The tragic story of Tina Turner’s sons

“I’m still trying to find out why he did it,” stated 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 along with her companion, 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 feel Craig was lonely’

In 2018, Craig was found dead aged 59.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed that Craig was discovered lifeless at his Studio City residence 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 advised 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 dying 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 all the time 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 advised 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 do not know what pulled him down, besides one thing that adopted him was loneliness. I feel it was one thing with being alone,” she added.

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

“The previous few occasions we talked, the conversations had 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 stated 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, talking to Oprah earlier than Craig’s dying, Turner described him as “a very emotional kid” who struggled with seeing the abuse she confronted.

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

“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 dying, no particular analysis was revealed, however coroners later stated he handed on the age of 62 after issues from colon most cancers.

After his dying 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 stated within the caption.

His spouse Afrida additionally paid tribute on Instagram and stated: “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 together 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 pictures

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 based on experiences, he was additionally a musician identical to his father.

Michael was born in 1959, however has avoided 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.