What Happened to Tina Turner's Son? What Was His Cause Of Death?
by Ushapriyanga
Updated May 25, 2023
Who is Tina Turner?
Tina Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, was an American-born and naturalized Swiss singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and author. Widely recognized as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," she achieved fame as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue and later embarked on a successful solo career.
Turner's musical journey began in 1957 when she joined Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm. Initially performing under the name Little Ann, she made her debut on the record "Boxtop" in 1958. In 1960, she adopted the stage name Tina Turner and released the hit duet "A Fool in Love," marking the start of her rise to stardom. The duo Ike & Tina Turner became renowned for their captivating live performances and delivered popular songs like "It's Gonna Work Out Fine," "River Deep – Mountain High," "Proud Mary," and "Nutbush City Limits" before parting ways in 1976.
During the 1980s, Turner achieved a remarkable comeback in the music industry. Her 1984 album "Private Dancer" became a massive success, propelled by the chart-topping single "What's Love Got to Do with It," which earned her a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. At the age of 44, she became the oldest female solo artist to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Turner's subsequent hits included "Better Be Good to Me," "Private Dancer," "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)," "Typical Male," "The Best," "I Don't Wanna Fight," and "GoldenEye." Her 1988 Break Every Rule World Tour attracted a record-breaking audience of 180,000, earning her a place in the Guinness World Records.
Aside from her musical achievements, Turner pursued acting and appeared in films such as "Tommy" (1975) and "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome" (1985). In 1993, her life story was adapted into the biographical film "What's Love Got to Do with It." After completing her Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour in 2009, Turner retired from the music industry.
She was honored with numerous accolades, including 12 Grammy Awards, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (with Ike Turner in 1991 and as a solo artist in 2021), a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and recognition as one of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists and 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Turner's contributions to music and her record sales, which exceeded 100 million worldwide, solidified her status as one of the best-selling recording artists in history. She passed away on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83 after battling a prolonged illness.
What Happened to Tina Turner's Son?
Tina Turner's son Ronnie passed away in late 2022 at the age of 62. The news of his death was accompanied by reports that he was found unresponsive by neighbors outside his home and had been experiencing difficulty breathing. Tina Turner, deeply saddened by the loss, expressed her emotions in a heartfelt tribute to Ronnie.
In her tribute, Tina conveyed her grief over Ronnie's untimely departure, emphasizing that he left the world far too early. She expressed her love and fond memories, closing her eyes in sorrow as she thought of her beloved son. Ronnie's wife, Afida, also took to Instagram to pay tribute to him. She described Ronnie as a true angel, highlighting his immense soul and spiritual nature. Afida referred to him as her husband, best friend, and baby, expressing her love and dedication in caring for him until the end.
Afida also expressed her frustration and sadness, feeling unable to save Ronnie in this instance. She reflected on their 17 years together and considered his passing a tragic and unfair event. Afida mentioned Ronnie being reunited with his brother Craig and their father Ike, as well as Aline, likely referring to loved ones who had passed before him. She concluded by wishing Ronnie to rest in paradise, expressing her profound sorrow over the loss they all endured.
Tina Turner's Children
Tina Turner, the legendary queen of rock 'n' roll, was not only known for her electrifying performances but also for being a loving mother to her four children. One of her sons, Ronnie Turner, was her biological child, whom she shared with her ex-husband and former bandmate, Ike Turner.
In addition to Ronnie, Tina also opened her heart and adopted two of Ike's sons from a previous relationship. She also had a fourth son named Craig Turner with musician Raymond Hill, who Ike later adopted as well.
Unfortunately, both of Tina's biological sons passed away before her. Craig Turner sadly left us in 2018, while Ronnie Turner's departure came in December 2022. In a 2021 interview with TODAY.com, Tina fondly recalled the births of her children as some of the happiest moments in her life.
Despite the hardships she faced, Tina Turner's role as a mother was undoubtedly an important part of her life, and she cherished the love and joy her children brought to her.
Craig Turner
Prior to her marriage to Ike Turner, Tina Turner, then known as Anna Mae Bullock, gave birth to her first child, a son named Craig, at the age of 18. Craig's father was musician Raymond Hill, who played saxophone in Ike Turner's band, the Kings of Rhythm. After Tina and Ike Turner became a couple, Ike adopted Craig as his own.
