Ike Turner Jr., the son of Tina and Ike Turner, died in a Los Angeles hospital just one day after turning 67. His niece, Jacqueline Bullock, confirmed that he passed from kidney failure and had been dealing with serious heart issues for years. She said he also suffered a stroke in early September.
Jacqueline said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of my cousin, Ike Turner Jr. Junior was more than a cousin to me, but rather a brother, as we grew up in the same famed household together.” She added that the family is thankful for the support they have received and asked for privacy.
Ike Jr. was born in 1958 to Ike Sr. and Lorraine Taylor, and Tina later adopted him when he was still a child. He grew up surrounded by fame and music but also experienced the tension that came with his parents’ relationship. After Tina separated from Ike Sr., he worked with her as a sound engineer before starting his own projects.
In a 2018 interview, Ike Jr. spoke about his complicated relationship with his mother. He said: “Tina raised me from the age of two. She’s the only mother I’ve ever known. 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.”
During that same interview, he talked about his brothers and their lives. He said: “I talk to Ronnie periodically – he’s in great health and married to singer Afida Turner. Craig is in real estate. They both live in LA. Michael is in a convalescent home in Southern California and needs medical support. I’ve been to see him quite a few times. He’s doing great.”
When asked if Tina ever visited Michael, he replied: “No. All she does is send him money.” He also reflected on his parents’ marriage and said: “My mother and father had no more fights than the people next door to you. I think their problem was her mouth and his mouth – my father didn’t take [expletive] from nobody [sic].”
In the last years of his life, Ike Jr. faced more trouble. He was arrested two weeks before his mother’s death for crack cocaine possession and tampering with evidence. He had already lost his brothers Craig, who died by suicide in 2018, and Ronnie, who passed away in 2022. His father, Ike Sr., died in 2007, and Tina passed in May 2023 at age 83 after battling several health issues.
After his death, Ronnie’s widow Afida shared a message online. She wrote: “REST IN PEACE IKE JR : U WAS AMAZING BROTHER IN LAW I M GLAD I SPEAK WITH U ON A PHONE BEFORE U GONE LOVE U RIP 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻#iketurnerjr @ikeandtinaturner [sic].”
Ike Jr.’s life was filled with both success and hardship. He carried on the Turner legacy through his love for blues and soul music, leaving behind a mark that reflected the highs and lows of a family that helped shape modern music.
