UMass Lowell Music Professor Available for Interviews
05/24/2023
Media Contacts: Emily Gowdey-Backus and Nancy Cicco
Tina Turner, whose tumultuous childhood and abusive first marriage gave way under the weight of her sheer determination to become to a rock ‘n’ roll legend, was “the driving force” behind each of the bands she fronted, according to UMass Lowell music expert Gena Greher, who is available for interviews about the star’s influence and legacy.
Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, in 1939, died Wednesday, May 24 after a period of declining health. She was 83.
“If Aretha Franklin was the Queen of Soul, Tina was the absolute Rock Goddess. What she brought to the table was female empowerment in rock ‘n’ roll,” Greher said.
While still a teenager, the singer rose to prominence while performing with nightclub act The Kings of Rhythm, led by guitarist Ike Turner. Turner recognized her talent and propelled her into the spotlight – all the while controlling her physically and emotionally as her partner and eventual husband.
She divorced him in 1978, reemerging triumphantly six years later with the album “Private Dancer,” which remade her solo career and her image in the age of MTV. Published in 1986, her autobiography, “I, Tina: My Life Story,” became the basis of the film “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” which garnered a Golden Globe Award and Oscar nomination for actor Angela Bassett as Turner.
The recipient of eight Grammy Awards, Turner was first inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 alongside Ike Turner. She was inducted a second time in 2021 as a solo artist.
“Her music is timeless, it’s iconic,” Greher said. She is available to discuss:
- Turner’s vocal ability to sing a variety of genres
- Her stage presence and energy, which captivated audiences and defined her persona
- Her influence on today’s artists.
Greher, a music professor, leads UMass Lowell’s String Project, which provides K-12 students in the community with stringed instrument lessons and performance opportunities. She has contributed curriculum to integrate music and STEM education to the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz and helps lead UMass Lowell’s Soundscape, a technology-infused music intervention program for teenagers with autism spectrum disorders.
To arrange an interview with her, contact Emily Gowdey-Backus or Nancy Cicco.