Tina Turner's tumultuous relationship with Ike Turner, marred by physical abuse, was detailed in her 1986 memoir, "I, Tina." This abusive marriage was later portrayed in the 1993 film "What's Love Got to Do With It," starring Angela Bassett. The couple divorced in 1978. In his 1999 autobiography, "Takin' Back My Name: The Confessions of Ike Turner," Ike admitted to having "slapped" Tina but denied beating her. Ike Turner passed away in 2007.
In a 2005 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Tina Turner spoke about her son Craig, describing him as an emotionally sensitive individual who struggled with witnessing his mother's abuse. Tina shared an incident when Craig knocked on the door while Ike was assaulting her, expressing concern for her well-being. She made efforts to shield her children from such violence.
Craig Turner pursued a career as a real estate agent in California. Unfortunately, he tragically took his own life in July 2018. Following his passing, Tina Turner tweeted a photo of herself and her husband on a boat, symbolically scattering Craig's ashes off the California coast. She expressed her deep sorrow and everlasting love for her son in the caption.
Ronnie Turner
Tina Turner and Ike Turner had one biological son together, Ronnie Turner, who followed in his parents' footsteps and became a musician. Ronnie played bass guitar and was a member of the band Manufactured Funk. In a December 2022 Instagram post, Tina Turner announced Ronnie's death at the age of 62, lamenting his premature departure and expressing her profound grief.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, Ronnie Turner passed away due to complications related to metastatic colon carcinoma. After learning of Tina Turner's death, Ronnie's widow, French singer Afida Turner, paid tribute to the music icon on Instagram, extending her condolences and referencing both Ronnie and Craig.
Ike Turner Jr. and Michael Turner
Ike Turner had two sons, Ike Jr. and Michael Turner, from a previous relationship. Tina Turner later adopted both children as her own, but their relationship reportedly became distant following her separation from Ike. In a 1985 interview with Spin, Ike Jr., who is also a musician, expressed his attempts to reach out to Tina but received no response. In 2018, he stated that they had not been in contact since 2000.
In a 2018 interview with The Sunday Times, Tina Turner disclosed that she had forgiven Ike as an older person but did not desire to work with him again. Despite the forgiveness, their past had irreversibly severed their professional and personal ties. Tina made it clear that their relationship was a closed chapter in her life, with no intentions of reconnecting with Ike.
Tina Turner's Son Ronnie's Cause of Death
Ronnie Turner, the son of Tina Turner, passed away due to complications from colon cancer and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is characterized by the accumulation of cholesterol plaque in artery walls, leading to restricted blood flow. Following his death, Tina shared a poignant black and white portrait, closing her eyes as she paid tribute to her beloved child.
Expressing her grief, Tina wrote, "Ronnie, you left the world far too early. In sorrow, I close my eyes and think of you, my beloved son," accompanying the heartfelt message with the picture. This loss marked another devastating moment for Tina, who had previously experienced tragedy in 2018 when her son Craig died by suicide.
In 2018, Tina scattered Craig's ashes off the coast of California and shared her profound sadness as a mother. She tweeted, "My saddest moment as a mother. On Thursday, July 19, 2018, I said my final goodbye to my son, Craig Raymond Turner, when I gathered with family and friends to scatter his ashes off the coast of California. He was fifty-nine when he died so tragically, but he will always be my baby."
Tina gave birth to Craig at the age of 18, before her marriage to Ike Turner. After their marriage, Ike legally adopted Craig, and he took on Ike's surname. However, Craig's biological father was Raymond Hill, a saxophonist in the Kings of Rhythm and a member of Ike's band.
Tina, then known as Little Ann, and Raymond were in a relationship when she was 17 and a new backing singer for Ike Turner's band. Raymond passed away in 1996 at the age of 62 due to heart failure. Tina was married to Ike from 1962 to 1978
What Happened to Tina Turner's Son-FAQs
Ronnie Turner's death was attributed to complications from colon cancer and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which is characterized by the build-up of cholesterol plaque in artery walls.
Tina Turner shared an emotional black and white portrait picture, closing her eyes, and wrote a heartfelt message expressing her sorrow and love for her "beloved son."
Yes, in 2018, Tina Turner also lost her other son, Craig, who died by suicide.
Tina Turner was married to Ike Turner from 1962 to 1978.