Died On This Date (December 12, 2007) Ike Turner / R&B Legend

Izear “Ike” Turner
November 5, 1931 – December 12, 2007

ike-turner

Ike Turner was a musician, producer and band leader who is consider one of rock ‘n roll’s pioneers.  He is likely best remembered however, for his work with one-time wife, Tina Turner.  Born in Mississippi in 1931, Turner’s life in music began at just eight years old when he began working for a Clarksdale radio station.  A short time later, he was working as a roadie of sorts for blues great, Robert Nighthawk.  In the late ’40s, Turner formed a band called the Kings of Rhythm whose “Rocket 88” is often credited as the very first rock ‘n roll song.  He and his band eventually settled in St. Louis where he picked up work as a talent scout for various labels including Sun Records.  In that position, he helped launch the careers of such future legends as Elmore James, Howlin’ Wolf and Otis Rush.  In the late ’50s, Turner witnessed a teenage girl by the name of Anna Mae Bullock belt out a B.B. King song at t local club.   The two soon married, and Bullock was rechristened, Tina Turner, thus launching the dynamic Ike & Tina Turner Review, with Tina out front and Ike, the band leading guitarist.  Over the next several years, the duo became superstars releasing such rockin’ R&B numbers as “River Deep Mountain High,” “Proud Mary,” and “Nutbush City Limits.”  In 1976, the pair went through a bitter break up, both personally and professionally.  During the ’80s, Tina became one of the biggest stars in the world, but Ike wasn’t as fortunate.  He kept a relatively low profile other than an occasional run-in with the law or an appearance on talk shows like Howard Stern where he once claimed that he and Tina actually never got married.  On December 12, 2007, Ike Turner, age 76, died of what was ruled a cocaine overdose with other cardiovascular and respiratory factors.

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Proud Mary - The Best of Ike & Tina Turner - Ike & Tina Turner

Died On This Date (November 5, 1967) Robert Lee McCollum / aka Robert Nighthawk or Robert Lee McCoy

Robert Lee McCollum
November 30, 1909 –  November 5, 1967

robert-nighthawkRobert Lee McCollum was a blues guitarist who for some reason changed his name at least twice during his music career.  During the mid ’30s, he went by Robert Lee McCoy and landed in St. Louis where he played and recorded with Sonny Boy Williamson and Big Joe Williams.  A nomadic person, McCollum soon changed his name to Robert Nighthawk and moved on.  He resurfaced as an electric slide guitarist and landed a deal with Chess Records during the ’40s.  Unfortunately, Muddy Waters was also on the label, so Nighthawk soon found he wasn’t as much of a priority.  During the folk revival of the early ’60s. Nighthawk was rediscovered while busking on the streets of Chicago.  He experienced upswing in his career, making a few more records and playing club dates before he died of a heart attack on November 5, 1967.

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Robert Nighthawk

Died On This Date (September 21, 2009) Sam Carr / Delta Blues Drummer

Sam Carr (Born Samuel McCollum)
April 17, 1926 – September 21, 2009

SamCarrSam Carr was exposed to the blues at a very young age.  His father was blues great, Robert Lee McCollum who performed under the names Robert Lee McCoy and Robert Nighthawk.   As a child, Carr would dance in front of the stage during his dad’s breaks.  By the time he was a teenager, he was filling in on bass once in awhile.  Carr also played the harmonica and guitar, but it was his drumming that got him noticed.  Over the years he’s played with Buddy Guy, T-Model Ford, Frank Frost and Big Jack Johnson.   Sam Carr passed away in a nursing facility at the age of 83.