Ike Turner

If rock 'n' roll burst out with Little Richard's demonic Awopbopalula-awopbamboom, an inspired perversion of his sacred singing style, then its story requires what in the movie industry is now called a prequel. And the star of the prequel is Ike Turner.
When he was nineteen his band travelled to the Sun studios in Memphis and cut a car-loving boogie called Rocket 88, long predating Chuck Berry's fascination with automobiles. Many people, including Sun owner Sam Phillips, have called this the first rock 'n' roll record.
From then on, Ike Turner blazed a trail that influenced the whole of blues, R&B and rock 'n' roll music. The man who is best known as 'Mr. Tina Turner' and as a wife-beater is practically forgotten as one of the greatest forces of contemporary music.
In this biography, rock writer John Collis delves behind the myths to reveal the true Ike Turner, King of Rhythm.