The tragic story of Tina Turner’s sons

“I’m still trying to find out why he did it,” mentioned Tina Turner in 2018.

She was telling Oprah Winfrey about her son Craig’s suicide.

The rock icon was solely 18 when she had Craig in 1958 together with her associate, Raymond Hill, who was a saxophonist with Ike Turner’s band Kings of Rhythm.

Craig was later adopted by Ike after he and Turner married in 1962.

He was the eldest of Turner’s 4 kids, the others being Ronnie, Turner Jr and Michael Turner.

‘I believe Craig was lonely’

In 2018, Craig was discovered lifeless aged 59.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed that Craig was discovered lifeless at his Studio City dwelling in California from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“I think Craig was lonely, that’s what I think really got him more than anything else,” Turner instructed CBS News.

“I have pictures all around of him smiling, and I think I’m sensing that he’s in a good place. I really do.”

Turner described Craig as an “introverted person” and “very shy”.

He was working with a distinguished firm in actual property and was in a relationship.

Turner described Craig’s loss of life as her “saddest moment as a mother”.

She tweeted on the time: “On Thursday 19 July 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 59 when he died so tragically, however he’ll at all times be my child.”

‘I nonetheless do not know what took him to the sting’

It was a loss that Turner felt closely.

“I still don’t know what took him to the edge because, at that stage, he had said to me that he had never met a woman that he felt that way about,” she had instructed the BBC.

“He was bringing her to meet me [for] his birthday in August. He had decorated his apartment, that I bought him years ago. He had got a new job with a prominent real estate company in California, [which] he was very happy with.

“I don’t know what pulled him down, besides one thing that adopted him was loneliness. I believe it was one thing with being alone,” she added.

She said she did notice a change in their last few conversations.

“The previous couple of instances we talked, the conversations have been totally different, and I did not know that till after the suicide.”

In her memoir “My Love Story”, Turner revealed she had struggled with suicidal ideas throughout her abusive relationship with Ike Turner, however mentioned regardless of the darkness on the time, she survived.

“I was unhappy when I woke up,” she wrote in her memoir. “But I came out of the darkness believing I was meant to survive.”

In 2005, chatting with Oprah earlier than Craig’s loss of life, Turner described him as “a very emotional kid” who struggled with seeing the abuse she confronted.

“He’d always look down in sadness,” Turner mentioned.

“One day when Ike was fighting me, Craig knocked on the door and said, ‘Mother, are you all right?’ I thought, ‘Oh, please, don’t beat me at home.’ I didn’t want my children to hear.”

‘Beloved son’ Ronnie Turner

Ronnie was Turner’s youngest son and was born in October 1960.

He was additionally a bass participant within the band Manufactured Funk.

He married French Musician Afida Turner in 2007.

Prior to his loss of life, no particular prognosis was revealed, however coroners later mentioned he handed on the age of 62 after problems from colon most cancers.

After his loss of life in 2022, Turner paid tribute to her “beloved son”, and on the time, she posted a black and white picture on Instagram.

“Ronnie, you left the world far too early. In sorrow, I close my eyes and think of you, my beloved son,” the singer mentioned within the caption.

His spouse Afrida additionally paid tribute on Instagram and mentioned: “My husband my best friend my baby I was your mummy, your nurse your little monster.

“I did the most effective to the top,” she added.

“This could be very very very dangerous I’m very mad. This is a tragedy U along with your brother Craig and your father Ike Turner and [Alline.] Rest in paradise. So unfair.”

Read extra:
Tina Turner dies in Switzerland
The trauma and triumph of a music legend
Tina Turner in footage

After her marriage to Ike, the Proud Mary singer adopted his two kids, Ike Jr and Michael, in 1960.

Ike Jr was born in 1958 to his dad and mom Ike and Lorraine Taylor, and in line with studies, he was additionally a musician similar to his father.

Michael was born in 1959, however has kept away from being within the highlight.

After Turner break up with Ike, she had little contact with Ike Jr and Michael.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can name Samaritans for assistance on 08457 90 90 90 or e-mail jo@samaritans.org within the UK. In the US name the Samaritans department in your space or 1 (800) 273-TALK.