In the late 1950s and early '60s, the Ike and Tina Turner Revue was one of the nation's most dominant R&B ensembles. But today, most people only know or remember Ike as a volatile cocaine and alcohol user who was prone to violent outbursts.

	Ike and Tina Turner in their heyday together. Click photo for larger image.

Most of that volatility was directed toward his then wife, Tina, who wrote in her autobiography, "I Tina," that Ike beat her mercilessly, poured hot coffee on her face and burned her with lit cigarettes.

These days, Ike, who turns 75 in November, is a little calmer, if not remorseful. He has just released a new album, "Risin' With the Blues" (ZOHO Music) and is no longer interested in talking about the past -- at least not the part that involves Tina.

"Man, I don't want to talk about nothing negative," he said, speaking from his home near San Diego. "Jesus love me."

Q: Talk to me about your latest recording, "Risin' With the Blues."

AI really like the recording. I put together some songs that I like, the different styles that I like. Everybody wants you to stick to the same styles, but I am not into that. I just put it together and tried to do some funny lyrics off the top of my head.

Q: Are some of the song titles, like "Bi Polar" and "Gimme Back My Wig," jabs at Tina?

A(Chuckles): The wig part might be at Tina. But I was just having fun, man.

Q: What was it like growing up in Clarksdale, Miss.?

A: My father was a minister, and my mother was a seamstress. ... I became interested in music when [I was in high school] and I saw pianist Pinetop Perkins playing. When I saw him and Sonny Boy Williams playing, I became interested. I asked my mother for a piano. She said if I brought good grades home, she would get me a piano, [and] when I showed her my report card, she bought me a piano. I took music lessons twice, and all they were showing me was A, B, C, D. I wanted to play boogie-woogie.

She was giving me money to take lessons, and I was going to the pool room. Pinetop was showing me things on the piano, and I would go back home and show my mother the boogie-woogie rather than the stuff the teacher was teaching.

Q: What was it like playing with Sonny Boy Williams and Robert Nighthawk?

A: Sonny Boy Williams was playing in Helena, Ark., on the "King Biscuit Time" [radio show] and all that stuff. Robert Nighthawk was broadcasting from WROX in Clarksdale. I was just a kid and wanted to be around music. And that was about the size of it.

Q: "Rocket 88" is often referred to as the first rock 'n' roll song. Was that your song or Jackie Brenston's song?

A: It was all of our song. The song title was supposed to be Ike Turner and Kings of Rhythm featuring Jackie Brenston. But Sam Phillips put Jackie Brenston's name on it.

Q: Most people don't know that as a producer for Modern Records, you are credited with discovering B.B. King and Howlin' Wolf.

A: I was also a talent scout. I scouted Howlin' Wolf, Junior Walker and Elmore James. I played on all of B.B. King's early recordings. I produced B.B.'s "Sweet 16" recording.

Q: In the late 1950s, you moved to East St. Louis, and it was there that you met Anna Mae Bullock, aka Tina Turner. How did you meet?

A: Tina's sister was dating my drummer. During the intermission one night, I heard her singing. Then she started dating my saxophone player. He was living at my house, and Tina started coming around the house. And you know the rest.

Q: After Jimi Hendrix was discharged from the Army, he played in your band.

A: Li'l Jimi was with me for about three or four months. The only reason I let Jimi go was because he switched from a regular guitar to the fuzz tone. That thing would whistle, man, and have all kinds of feedback. Years later, when he became big, I had no idea that was the same Li'l Jimi.

Q: What songs do you think will define your career?

A: There've been so many songs, man. Probably "Proud Mary" and "Nutbush City Limits."

Q: So, what do you plan to do on your next recording?

A: My next recording is going to be a rap record.