''Takin' Back My Name'' begins with an introduction by musician
Little Richard who emphasizes Ike Turner's influence as a
rock 'n' roll pioneer. Turner then recounts his life woven with inner thoughts and newfound perspectives. Izear Luster Turner, better known as "Ike Turner," was born in
Clarksdale, Mississippi. Early in his musical career, he worked for the Los Angeles–based
Bihari brothers as an
A&R man at
Modern Records, scouting the
Delta blues scene in search of artists to record. With his own band the
Kings of Rhythm, Turner recorded "
Rocket 88," a distorted-guitar ode to the
Oldsmobile 88, which is credited as being the
first rock ‘n’ roll record, at
Sam Phillips’
Memphis recording studio in 1951. Instead of Turner's name on the record, his saxophonist (and vocalist on the track)
Jackie Brenston was credited. He then worked as a talent scout and session musician at
Sun Records. He called her "Little Ann" and he eventually created her stage name Tina Turner. He formed the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in 1960 which was followed by a string of hit records and relentless touring in the 1960s. At the peak of their commercial success in the early 1970s, they toured internationally and had their own recording studio,
Bolic Sound, which became Turner's playground, rife with explicit tales of sex and cocaine use. By the mid 1970s, the Turners' relationship was deteriorating, and after a physical altercation in 1976, they divorced in 1978. In 1986, after making a success of her comeback, Tina Turner released her autobiography
I, Tina, which was filled with recounts of
spousal abuse. At the time, Turner was on a downward spiral, which ended with an 18-month stint in prison for drug possession. After his release in the early 1990s, Tina's book was adapted into the film
What’s Love Got To Do With It. Laurence Fishburne's menacing portrayal of Turner in the film and the alleged fabrications in the script further damaged Turner's reputation. Despite this, Turner reformed a new Revue, and after a long absence from the stage he resumed performing. == Critical reception ==