The Farr Side: Tina Turner, the true queen of rock 'n' roll

Born Anna Mae Bullock in Brownsville, Tennessee, singer Tina Turner passed away May 24 after suffering from a stroke and cancer. The iconic “Queen of Rock 'n' Roll” was 83 years old. News of this kind of nature always hits me kind of hard. I fully understand that people can’t live forever, but some of them probably should. Tina is one of those blessed souls that inspired a multitude of people throughout her 60-year career.

I was saddened upon seeing the news headlines come across my screen while at work.

That was soon followed by messages blowing up my phone asking me if I had heard the news. When someone is as iconic as she was, how would I have not heard the news of her death right away? But, that goes to show just how big of a part of our lives she played.

Like other icons who’ve passed, I found myself going right back to the beginning when I first learned about her. Of course, it was my mom who first introduced Tina to me. And, of course, it was Ike & Tina my mom played. Those memories of “Proud Mary” came flooding back. I can remember my mom telling me to pay attention to how Tina starts the song out slow. I always laughed because in Tina’s version of the CCR hit, she tells you that she’s going to begin a little slow.

When Tina re-emerged in 1984, it was a cool time in our household. I’m pretty sure we kept cable TV after her video for “What’s Love Got To Do With It” played on MTV.

My dad usually told me to change the channel when other videos played, but not when it was Tina Turner.

Later on, I was able to return the favor to my parents. You see — in covering concerts for The Farr Side, I scored tickets for us to go see Tina Turner’s “Twenty Four Seven Millennium Tour.” Lionel Richie opened the show.

I took my parents to see the show. My dad was so funny. He griped the entire two-hour drive, often saying, “Why you dragging me to this stuff?” He might have thrown in a few expletives while saying all the other things he could have been doing that night. I knew he’d enjoy the show once we got there. It was a given my mom would, too.

She loved both Tina and Lionel as much as I did.

Lionel opened with an awesome set of songs to which my dad said, “He’s pretty good.” But, the moment Tina took to the stage it was a completely different story. I’m pretty sure my dad was the first guy on his feet when he saw Tina. That night, my dad had the time of his life. I had never seen him that way before. My dad was fist-pumping and yelling “yeahs!” It was just something to witness and a memory I will cherish forever.

Tina certainly delivered a spectacular show that night in more ways than just rocking out the arena. My dad talked about the show for months. Although he wouldn’t shell out $50 for a shirt, he did buy a bootleg shirt in the parking lot and wore it to death.

Tina’s legacy was forever immortalized in the film based on her life, “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” As much as I enjoyed the movie, it was just an eye-opener to her strength.

So many of her songs are a part of the fabric of our lives including such classics as “Better Be Good To Me,” “Private Dancer,” “Typical Male,” “The Best,” “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” “Proud Mary,” “I Don’t Wanna Fight,” “One Of The Living” and “What’s Love Got To Do With It among countless others.

Tina earned 12 Grammy Awards and was a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She sold more than 150 million albums and was the first woman and black artist featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

I find it somewhat necessary now to correct her a little bit. She sang years ago on her hit “I Might Have Been Queen,” “I remember the girl in the fields with no name.” Well, Tina, everyone knows your name and, yes, you are a Queen. You’re simply the best! Thank you for all that you’ve given us and for the legacy that will continue to inspire for many, many years to come!

— David T. Farr is a Journal Correspondent. Email him at farrboy@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: The Farr Side: Tina Turner, the true queen of rock 'n' roll