Rock’n’roll pioneer Ike Turner dies

Ike Turner, the pioneering musician whose achievements were overshadowed by the public knowledge that he brutally abused his wife Tina Turner during 16 years of marriage, has died in California aged 76. A spokeswoman for Tina Turner said the singer had nothing to say about her ex-husband's death. "Tina is aware that Ike passed away earlier today. She has not had any contact with him in 35 years. No further comment will be made."

Born in Mississippi in 1931, Turner began his career as a band leader and talent scout for blues performers. In 1951, he recorded the ground-breaking Rocket 88, considered by many to be the first ever rock and roll recording. It was cited as one of modern music's most important works when Ike and Tina were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.

Ike first met Tina in 1956 she was called Annie Mae Bullock and her mother persuaded him to take her on as a vocalist. Their first hit song - A Fool in Love - came by chance after another singer failed to show up to a recording session in 1961.

A duo was born and during the 1960s and early 70s the Ike and Tina Turner Revue was one of America's most successful acts. Hit records included River Deep, Mountain High, Proud Mary and Nutbush City Limits.

The couple had married in Mexico in 1962. But by the mid-1970s, Turner's drug use and violent outbursts had made the relationship intolerable. They divorced in 1978. They had one child, Ike junior, but Turner was known to have at least two other sons and a daughter by other women. He won a Grammy award last year for his traditional blues album, Risin' with the Blues.