Ike Turner Jr, son of Tina and Ike Turner, dies a day after his 67th birthday

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Ike Turner Jr, son of music legends Tina and Ike Turner, has died, his family confirmed on Saturday, October 4. He had turned 67 just the day before.

Ike Jr, who was born in 1958 to Ike Turner Sr and Lorraine Taylor, died from kidney failure at a Los Angeles hospital, according to his cousin Jacqueline Bullock.

A musician like his parents, Ike Jr performed with The Love Thang Band alongside vocalist Sweet Randi Love. He was later adopted by Tina during her marriage to the late rock pioneer Ike Sr.

Ike Turner Jr's family pays tribute

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of my cousin, Ike Turner, Jr," Jacqueline Bullock revealed. "Junior was more than a cousin to me, but rather a brother, as we grew up in the same famed household together."

Bullock also shared that Ike Jr's health had declined over the past few years, particularly after experiencing heart problems and suffering a stroke last month.

In her statement, she remembered him as a gifted musician whose talent left a lasting mark in the recording studio.

"As the son of Tina and Ike Turner, from an early age, his talents were evident as there wasn't an instrument he did not want to play," she said. "While he favored the drums early on, my aunt and his mother, Tina Turner, insisted that he break down his drum kit after each practice. This led him to favor the keys."

She added, "While he faced the same challenges that many of us have, he would become a sought after sound engineer, musician, and Grammy winner."

Ike Jr's sister-in-law, Afida Turner, widow of his late brother Ronnie Turner, also honored him in an Instagram post, writing, "Rest in peace, Ike Jr. You were an amazing brother-in-law. I'm glad I spoke with you on the phone before you were gone. Love you. RIP."

Ike Turner Jr carved his path away from the spotlight

Ike Turner Jr earned a Grammy Award for his work with his late father, Ike Turner Sr, on the 2006 album 'Risin' With The Blues', which won 'Best Traditional Blues Album' at the ceremony that year.

In the years before his death, Ike Jr stayed active in the music industry, quietly working behind the scenes in production while keeping his personal life out of the spotlight.

He contributed as both a sound engineer and musician, lending his talent to various projects at Bolic Sound Studios, the recording facility his father founded in Inglewood, California. Although he didn’t pursue the spotlight like his famous parents, Ike Jr built his own path in music.

Ike Turner Jr struggled to cope with the loss of loved ones

Friends and family revealed that Ike Turner Jr struggled to cope with the loss of loved ones, especially his mother and brothers, and never fully recovered from their deaths. 

Tina and Ike Sr raised four children together during their marriage. Tina adopted Ike Sr’s two sons, Ike Jr and Michael Turner, from his previous relationship with Taylor. 

The couple later welcomed their only biological child together, Ronnie Turner, while Tina also had a son, Raymond Craig, from her earlier relationship with musician Raymond Hill.

Tina died in May 2023 at the age of 83, following a prolonged illness, at her home in Kusnacht, near Zurich, Switzerland. Ike Sr died in December 2007 at the age of 76 from a cocaine overdose.

Ike Jr was preceded in death by two of his brothers. Craig died by suicide in 2018, and Ronnie died from colon cancer in 2022.

In a 2018 interview, Ike Jr spoke about his relationship with Tina, saying, "Tina raised me from the age of two. She’s the only mother I’ve ever known.”

However, he also revealed that they had been estranged for years. "But 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," he said. "My mother is living her life – she has a new husband and she’s in Europe. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with the past," he shared.