Ike Turner Net Worth: A Look at the Legendary Musician’s Finances

Ike Turner is an iconic figure in the history of American music, known for his immense contributions to the rock and roll scene of the 1950s and 1960s. 

With a net worth of $500,000 at the time of his death, Ike’s legacy as a pioneering musician and producer is firmly established. 

Despite experiencing a meteoric rise to fame and achieving tremendous success with his then-wife Tina Turner, Ike’s personal life was plagued by struggles with addiction and abusive behavior, which ultimately led to the ruin of his career in the 1980s.

As a recording artist, Ike Turner produced 10 studio albums over his remarkable career, with his first recording, “Rocket 88,” going down in history as the first-ever rock and roll song. 

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While his success as a musician was undeniable, Ike’s true legacy may stem from his contributions to the development of rock and roll in the United States, as he was instrumental in popularizing the genre and establishing its unique sound.

In addition to his musical contributions, Ike Turner was also a published author, releasing his autobiography “Takin’ Back My Name: The Confessions of Ike Turner” in 1999. 

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Through this book, he shared his personal struggles with addiction and discussed the tumultuous times in his life when he struggled with domestic violence.

Although Ike Turner passed away in December 2007 at the age of 76, his impact on the music industry continues to be felt to this day. 

As a trailblazer and innovator, Ike’s legacy will remain an important part of American music history for years to come.

Early Life: Childhood Tragedy

Ike Turner was born on November 5, 1931, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. His father, Izear, was a Baptist minister, and his mother, Beatrice, was a seamstress. 

Tragedy struck when Ike was a young boy, and he witnessed a white mob brutally beat his father, leaving him for dead. 

His father survived for a short while but eventually died in a tent in the yard. After his father’s death, Beatrice married a painter named Philip Reese, who was a violent alcoholic. 

Ike had a difficult childhood, and he experienced abuse at the hands of two middle-aged women: Miss Boozie at the age of six, and then with a different middle-aged woman, Miss Reeny, by age twelve.

Early Career

Despite the challenges he faced, Turner found solace in music. He excelled at playing the piano, and he learned how to play from blues musician Pinetop Perkins. He also taught himself how to play guitar by playing along to blues records. 

Turner was only 13 when he played piano for Sonny Boy Williamson II. He dropped out of school in eighth grade and got a job as an elevator operator at Clarksdale’s Alcazar Hotel. 

A radio station, WROX, was located in the building, where Turner spent his breaks watching DJ John Friskillo. Friskillo eventually taught Turner how to work the control room, and he was offered a job as a DJ. Turner’s show, “Jive Till Five,” aired during the late-afternoon shift. 

Musical Influences

Turner moved to the Riverside Hotel in the 1940s, where he met many touring musicians. He was influenced by R&B and blues musicians such as T-Bone Walker and B.B. King. Ike formed his first band, Kings of Rhythm, in 1951, and they began playing local gigs. 

The band’s sound was a blend of R&B, blues, and rock and roll, which became Turner’s signature sound. 

Turner also wrote and recorded songs for Sam Phillips at Sun Records, including “Rocket 88,” which many consider to be the first rock and roll song.

Ike Turner’s Career

Ike Turner’s career spanned multiple decades, with his contributions to the music industry as a performer, producer, and songwriter leaving a lasting impact on the genre. 

Beginning as a member of the Tophatters rhythm ensemble, Turner eventually became the leader of the soul and R&B band, the Kings of Rhythm. 

Along with the group, he recorded tracks for Federal Records and Cobra/Artistic before forming the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in 1960. 

Initially consisting of then-girlfriend Ann Bullock and the Kings of Rhythm, the group later expanded to include the Ikettes, a group of female backup singers, and earned recognition with their hit single “A Fool in Love.”

With the help of legendary producer Phil Spector, Ike and Tina released the hit single “River Deep – Mountain High” in 1966, which led to a successful tour with the Rolling Stones and headlining gigs in Las Vegas. 

Turner’s musicianship was recognized when he received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for his 1969 album “A Black Man’s Soul.” 

Ike and Tina’s biggest success came in 1971 with their hit single “Proud Mary,” which sold over a million copies and earned them a Grammy.

