This is one of the hardest CD,s to source out now and what a belter it is!Tammi Terrell is best known as one of Motown’s great talents although her short life was full of tragedy. Romantic and physically abusive relationships with James Brown and David Ruffin may have cut short a career that included many classic duets with Marvin Gaye. Brain cancer took her life only a month before her twenty-fifth birthday. Born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery on April 29, 1945, in Philadelphia, she was discovered at age 15 by singer-songwriter-producer Luther Dixon. Under the name Tammy Montgomery, she recorded songs for Scepter/Wand, Checker, and Try Me labels before hitting the road as a background singer for James Brown’s touring band. Many rumors swirled about Brown’s relationship with Montgomery. Suffering from severe migraines from the age of 12 led to speculation that these migraines and the repeated abuse from Brown and others were linked to the cancer that eventually killed her. Montgomery briefly worked with Jerry Butler before the Motown label founder Berry Gordy saw her sing and quickly signed her to his label on her twentieth birthday in 1965. Renamed Tammi Terrell by Berry Gordy, her career began to take off. She soon found herself as part of a Motown revue tour with The Temptations. Soon afterwards David Ruffin found his way into Tammi,s life. Then a lead vocalist with The Temptations, Ruffin’s abuse of Terrell was nothing short of horrific with reports that he attacked her at different times with a hammer, a machete, and a motorcycle helmet, he did have a serious drug habit buts that,s no excuse. So sad to read all this stuff about your heores. In 1967, Terrell and Ruffin split, and she began her now famous partnership with Marvin Gaye. Together, they recorded Ashford & Simpson’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” reaching No. 19 on the pop charts and No. 3 on the rhythm and blues charts. They followed up their first hit with “Your Precious Love,” which hit No. 5 pop and No. 2 R&B. Gaye and Terrell soon went on the road, gaining a following throughout the country. Later that year, Terrell fainted onstage, into the arms of Gaye, when a migraine became too painful to sustain. She was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. During this difficult time, she recorded classic hits such as “You’re All I Need To Get By” and “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing,” both of which reached No. 1 on R&B charts, as she continued to struggle through several brain surgeries. In 1969, Terrell was forced to quit performing live as her tumor continued to grow. Her final appearance was at the Apollo Theatre in late 1969. Having lost her eyesight and a significant amount of weight, Terrell slipped into a coma and died on March 16, 1970. At the funeral, Marvin Gaye delivered the eulogy. He was the only Motown representative invited to attend the funeral, a clear indictment of Motown’s treatment of Terrell throughout the final stages of her short life.One of the GREAT voices to have sung down a microphone.Very sadly missed.
AMM
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28 comments:
Looks like a great collection from Miss Tammi! Thanks for the review.
Thanks AMM. Quite a tragic story.
Thanks AMM she had a great voice!!
Reb
Magnificent review my friend.
Great singer, great compilation many thanks amm!
Good voice good album Thanks AMM
Very tragic indeed. But she nevertheless left us with a timeless collection of great songs. Excellent choice AMM and thanks for `the review!!
I miss some of this sublime singer and this fantastic duo!!!
Yves
Thanks for all the recent the Detroit titles
Thanks for your review, a great singer
Essential collection of Tammi Terrell. Unfortunately he had a very short life. Thanks AMM
Motown might as well be called a house of misery. It would be funny if it weren't so tragic. Thanks, AMM!
Yes please, AMM. A wonderful singer, such a tragic life.
Great review and even greater voice. The duets with Marvin are fantastic but her vocals can stand on their own. Excellent AMM!!!
Great Review Thank you AMM
thanks much AMM for this another rare Marginal release of the legendary diva
Interesting story thanks for the review
Great review. Too short a life . . .
One for the ladies! Great choice. Thanks for review, P.
Thanks for the review AMM, Tammi achieved a lot in a short space of time great review
Aahh! Tammi Montgomery one of the greats!!!
Looks good, thanks for the review.
One I missed, ESSENTIAL!! GREAT review!
Great review All Music Man of such a great singer lost at such an early age and I think the beating would not have helped
I remember at the time that it was a shock to me and others around that period but i must say this is a great Marginal comp
Cheers Pedro
Too beautiful to forget and way talented, I miss her music, voice and looks. Thanks AMM
24 years, yes, that's really really faar too early. And then the possible links between the abusive a*holes and the brain tumor, almost too much (especially in my come as you are - free for all - world lol where hitting a woman is close to being a deadly sin or something, you get my point) Big big thank you again ✌🏻☮️🌞
Many thanks for the bio,his death deeply affected Marvin
Thank you for the great review
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