Tina Turner, one of rock’s most famous voices who had hits including Proud Mary and The Best, has died at the age of 83 after a long illness, her publicist has said.
Turner had suffered ill health in recent years, being diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and having a kidney transplant in 2017.
“With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model,” her representatives said in a statement. “There will be a private funeral ceremony attended by close friends and family. Please respect the privacy of her family at this difficult time.”
The White House mourned the “massive loss” of the American-Swiss singer. “That is incredibly sad news. Tina Turner was an icon, a music icon,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Turner’s official Instagram account hailed the singer’s “boundless passion for life” and said she had “inspired the stars of tomorrow”.
It posted a black-and-white picture of Turner, with the caption: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner.
“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.”
In a career spanning over 60 years, Turner, who was born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, won eight competitive Grammy Awards and has a star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the St Louis Walk of Fame.
Her autobiography, I, Tina, was turned into the 1993 film What’s Love Got To Do With It, dramatising the mother-of-two’s famously turbulent relationship with Ike Turner and it also saw Angela Bassett nominated for an Oscar for her performance as Tina in the biopic.
Turner, widely referred to as the Queen of Rock and Roll, wed her long-time German beau, the music executive Erwin Bach, in a Swiss civil ceremony in 2013, and has lived in Switzerland with him since 1994.
It was the second marriage for the music star, who was previously married to musician Ike from 1962 to 1978.
In her 1986 book, the singer narrated a harrowing tale of abuse, including suffering a broken nose during the course of her marriage to Ike.
Ike died in December 2007 and Tina’s spokeswoman at the time was quoted as saying: “Tina is aware that Ike passed away earlier today. She has not had any contact with him in 35 years. No further comment will be made.”
Tributes from a music world in mourning
The Rolling Stones’ Sir Mick Jagger, who duetted with Turner during Live Aid in 1985, told of his sadness at the news of her passing.
He wrote on Instagram: “I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner. She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer.
“She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”
Jagger’s bandmate, guitarist Ronnie Wood, described Turner as “a dear friend to our family”.
“God bless you Tina, the Queen Of Rock And Soul and a dear friend to our family,” he wrote.
“Love and prayers to all of Tina’s family, friends and loved ones.”
American singer Gloria Gaynor hailed Turner as an “iconic legend who paved the way for so many women in rock music, black and white”.
Gaynor tweeted: “I am so, so very sad to hear of the passing of @TinaTurner , the iconic legend who paved the way for so many women in rock music, black and white.
“She did with great dignity & success what very few would even have dared to do in her time and in that genre of music”.
Roger Davies, Turner’s manager of 30 years, said the star “was a unique and remarkable force of nature with her strength, incredible energy and immense talent”.
He said: “From the first day I met her in 1980, she believed in herself completely when few others did at that time.
“It was a privilege and an honour to have been a close friend as well as her manager for more than 30 years. I will miss her deeply.” telegraph.co.uk
