Tragedy has struck the Turner family. Ike Turner Jr., the son of music legends Tina and Ike Turner, has passed away at the age of 67.
He died on Saturday, October 4, 2025, in a Los Angeles hospital — just one day after celebrating his birthday.
Cause of death
According to TMZ, his death was confirmed by Tina Turner’s niece, Jacqueline Bullock, who revealed that Turner Jr. died from kidney failure.
Bullock also shared that he had battled severe heart problems for years and had suffered a stroke in early September.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of my cousin, Ike Turner, Jr.,” Bullock said. “Junior was more than a cousin to me, but rather a brother, as we grew up in the same famed household together.”
For those who remember, Ike Turner Jr.’s death from kidney failure is eerily similar to the health battles faced by his legendary mother, Tina Turner.
The iconic singer passed away in 2023 at the age of 83 in Küsnacht, near Zurich, after a long, undisclosed illness. While the exact cause of her death wasn’t initially revealed, it is known that her kidneys were failing — a condition first compounded by decades of high blood pressure.
Her high blood pressure had accelerated her kidney damage, and as her body weakened, she began coming to terms with the possibility of death. Tina’s husband, Erwin Bach, even donated a kidney to her in 2017.
Adopted by Tina Turner
Let’s focus on Tina’s son again.
Born in 1958 to Ike Turner Sr. and Lorraine Taylor, Ike Jr. was adopted by Tina Turner early in his life. She had also adopted his brother, Michael.
Ike Jr. worked briefly as Tina’s sound engineer after her split from Ike Sr., though their relationship became strained over the years.
“Tina raised me from the age of two. She’s the only mother I’ve ever known,” Ike Jr. told the Daily Mail in 2018.
“But I haven’t talked to my mother since God knows when – probably around 2000. I don’t think any of my brothers have talked to her in a long time either.”
Bullock recalled Ike Jr.’s early love for music. Though he initially gravitated toward the drums, Tina insisted he take apart his drum kit after each practice, which led him to focus on the keyboard instead.
He later helped manage Bolic Sound Studios, his father’s recording facility, and built a respected career as a sound engineer and musician.
“My father took me out of school at 13. I ended up running his recording studio, plus going on the road with them,” Ike Jr. told Daily Mail in 2018. ”They made a lot of money on tour, and my father used to make me count it until my hands were grey.”
He was part of the team that won a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues Album in 2007 for Ike Turner’s Risin’ With The Blues.
Tina’s kids
After the news of Ike’s death, fans quickly flooded TMZ’s Instagram post with messages of grief and respect.
“RIP 🕊️,” one wrote.
“Most of Tina’s kids didn’t live long enough…may their souls rest in peace,” another commented.
“Rest Easy Ike Turner III,” a third wrote.
“🙏🏽,” another added simply.
Tragedy has long shadowed Tina Turner’s family. Her son Craig, adopted by Ike Sr., died by suicide at 59 in 2018.
Their only biological child, Ronnie, passed away at 62 from complications of colon cancer in 2022. Just five months later, Tina herself died at 83 after a long illness — a heartbreaking series of losses for the Turner family.
Ike Turner passed away in 2007, but he and Tina had long been divorced by then.
Ike Turner Jr.’s life was marked by extraordinary talent, family complexities, and the highs and lows of growing up in one of music’s most famous households. Though he is gone, his contributions to music and his family’s legacy will not be forgotten.
