The Untold Story Of Lorraine Taylor: Ike Turner's First Love And The Mother Of His Adopted Sons

The story of Lorraine Taylor is one of the most overlooked and yet central figures in the tumultuous early life of music legend Ike Turner, a narrative that has gained fresh attention following the recent passing of her son, Ike Turner Jr., in 2023. This article, updated in December 2025, delves into the life of the woman who shared a common-law marriage with the R&B pioneer in the 1950s and was the biological mother to two of the sons later adopted by the iconic Tina Turner. The relationship between Lorraine Taylor and Ike Turner predates the formation of the legendary Ike & Tina Turner Revue and set the stage for one of rock and roll's most complex family histories. Her life, which spanned from 1933 to 2019, was deeply intertwined with the burgeoning musical scene of East St. Louis, but her personal story—marked by love, motherhood, and eventual separation—remains largely in the shadows of the more famous Turner saga.

Lorraine Taylor: A Complete Biographical Profile

Lorraine Taylor, sometimes identified by her maiden or full name, Lorraine Allen Taylor, is a crucial, though often forgotten, entity in the history of the Turner family. Her life provided the foundation for Ike Turner's early family structure before his rise to global fame with Tina Turner.

• Full Name: Lorraine (Allen) Taylor
• Date of Birth: 1933
• Place of Birth: Unknown (Likely in or near East St. Louis, Illinois)
• Date of Death: 2019.
• Place of Residence: Lived common law with Ike Turner in East St. Louis, Illinois, during the 1950s.
• Parents: Daughter of Thomas A. Allen and Florence Wilkerson.
• Relationship Status with Ike Turner: Common-Law Wife/Live-in Girlfriend (Late 1950s).
• Children with Ike Turner: Ike Turner Jr. (born 1958, died 2023) and Michael Turner (born 1959).
• Notable Context: Her two sons were adopted by Tina Turner (then Anna Mae Bullock) after her marriage to Ike.

The Overlap: Lorraine Taylor, Ike Turner, and the Dawn of a Legend

Lorraine Taylor’s relationship with Ike Turner existed during a pivotal period in the musician’s career, just as he was transitioning from a local bandleader to a national R&B figure. The two lived together in East St. Louis, Illinois, and their relationship was considered a common-law marriage, a legally recognized union in some jurisdictions at the time.

During the late 1950s, Lorraine gave birth to their two sons. Ike Turner Jr. was born in 1958, and Michael Turner followed in 1959. These two children were Ike Turner’s first biological sons, establishing his initial family unit.

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However, the stability of this family was short-lived. Historical accounts confirm that Ike Turner was still in a relationship and living with Lorraine Taylor when he began his affair with a young singer named Anna Mae Bullock, who would soon become the global superstar Tina Turner. This overlap is a critical, often-censored detail of the Turner family history, highlighting the chaotic and complex nature of Ike’s personal life even before his marriage to Tina.

When Ike and Tina officially married and formed the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, the two young boys, Ike Jr. and Michael, were brought into the new household. Tina Turner, who had her own son, Craig Raymond Turner (with musician Raymond Hill), and later had a biological son with Ike, Ronald "Ronnie" Turner, officially adopted both of Lorraine’s sons. This act of adoption cemented Tina’s role as the primary maternal figure in the boys' lives, a fact confirmed by Ike Turner Jr. himself.

Ike Turner Jr., who went on to have his own Grammy-winning career in music, stated in an interview that Tina raised him from the age of two and was "the only mother I've ever known." This emotional context underscores the profound impact of the early family separation on Lorraine’s children, even as they gained a highly visible and loving stepmother.

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Life After Ike: The Legacy of Lorraine Allen Taylor (1933–2019)

Unlike the well-documented life of Tina Turner, Lorraine Taylor’s life after her separation from Ike remains largely private. The most specific and recent information available points to her passing in 2019, at the age of 86. The fact that her death occurred relatively recently gives her story a contemporary relevance and allows for a more complete biographical picture than previously possible.

While the full details of her later years are not widely publicized, the available records suggest she was the daughter of Thomas A. Allen and Florence Wilkerson. Her connection to the Allen surname helps to differentiate her from other individuals named Lorraine Taylor and provides a more solid foundation for her personal identity outside of her relationship with the famous musician. The lack of public information about her career or subsequent relationships suggests a life lived away from the media spotlight, a stark contrast to the show business world her former partner and sons inhabited.

Her name re-entered the public discourse in a significant way in July 2023, following the tragic death of her son, Ike Turner Jr., at the age of 67. News reports covering Ike Jr.’s passing consistently referenced Lorraine Taylor as his biological mother, bringing her name back to the forefront of the media for the first time in decades. This event served as a poignant reminder of the original, less-publicized family unit that Ike Turner created in the 1950s before the global phenomenon of the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll began.

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Topical Entities and LSI Keywords in the Turner Family Saga

The story of Lorraine Taylor is a key piece of the larger Turner family saga, linking together several important figures and historical events. Understanding her role provides a more complete picture of the complex web of relationships and challenges that defined Ike Turner’s personal life and the early years of his children.

The core entities and LSI keywords that connect to Lorraine Taylor's story include:

• East St. Louis, Illinois: The location where her common-law marriage with Ike took place.
• R&B and Rock and Roll: The musical genres central to Ike Turner's career during their relationship.
• The Kings of Rhythm: Ike Turner's band during the late 1950s.
• Anna Mae Bullock: Tina Turner's birth name, who was introduced to Ike while he was still with Lorraine.
• Adoption: The legal process by which Tina Turner adopted Lorraine's two sons.
• Michael Turner: Lorraine's youngest son, who has also kept a low profile.
• Ike Turner Jr.: Her eldest son, a Grammy Award-winning musician and producer.
• I, Tina: The 1986 autobiography that detailed the subsequent relationship with Tina Turner.
• What's Love Got to Do with It: The 1993 film adaptation that depicted the complex family dynamics.
• Common-Law Marriage: The non-traditional legal status of her relationship with Ike.
• Florence Wilkerson & Thomas A. Allen: Lorraine's parents, providing her own family lineage.
• 1950s and 1960s: The decades spanning the beginning of her relationship with Ike and the adoption of her sons.
• Family Dynamics: The overarching theme of the complex and often strained relationships within the Turner family.

Ultimately, Lorraine Taylor’s life, which concluded quietly in 2019, serves as a powerful reminder that behind every famous name are the less-publicized individuals whose lives were fundamentally shaped by their connections to a music icon. Her legacy is carried on by her sons, Ike Jr. (posthumously) and Michael, and remains a vital, though often untold, chapter in the history of the Turner dynasty.