http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ike_TurnerIke Turner (born Izear Luster Turner Jr.) (born November 5, 1931) is an American musician (piano, guitar), bandleader, talent scout and record producer. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Turner was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. His musical career began with his childhood piano teacher, Pinetop Perkins, who taught him the boogie-woogie that he later transformed into early rock and roll. Turner's 1951 recording of "Rocket 88" is considered one of the earliest examples of rock and roll with a driving back beat and topped with electric guitar and wailing saxophone. It was a sharp contrast from the relatively more jazzy and sophisticated jump blues or swing combo music that preceded it.
The record was released under the name of Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, but was actually performed by Ike Turner and His Kings of Rhythm. Through music-business intrigue, Brenston, Turner's saxophone player, ended up with artist and co-author credit on Turner's tune.
Musically, he was known for an agressive, hard-hitting lead guitar style. He was known to put the whammy bar of his Fender Stratocaster to frequent use. In addition to his bandleading and performing, Turner was a talent scout and informal A & R man for independent record companies, including Sun Records, and played guitar or piano as side man for many pioneer blues performers, including Robert Nighthawk, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Elmore James, and Otis Rush.
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