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(ABC NEWS) —- Legendary singer Tina Turner, known for her sultry voice and a string of platinum hits, has died at age 83.
The news was confirmed on Turner’s official Facebook page.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” the statement said on Facebook. “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.”
Turner became one of her era’s most enduring female artists, with smash hits like “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” and memorable movie appearances.
Rolling Stone once named her “one of the greatest singers of all time.”
Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Tennessee, Turner began performing at a young age. As a teenager, she immersed herself in the local rhythm and blues scene.
In 1956, she met 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.
Turner and Ike Turner married in Mexico in 1962, two years after the birth of their son, Ronnie.
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.
Turner divorced Ike Turner in 1978, alleging years of physical abuse and infidelity.
In 2018, Turner opened up about the abuse she endured in an interview with The Sunday Times.
“There was violence, because he had this fear that I was going to leave him,” she said. “The other women, because I didn’t love him that way … the other women weren’t so bad, but it was the constant, constant ill treatment.”
In April, she told The Guardian that she wanted to be remembered as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “as a woman who showed other women that it is OK to strive for success on their own terms.”
Turner had four sons. She was preceded in death by her two biological children: Craig Raymond Turner — whom she shared with Raymond Hill — and Ronnie Turner — whom she shared with Ike Turner.
She is survived by her sons Ike Turner Jr. and Michael Turner, who she adopted from her ex-husband Ike Turner.
