Ike Turner died today. He was 76.

You know him best as Tina Turner’s husband — half of a famously dysfunctional showbiz marriage immortalized in the book and movie, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” If his music comes to mind, it’s probably the former couple’s 1971 cover of CCR’s Proud Mary.

But what Ike Turner should really be remembered for is a short little tune called Rocket 88. Because it was the first Rock-and-Roll record.

Like Rock music itself, Rocket 88’s history is a bit complicated and not without controversy. Turner penned the song in 1951. It was based on a pair of jump blues titles: Cadillac Boogie and Rocket 88 Boogie. Turner stripped it bare, added a strong back beat and piano line, and threw in a blazing vocal performance Jackie Brenston.

He went into the studio with a young Sam Phillips, who handled production. Phillips went on to start Sun Records, discover Elvis, and define modern pop music. But he already had great instincts.

Turner’s band had left a guitar amplifier in the trunk of a leaky car. Rain had seeped in, damaging the speaker. When Turner hooked it up in the studio, its sound was badly distorted.

Phillips liked it. The effect gave Rocket 88 a gritty, immediate feel. When you listen, you’ll hear the song’s jump blues heritage. You’ll also recognize the rhythm and energy we now call Rock-and-Roll — a sound that was picked up by Bill Halley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and the rest. In a sense, the entire Rock era is an extended variation of Rocket 88.

The single was released under the name Jackie Breston his Delta Cats. The Comets eventually covered it, and music theorists who consider Rock-and-Roll the marriage of Country/Western and Blues usually point to this version of Rocket 88 as the first Rock record. In either case, it was Ike Turner and Sam Phillips’ brainchild.

We’ve dug up a clever, fan-produced video of Rocket 88. Enjoy.

Link: CNN