Some say his 1951 #1 hit “Rocket 88” was the first rock and roll song. Izear Luster “Ike” Turner Jr. — born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on this day in 1931 — was a bright talent with a dark side, best known for meeting Anna Mae Bullock, renaming her Tina Turner and teaming up to become the legendary Ike and Tina Turner Revue (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 1991). Here they are performing their first hit, “Fool in Love” and Sly and the Family Stone’s “I Want to Take You Higher,” which they charted with in 1970. Here, Ed Sullivan introduces a performance of their Grammy-winning classic “Proud Mary.” Also an influential bluesman who played with Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James, B.B. King and Buddy Guy, Ike Turner died on December 12, 2007.
