Tina Turner (born Anna-Mae Bullock) has died at age 83. Her song We Don’t Need Another Hero sums up her musical impact perfectly. Tina’s oft-repeated narrative – taking back her power and her career after leaving an abusive marriage – is a story of music as liberation, of the voice as transformation and saviour, and of the power of truth-telling through free, fully empowered sound.

Tina Turner. Photo Wikimedia Commons

Turner had gospel choir, country and blues roots from her childhood growing up in the unincorporated town of Nutbush, Tennessee. Her connection to story was formed in this context, with voice and singing elevated in all these forms as expression of the soul. Her repertoire and texts also embodied a narrative of change and personal empowerment despite circumstances.

In the 1950s, she performed with Ike Turner’s Kings of Rhythm, but it became evident that she was the real star, with an energetic and powerful stage persona, and a free, open-throated and expressive, blues-tinged sound.

In 1966 and later in 1969 Ike and Tina opened for the Rolling Stones international tours. Her breakthrough success was 1971’s Proud Mary, a cover of the Creedence...