The Kings of Rhythm are an American rhythm & blues and soul group formed in the late 1940s in Clarksdale, Mississippi and led by Ike Turner through to his death in 2007. Turner would retain the name of the band throughout his career, although the group has undergone considerable lineup changes over time. The group was an offshoot of a large big band ensemble called the Top Hatters. By the late 1940s Turner had renamed this group The Kings of Rhythm. Their early stage performances consisted largely of covers of popular jukebox hits of the day. A 1951 lineup of the group recorded the song "Rocket 88", which was an early example of Rock 'n' Roll. In the 1960s they became the band for the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. For a few years in the early 1970s they were renamed The Family Vibes, and releas