Ike Turner Passes Away At 76

Rock and R&B pioneer Ike Turner died yesterday while sleeping in his home in San Diego, CA. His 1951 "Rocket 88" as band leader of the Kings of Rhythm is viewed by some as the first Rock and Roll recording in history.

Ike's infamy as an abusive husband to wife Tina Turner, whom he discovered as Anna Mae Bullock and divorced in 1976, was well documented in the 1993 film adaptation of Tina's autobiography I, Tina. As a couple, the two released hit after hit, including "A Fool In Love," "River Deep Mountain High" and "Proud Mary." Inevitably his reputation suffered for much of the '90s, and only recently did he rise again in popularity, rehabilitated after a jail sentence to record a Grammy winning traditional blues album Risin' With the Blues. He was 76 years old.

Ike and Tina's Big TNT Show