I felt unexpected sadness at Tina Turner's death.
Driving home from Sandy Springs, listening to the '60s channel on Sirius/XM satellite radio, I heard about the great entertainer's death at age 83 at her home near Zurich, Switzerland. She'd suffered from a range of illnesses.
Overcoming debt and career reversals, Tina achieved superstardom relatively late in life, a triumph of perseverance and innovative talent.
After announcing Tina's death, disc jockey Pat St. John strangely played "Proud Mary," the Grammy Award-winning hit she recorded with her abusive husband, Ike Turner before she courageously escaped from his control. It's too bad St. John didn't play one of the songs that brought her fame as a solo artist.
Tina's dynamic stage performances overshadowed her singing. She had a distinctive voice, rising from a low register to impressive power. She fully expressed the desolation of the sexual hookup culture on her biggest hit, "What's Love Got to Do With It?"
Love had everything to do with her career. With all of her star power, she displayed an empathy with her fans, giving courage to women like her caught in abusive relationships.
She traveled a long way from her childhood home in rural Tennessee near the Mississippi River. She never lost her small-town optimism and courage to succeed.
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