such as The Iceman Cometh (1974), Othello (1982), On Golden Pond (2005), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2008) and You Can’t Take It with You (2014).

Accolades

He is one of the few entertainers to have won the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), though his Academy Award was Honorary. Jones has received two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy, a spoken-word Grammy Award in 1977 and three Tony Awards.

Jones is also a 2002 Kennedy Center Honoree and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from SAG-AFTRA in 2009 and by the National Board of Review in 1995.