Singer Tina Turner was the first Black artist and the first woman to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine|Philip Spittle|CC BY 2.0
The ‘Queen of Rock n’ Roll’, legendary singer-songwriter Tina Turner passed away Wednesday after a long illness at her home in Switzerland. She was 83 years old.
Known for foot-tapping hits like River Deep – Mountain High, Proud Mary and What's Love Got To Do With It?, Turner was one of the first Black women to break into the Rock n’ Roll genre.
She was also the first Black artist and the first woman to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
President Joe Biden mourned her death and said, “In addition to being a once-in-a-generation talent that changed American music forever, Tina’s personal strength was remarkable.”
Another iconic figure passed away yesterday. Avant-garde filmmaker and author of the controversial Hollywood Babylon Kenneth Anger died at 96.
The pioneering movie maker had a significant influence on queer culture.
Anger made films that explored homosexuality long before gay sex was legalized in America. His 1947 film Fireworks is known to be the first gay narrative film produced in the US.