The Art of Collaborating: Ike and Tina Turner's Creative Process for Rolling on the River

Collaboration among artists can produce art that exceeds its sum total. Successful collaborative projects require open brainstorming sessions and shared visions between all involved. Research demonstrates that when communities take ownership of collaborative art projects, they will value it more highly (Muniz and O'Guinn 2001). Showing off completed artwork serves as an enduring symbol of community success while simultaneously sparking future collaborations. The Story Tina Turner was an iconic rock icon known for her stirring voice, seductive body and fierce no-mess-with-me attitude. But her story goes much deeper than musical legacy alone: Her struggles through personal upheavals and private traumas (including allegations of physical abuse by her husband Ike ) allowed her to become a trailblazer for women in music. She became one of the first Black female artists ever featured on a Rolling Stone cover, breaking barriers for other Black female musicians during her hugely successful solo career and her incredible renaissance in the 80s. This film chronicles Ike and Tina Turner's divorce and subsequent reunion, along with her subsequent career resurgence. Filmmakers collaborated closely with Tina herself to ensure as accurate a depiction as possible of this true-to-life tale of rock 'n' roll royalty. The result is an engaging depiction of this iconic singer/actress. Tina and Ike rose to success together, charting hits like "Proud Mary" and "River Deep-Mountain High," before their partnership was marred by his drug addiction and abusive behavior. According to Tina in her first memoir, on their wedding night he took her to a brothel in Tijuana where he used emotional manipulation and beatings against her; at times even pushing her onto the floor before leaving for nightclubs alone! 1989 saw Tina and Richard come full circle when they were honored at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with Tina performing her Phil Spector-produced classic at their induction ceremony. Angela Bassett played her in 1993 biopic What's Love Got To Do With It. Celebration of collaborative art brings communities alive by instilling pride and pride of ownership within its members. Additionally, it increases dignity and personal significance of community members by drawing attention to past achievements and progress toward future goals (Patrick, Atefi & Hagtvedt 2017). Furthermore, shared celebration of collaborative art helps cultivate mutually beneficial collaboration relationships that amplify its impact both within a community as well as outside it. The Music In the 1960s and '70s, Ike and Tina Turner established themselves as one of America's premier musical duos. Their electrifying stage performances and Ikettes' electrifying dancing thrilled audiences; they covered songs that ranged from The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" to Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long". Furthermore, The Rolling Stones invited Ike & Tina Turner's Revue on tour alongside them which introduced them to an even wider audience. As musical styles changed, so too did Ike and Tina Turner's repertoire. As time and musical trends evolved, so too did their repertoire: they recorded versions of popular rock songs by artists like the Beatles' "Come Together" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary." This deliberate effort at cross-over appeal did not lessen their reputation among black music enthusiasts. Ike and Tina continued making hit records throughout the '60s and '70s, though as their popularity wained they struggled to find an identity as a duo. Only in 1976 did Ike stop abusing Tina and she decided to part ways with him; following this event her solo albums Rough on EMI and 1979's disco-infused Love Explosion failed to chart; however in 1981 she made her big-screen debut as Aunty Entity in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. Phil Spector produced Tina Turner's first album following her split from Ike, entitled Private Dancer. This record marked a departure from the funky rhythm and blues sound that had marked Ike and Tina Turner Revue and featured rock songs that showcased Tina's direction for her musical career. After Tina Turner passed away in 2018, Dutch producer Joop van den Ende announced plans for a musical about her life featuring actress Angela Bassett as its star performer, due to premiere in London England the following year. Furthermore, Ike and Tina Turner were honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the band that opened their 1989 ceremony (and performed the night before); accepting this honor both personally as well as on behalf of their late drummer Jim Gordon who passed away earlier that same day. The Production Ike and Tina Turner led one of the most potent R&B acts during the '60s and '70s, featuring Ike on guitar while Tina displayed her unstoppable sexual energy on stage. In 1971, their version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary" sold more than one million copies - earning them a Grammy Award. This new documentary follows Ike and Tina through their rise, using archive footage and extensive audio interviews to shed light on a difficult period in their relationship. Filmmaker Asif Kapadia brings his signature visual style - fashion photography (Vogue models and movie stars) perfectly illustrates this world, providing insight into Ike and Tina's world as teenaged performers. Even as they enjoyed chart success on record, Ike and Tina's marriage was often fraught with domestic violence, drug use and financial strain. While they released many critically-acclaimed albums such as Workin' Together and River Deep Mountain High live concert film respectively, Ike's drug abuse ultimately resulted in their highly publicized divorce in 1976 and Tina taking sole control of both their name and musical careers. Tina then pursued her solo career while Ike became an outspoken promoter and ran his own recording studio until his overdose death from cocaine use in 2007. Both were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame jointly in 1991 despite Tina being unable to attend due to ongoing drug dependency. The Look Tina and Ike created an unforgettable live performance aesthetic through both music and their image. Both donned sleek black suits and tight, ruffled dresses embellished with sequins and feathers; an appearance which quickly became iconic of their live shows. Tina described herself in her first 1986 autobiography as being "electrifying" while on stage; an observation which still holds true today; her power, charisma, and sexuality propelled her into becoming one of the most revered female rock stars ever. Their irreverent act and frequent sexual references captivated white rock audiences to the extent they were brought to their feet by white rock audiences. Songs like Proud Mary and River Deep- Mountain High became huge hits across Europe and they were invited by Rolling Stones on their UK tour to open for them as opening acts. But behind the scenes things were anything but ideal. Ike controlled their finances and as their success increased he began abusing Tina. At one point the beatings became so severe that Tina attempted suicide by swallowing 50 pills prior to performing. Tina persevered despite this setback and by 1960 had released an A Fool in Love demo that became an instantaneous success. Soon thereafter Ike and Tina married, with Ike changing Tina to Tina within his Revue and signing her to Universal Records under an lucrative deal. At the time of Rolli's release in 1969, life for Ike and Tina had been anything but smooth. While touring together, Ike was imprisoned for drug possession while she endured domestic violence incidents between them. Tina ultimately found solace with Erwin Bach, a Swiss businessman and EMI executive with whom she would go on to have two children. No matter your taste in music or art, Ike and Tina Turner left an indelible mark on American popular culture. Their story serves as an important reminder that collaboration in creative processes often works best; from Marina Abramovic and Ulay to Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat; artists have proven it can lead to success.