Rewrite this like it's a personal letter from Tina Turner to a friend explaining her early solo career. 

In 1976 and 1977, Turner earned income by appearing on TV shows such as The Hollywood Squares, Donny & Marie, The Sonny & Cher Show, and The Brady Bunch Hour.[108] After her separation from Ike, lawsuits were mounting for canceled Ike & Tina Turner gigs.[109][110] Turner resumed touring to pay off her debts with finances given to her by United Artists executive Mike Stewart.[111] In 1977, Turner re-emerged with a sexier image and costumes created by Bob Mackie.[112] She headlined a series of cabaret shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and took her act to smaller venues in the United States.[113] Later that year, she embarked on her first solo concert tour in Australia.[114]

In 1978, Turner released her third solo album, Rough, on United Artists with distribution in North America and Europe on EMI. That album, along with its 1979 follow-up, Love Explosion, which included a brief diversion to disco music, failed to chart, so United Artists Records and Turner parted ways.[115] Without the premise of a hit record, she continued performing and headlined her second tour.[116]

In 1979, Australian manager Roger Davies agreed to manage Turner after seeing her perform at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.[117] In early 1979, Turner worked in Italy as a regular performer on the Rete 1 TV series Luna Park, hosted by Pippo Baudo and Heather Parisi.[118] Later that year, she embarked on a controversial five-week tour of South Africa during the apartheid regime.[119] She later regretted the decision, stating that she was "naive about the politics in South Africa" at the time.[120]

In October 1981, Rod Stewart attended Turner's show at the Ritz in New York City and invited her to perform "Hot Legs" with him on Saturday Night Live.[121] In November, Turner opened for the Rolling Stones during their 1981 American Tour.[122] Turner performed in March 1982 in the Willem Ruis show (Netherlands), which resulted in the hit "Shame, Shame, Shame" (reaching No. 47 in the Netherlands). In 1982 Turner's recording of the Temptations' "Ball of Confusion" for the UK production team B.E.F. became a hit in European dance clubs.[123] In 1982, Turner also appeared on the album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume 1 by B.E.F., a side project of Heaven 17, singing "Ball of Confusion". She filmed a music video for "Ball of Confusion" that aired on the fledgling music video channel MTV, becoming one of the first black American artists to gain airtime on the channel.[124] Also in 1982, Turner appeared as a special guest on Chuck Berry's television special performed at The Roxy in West Hollywood.[125]

In 1976 and 1977, Turner earned income by appearing on TV shows such as The Hollywood Squares, Donny & Marie, The Sonny & Cher Show, and The Brady Bunch Hour.[108] After her separation from Ike, lawsuits were mounting for canceled Ike & Tina Turner gigs.[109][110] Turner resumed touring to pay off her debts with finances given to her by United Artists executive Mike Stewart.[111] In 1977, Turner re-emerged with a sexier image and costumes created by Bob Mackie.[112] She headlined a series of cabaret shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and took her act to smaller venues in the United States.[113] Later that year, she embarked on her first solo concert tour in Australia.[114]

In 1978, Turner released her third solo album, Rough, on United Artists with distribution in North America and Europe on EMI. That album, along with its 1979 follow-up, Love Explosion, which included a brief diversion to disco music, failed to chart, so United Artists Records and Turner parted ways.[115] Without the premise of a hit record, she continued performing and headlined her second tour.[116]

In 1979, Australian manager Roger Davies agreed to manage Turner after seeing her perform at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.[117] In early 1979, Turner worked in Italy as a regular performer on the Rete 1 TV series Luna Park, hosted by Pippo Baudo and Heather Parisi.[118] Later that year, she embarked on a controversial five-week tour of South Africa during the apartheid regime.[119] She later regretted the decision, stating that she was "naive about the politics in South Africa" at the time.[120]

In October 1981, Rod Stewart attended Turner's show at the Ritz in New York City and invited her to perform "Hot Legs" with him on Saturday Night Live.[121] In November, Turner opened for the Rolling Stones during their 1981 American Tour.[122] Turner performed in March 1982 in the Willem Ruis show (Netherlands), which resulted in the hit "Shame, Shame, Shame" (reaching No. 47 in the Netherlands). In 1982 Turner's recording of the Temptations' "Ball of Confusion" for the UK production team B.E.F. became a hit in European dance clubs.[123] In 1982, Turner also appeared on the album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume 1 by B.E.F., a side project of Heaven 17, singing "Ball of Confusion". She filmed a music video for "Ball of Confusion" that aired on the fledgling music video channel MTV, becoming one of the first black American artists to gain airtime on the channel.[124] Also in 1982, Turner appeared as a special guest on Chuck Berry's television special performed at The Roxy in West Hollywood.[125]
Dear friend, 

So much happened in my early solo career. In 1976, my primary source of income came from TV appearances. You remember those, like The Hollywood Squares, Donny & Marie, The Sonny and Cher Show, and The Brady Bunch Hour? But after I left Ike, I started getting sued for all these gigs that we'd had to cancel. I had to resume touring with United Artists just to pay off my debts, but thanks to Bob Mackie I came back sexier than ever in 77! My career really took off, from cabaret shows in Vegas to tours across the US and Australia.  

Rough, my third solo album, came out in 1978 and was distributed across the U.S. and Europe! And then there was my next album, Love Explosion, which was my exploration into disco. Unfortunately, neither of these performed very well, so I ended up leaving United Artists. I still got to headline another tour, at least.

in 1979, I ran into an Australian manager named Roger Davies. After he saw me perform in San Francisco at the Fairmont Hotel, he agreed to be my manager! I was back in the international spotlight, working in Italy on Luna Park and touring in South Africa. That move of mine got a lot of flack, and to tell you the truth, I regret my naivety about the apartheid. 

Flash forward to October 1981, when Rod Stewart saw me perform in New York City and invited me to perform on Saturday Night Live with him. The next month, I opened for the Rolling Stones on their American Tour. Early the next year, I got to perform on the Willem Ruis show in the Netherlands, and my song "Shame, Shame, Shame," ended up being a hit. My cover of "Ball of Confusion" (that I recorded for B.E.F.) was really popular in European dance clubs. I even got to film an MTV music video for that song. I was one of the first black American artists on the channel. I also got to appear on Chuck Berry's television special that year. The rest, as they say, is history!

Sincerely, 
Tina Turner