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From the early breakthrough to tears and abuse: the life of the music icon was eventful, her music will not be forgotten.
Tina Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in 1940 in the US state of Tennessee. In the ’60s and ’70s, the singer rose to prominence in a duo with her then-husband Ike Turner. Hits like “River Deep – Mountain High” and “Nutbush City Limits” stormed the charts in many countries.
As Turner revealed much later, the marriage was an ordeal for her. Ike beat and bullied her. She fled from him at the age of 37. Turner gave up all financial claims from the joint music creation in order to get through the divorce quickly and started with a solo career.
Later success as a solo artist
At the age of 45, Tina Turner was again in the spotlight: the album “Private Dancer” was her solo breakthrough in 1984. From then on she filled stadiums and music stages all over the world. She landed numerous hits: “What’s Love Got To Do With It?”, “Proud Mary”, “We Don’t Need Another Hero” or “Be Tender with Me Baby” are just a few of them.
An eventful life
Turner has won numerous music awards. In 2021 she was inducted into the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” in Cleveland, USA. “If they’re still giving me awards at 81, I must have done something right,” she joked at the ceremony via video link from Switzerland.
Turner found happiness in Switzerland
In 2009 she retired from show business. Without ever regretting it, as she always assured. “I was traveling so much, a woman misses it when she can’t scurry around at home,” she said in 2017 on a British talk show for the premiere of a musical about her life story, “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical”. She was 78 years old and let herself be carried away by the moderator to do one of her hot hip swings. And the lion’s mane? All fake, as she freely admitted. She wears wigs like other people dress.
Probably the best-known Swiss by choice
In the 1980s, Turner met German music promoter Erwin Bach, who was 16 years his junior, and the two became a couple. Ten years later they moved to Küsnacht on Lake Zurich in Switzerland. She named her more than 5,000 square meter property on the lake “Algonquin” after her Indian ancestors. Turner also took Swiss citizenship in 2013.
Tina Turner went to the polls in an exemplary manner. Learned German and praised her new homeland, saying she had arrived here. The food also suits her, she likes cheese and loves “Bürli”, she said in an interview.
Legend:
Dechen Shak-Dagsay with Tina Turner.
ZVG
Dechen Shak-Dagsay collaborated with Tina Turner on the music project Beyond from 2008 to 2014 and released three albums with her. SRF was able to speak to Dagsay shortly after Tina Turner’s death became known.
SRF News: Tina Turner passed away today. How did you feel when you found out about it?
Dechen Shak-Dagsay: I’m personally very affected. It’s incredibly sad. I also think it’s an emotional and very sad moment for the whole world. The music world loses an icon.
You worked with her, how was that for you?
A dream has come true. Record one time with the world star Tina Turner in the studio, to experience her singing, to witness her professionalism, so close up. It’s an incredible privilege.
Was there a moment that stuck with you?
Yes, that was before an appearance on TV. It was about what to wear. There were three of us, Tina Turner, Regula Courti, the initiator of the Beyond project and I. We were at home in Küssnacht with Tina. Tina showed me her wardrobe. I was really blown away at first. That was a huge wardrobe. I remember one wall was completely covered with beautiful shoes. Then she chose her clothes for us and we could put them on. I got a typical Tina dress with lots of glitter. However, I was not allowed to keep the dress. My husband then said the dress didn’t really fit me.
What did you learn from her?
She inspired me to draw from my own inner powerful voice.
What does today mean for the music world?
There is a huge hole in the music world today. But Tina was not only an icon for the music world, but a role model for the whole world, especially an idol for all women.
What makes them so unique?
She has an unmistakable voice. There is only one voice. All she has to do is make a sound and you know it’s Tina. Your whole career as a person is unique. Her life story includes everything – sadness, joy, perseverance, strength and love.
She rejected Bach’s marriage proposals for years until she finally said yes in 2013 – Turner was 73 then, he was 57. He called her “Schatzi”, as he revealed to the “New York Times” in 2019. In the documentary, he lovingly told of a relationship that was still crackling after more than 30 years together.
Turner had two biological sons who predeceased her at ages 59 and 62. She herself had colon cancer and kidney failure. Her husband donated one of his kidneys to her in 2017. In the autobiography “My Love Story” in 2019 she reported on many painful experiences in life, but honored Bach as her savior and the greatest love of her life.