Ike Turner, Inventor of the Mini Skirt

A lot of you have emailed and/or called me about Ike Turner's untimely passing. I didn't realize just how many of you knew that I planned to get my feminist card revoked by making a documentary about the man!

I know that he will be remembered as a cruel torturer of Tina Turner, and that most of us use "I'm trying to help Ike!" as a snappy rejoinder to communicate just how hard headed many of us can be. I know, as well, that Tina Turner, nee Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, was made by Ike Turner. The guy is widely regarded as a genius-- his attention to detail and ear for music made Sam Phillips of Sun Studios describe his as one of the tightest bands he'd ever heard.

Although consistently lauded for his musical acumen, Ike has sadly never received all of his due. In two different documentaries about the history of rock-n-roll Ike has asserted the position that I intend to continue to advance for him-- he is the inventor of the mini skirt.

Act like you know, y'all. Ike said that knew, when they were first invited to appear on television that Anna Mae's best asset was her legs (um, as we all know Tina's legs are insured with Sotheby's) and therefore should be shown off to great advantage. So he decreed that her skirt should be ultra short . . . ta da! The mini is born.

He was also frequently the last word in styling Miss Tina-- although she asserts that the advent of her famous wigs coincided with a really bad perm, Ike said otherwise. They were going on Hullabaloo which he described thusly-- "white girls with hair blowing everywhere, and music and dancing like you never seen" and so Tina needed something similarly eye catching to keep up. So he decreed that her hair should be just as outrageous and full. And of course, that she should wear a signature mini.

I double dog dare any of y'all to dispute this. Rest in peace, Izear . . . inventor of the mini skirt.