PROUD TINA

This morning on the CBS SUNDAY MORNING NEWS SHOW was a feature on Tina Turner.  Wow!  She hasn’t hardly changed at all over he past 54 years when I saw her in person at the Royal Peacock in Atlanta.

July 10, 1965, I arrived home from a two-year active duty obligation in the Navy.  Within two or three days I got with old friends Monty and Johnnie and went to Atlanta to the Royal Peacock, a predominantly black club. This was on the eve of Georgia’s integration.

Ike and Tina Turner were the headliners.  Their music was well known, top 40 type.

If I remember correctly The Royal Peacock did not sell booze but you were welcome to bring your own, if you bought their ice and mixers.  We and a table of Tech students were the only white people there.

Ike, Tina, and the Ikettes came out at hyper high loud rhythmic energy.  The action and music were high pace.  It makes you want to jump up and start clapping and dancing.   Again, if I remember correctly, there was no dancing, it wasn’t allowed.

Ike put on a neat show with his guitar and tongue.  His tongue whipped in and out,  like a snake’s tongue with the beat of the music and he held and stroke his guitar handle in a very sexual manner.

Tina had her own show going.  She either had on a very short dress or one with a split up to her thighs.  She and her Ikettes put choreographed well synchronized moves while singing and dancing.

I think when we left, we were panting over keeping up with the high-energy performance.