Tina Turner: legendary singer and 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll' dies aged 83

Rock 'n' Roll icon Tina Turner has died at her home in Switzerland aged 83, her spokesperson has confirmed.

The singer, known to fans as the 'Queen of Rock 'n' Roll', was one of the best known female rock artists in the world with hits such as The Best, Proud Mary and Private Dancer topping the charts across the globe.

Her spokesperson said: "Tina Turner, the 'Queen of Rock'n Roll' has died peacefully today at the age of 83 after a long illness in her home in Kusnacht near Zurich, Switzerland.

"With her, the world loses a music legend and a role model."

Her career in the music industry spanned an incredible six decades, with her energetic onstage persona becoming a trademark. Turner sold more than 180 million albums and won 12 Grammy Awards throughout her career.

She first grew to prominence as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue in the late 1960s alongside her ex-husband Ike Turner. The pair released the smash hits 'River Deep, Mountain High', 'Proud Mary' and 'Nutbush City Limits'.

In her 1986 book, the singer narrated a harrowing tale of abuse, including suffering a broken nose during the course of her marriage to Ike. He died in December 2007 and Tina’s spokeswoman at the time was quoted as saying: “Tina is aware that Ike passed away earlier today. She has not had any contact with him in 35 years. No further comment will be made.”

Her solo career launched in the 1980s and was heralded as "one of the greatest comebacks in music history". Turner went on to release hits such as 'What's Love Got To Do With It', 'We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)' and in 1996, she performed the title track from James Bond film GoldenEye.

Roger Davies, Turner's former manager, paid tribute to the singer, saying: “Tina was a unique and remarkable force of nature with her strength, incredible energy and immense talent. From the first day I met her in 1980, she believed in herself completely when few others did at that time.

“It was a privilege and an honour to have been a close friend as well as her manager for more than 30 years. I will miss her deeply.”

Tributes have poured in from across the industry. Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger paid tribute to the passing of his "wonderful friend" with a post on social media, adding: "She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer.

“She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her.”

Diana Ross said that she was "shocked" and "saddened" by the news of Turner's death while Gloria Gaynor labelled Turner an "iconic legend who paved the way for so many women in rock music, black and white”.

Her sentiments were echoed by Sir Elton John who said: “We have lost one of the word’s most exciting and electric performers. A total legend on record and on stage. She was untouchable."

Women's Aid also paid tribute to the singer, who had worked with the charity in the past and spoken openly about her experience of domestic abuse at the hands of her ex-husband Ike. The charity tweeted: “A survivor of domestic abuse who went on to inspire other women, and recently chose to support Women’s Aid for the 5th anniversary of @TinaTheMusical, she will always be #SimplyTheBest".

From our sister title PeopleWorld: A look at the late Tina Turner’s children