Despite ongoing drug addiction and issues with the law, Turner found success with his solo career with the release of several albums, including “Blues Roots” and “Bad Dreams.” After the end of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in 1976 and Tina’s subsequent departure, Turner sold the rights to previously unreleased music to Esquire Records and earned royalties from Salt-N-Pepa’s use of his song “I’m Blue (The Gong Gong Song).” 

Turner’s career was recognized with a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album for his 2006 release “Risin’ With the Blues.” Even with his ups and downs, Ike Turner will always be remembered as a talented musician and groundbreaking performer.

Ike Turner’s Personal Life Struggles

Ike Turner, known for his contributions to the world of music, had a tumultuous personal life marked by multiple marriages and arrests. 

Born in Mississippi in 1931, Turner got his start in the music industry as a teenager and eventually rose to fame as a bandleader and talented musician. 

However, his personal life was filled with turmoil. He was married 14 times, with some marriages occurring before his previous divorce was even finalized.

Turner’s relationships were often marked by infidelity, abuse, and tragedy. He was known to be physically and emotionally abusive towards his wives, including Tina Turner, who has spoken publicly about the abuse she experienced during her marriage to Ike. 

Additionally, many of Turner’s wives faced hardship and even institutionalization, as was the case with his fourth wife Rosa Lee Sane.

In addition to his troubled romantic relationships, Turner struggled with drug addiction throughout his life. 

He was arrested multiple times for drug-related offenses and was known to have a serious cocaine addiction. His drug use resulted in physical health problems, including a hole in his nasal septum.

Despite his personal struggles, Turner’s impact on the music industry cannot be denied. He was credited with pioneering the rock and roll sound and worked with many famous musicians throughout his career, including Phil Spector and Eric Clapton. 

Despite his many controversies, Turner’s legacy in music continues to be celebrated today.

Death

The death of Ike Turner in December 2007 was a significant event in the music world. Turner, who was known for his innovative contributions to the development of rock and roll and rhythm and blues, had become reclusive shortly before his untimely passing. 

He confided in Falina Rasool that he felt he was dying and would not make it until Christmas. Turner’s prediction proved accurate, as he died just two days later on December 12th at his San Marcos, California home.

The funeral of this renowned musician took place on December 21st at the City of Refuge Church, where Little Richard, Phil Spector, and Solomon Burke gave moving eulogies. 

The Kings of Rhythm, with whom Turner had played for much of his career, performed two of his most beloved songs, “Proud Mary” and “Rocket 88.” Following the service, Turner was cremated, and his ashes were spread over the Pacific Ocean.

In January 2008, the cause of Turner’s death was revealed to be a cocaine overdose, compounded by hypertensive cardiovascular disease and pulmonary emphysema. However, the absence of a valid will complicated the settlement of his estate. 

Although his ex-wife Audrey Madison claimed to have a handwritten will naming her as a beneficiary, a judge ruled that the document was not valid, and Turner’s adult children were the rightful heirs under state law.

The legacy of Ike Turner endures through his groundbreaking contributions to popular music and the many artists he mentored over the course of his career. 

His passing was a great loss to the industry, but his influence can still be felt today.

Awards and Nominations

Ike Turner was a highly acclaimed musician, songwriter, and record producer who achieved a staggering amount of success throughout his career. 

With a career spanning over five decades, Turner received numerous awards and nominations for his contributions to the music industry. 

Among his impressive list of accolades, Turner was inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame (2002), Blues Hall of Fame (2005), and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1991), to name a few.

Turner’s exceptional musical talent earned him seven Grammy nominations, with two wins for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Group for “Proud Mary” in 1972 and Best Traditional Blues Album for “Risin’ with the Blues” in 2007. 

In addition, his chart-topping hits such as “Rocket 88,” “River Deep – Mountain High,” and “Proud Mary” were all inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Turner’s music was also recognized with prestigious awards, such as the Memphis Heroes Award in 2004 and Mojo Legend Award in 2007. 

The influential “Rocket 88” was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1991, and most recently, the song was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Turner’s comeback album “Here and Now” was awarded the Blues Music Award for Comeback Album of The Year.

In his lifetime, Turner’s relentless pursuit of musical excellence and his pioneering contributions to the blues, rock and roll, and soul genres solidified his place as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. 

Ike Turner’s impressive list of awards and nominations is a testament to his enduring legacy and his monumental impact on music history.