Mark Bego is the best-selling author of Madonna, Cher, Bette Midler, and Bonnie Rait. He lives in Tuscon, Arizona.
This serviceable look at rock diva Turner is the latest in more than 40 celebrity bios ranging from the sublime (Madonna: Blonde Ambition) to the ridiculous (Ice Ice Ice: The Extraordinary Vanilla Ice Story) written by Bego over the last 20 years. What he offers that many seemingly glossy bios don't is a sincere enthusiasm for his subject and a willingness to go beyond summarizing news clips to provide uncritical fans with something more for their money, even if he sometimes gets too enthusiastic ("It is impossible not to notice that everything about Tina Turner exudes class and refinement"). Bego covers much of the same ground as the singer's autobiography I, Tina, the definitive look at the star's stormy career with abusive husband Ike up to and through her 1980s comeback. But Bego offers some good historical and musical detail not found in Turner's book: he injects key quotes from Ike Turner, adding another layer to his clearly horrible treatment of Tina, and analyzes the Turners' various record deals with small labels like Kent Records in the 1960s to show the extent to which Tina was overworked and underpaid. He brings the same level of attention to Turner's post-comeback work in the '90s, although he doesn't go much beyond listing impressive box-office records and quoting the singer's own professions of happiness. What makes the book stand out is an impressive discography-more than 30 pages that make sense of Turner's recording career in the '60s, when Ike Turner "would accept overlapping advances from other labels." (Dec.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
Depicted thoroughly by a writer whose attention to detail revels
his enthusiasm for his subject. * Wave *
Bego offers good historical and musical detail. * Publishers Weekly
*
What he offers that many seemingly glossy bios don't is a sincere
enthusiasm for his subject and a willingness to go beyond
summarizing news clips to provide uncritical fans with something
more for their money... What makes the book stand out is an
impressive discography-more than 30 pages that make sense of
Turner's recording career in the '60s, when Ike Turner "would
accept overlapping advances from other labels." * Publishers Weekly
*
Mark Bego has captured the life and struggles of world renowned
Tina Turner in a very down to earth, yet captivating account of
what it was like suring those years that helped to shape an icon
that has mesmerized the world. We give this book FIVE STARS. *
Kansas State Globe *
Bego's account of Tina's career combines a biographer's insight
with the appreciation of a true fan. * Wiregras Times *
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