Everything We Need to Know About Late Tina Turner Queen of Rock’s Four Children!
- Tina Turner passed away less than six months after her son Ronnie’s death.
- Turner welcomed her first son Craig when she was only 18 years old.
- He died by suicide in 2018.
Tina Turner suffered from the death of her two sons before her passing
Tina Turner tragically passed away on May 24 after a long battle with serious illness at 83. But what’s more tragic is, her death comes less than six months after her youngest son Ronnie died due to complications of colon cancer.
Turner welcomed Ronnie with her ex-husband Ike Turner. She was also a mom to three sons.
She gave birth to Raymond Craig with Kings of Rhythm saxophonist Raymond Hill. Ike later adopted Raymond and he received his stepfather’s last name.
The The Best singer also gladly adopted Ike’s six kids from his previous relationships and affairs.
In a 1997 interview with Larry King, the Proud Mary songstress said,
“I’ve gotta say they were good kids.”
Here’s all we need to know about Tina’s four sons.
Also, Read Find Out How Tina Turner’s Son Ronnie Turner Died a Sudden Death!
Her firstborn Craig Raymond Turner died by suicide
Craig was Tina’s first child whom she welcomed with her then-boyfriend Raymond Hill. She was just 18 at the time. Hill played saxophone in the band called Kings of Rhythm.
Despite being the son of one of the most famous people of the time, Craig lived most of her light away from the spotlight. He worked as a realtor in Los Angeles.
He died by suicide in 2018 and Tina was devastated. She called it the “saddest moment as a mother.”
In her documentary Tina in 2021, she said, “He was 59 when he died so tragically, but he will always be my baby.”
Turner noted that her son was lonely at the time of his death. She later said,
“I think Craig was lonely, that’s what I think really got him more than anything else.”
“I have pictures all around of him smiling, and I think I’m sensing that he’s in a good place. I really do,”
Her second son Ronnie Renelle Turner passed away in 2022
Tina welcomed her second son, Ronald Ronnie Renelle in October 1960. He was Turner and Ike’s first child together. The couple was married from 1962 to 1978.
He acted alongside his mom in What’s Love Got to Do With It which took Tina to the next level of fame.
Like his older brother, he also spent most of his adult life away from the limelight. In 2007, he married French singer Afida Turner.
Tina suffered again when her son passed away in December 2022 at age 62.
She mourned his death, writing,
“My God, Ronnie Turner, a true angel, huge soul, highly spiritual, my husband, my best friend, my baby,”
Her adopted son Ike never spoke to his real mom
Ike Turner Jr. was Tina’s adopted son who was born in 1958 Ike and Lorraine Taylor. When Ike was less than five years old, his father married Turner.
Ike Jr. followed in his parent’s footsteps and had a successful career as a musician. He won a Grammy Award for producing his father’s album Risin With The Blues in 2006.
Ike said in a 2018 interview that he was not in touch with his biological mom for over 2 decades. He said,
”Tina raised me from the age of two. She’s the only mother I’ve ever known,”
“I haven’t talked to my mother since God knows when – probably around 2000. I don’t think any of my brothers have talked to her in a long time either.”
Her least popular son Michael Turner
Out of all her sons, Michael was the one who never got into showbiz. He was also another adopted son of Tina.
Michael and Ike Jr. were devasted to have been left to of their mom’s 2021 documentary. He has been estranged from Tina for some time. Ike Jr. revealed in 2018 that his brother needed some kind of medical support and pointed out,
“I’ve been to see him quite a few times. He’s doing great.”
He was upset saying that Tina did not visit adding,
“All she does is send him money.”
Also, Read Tina Turner Paid Tribute to Son Ronnie Turner who Passed Away at 62!