Tammi Terrell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tammi Terrell
Terrell in 1968
Born	Thomasina Winifred Montgomery (1945-04-29)April 29, 1945 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 16, 1970(1970-03-16) (aged 24) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Lawn Cemetery, Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation	Singer–songwriter
Years active	1960–1970
Relatives	Bob Montgomery (uncle)
Musical career
Genres	R&B soul
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Scepter/Wand Try Me Checker Motown Tamla
Associated acts	James Brown Marvin Gaye Ashford & Simpson

Tammi Terrell (born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery; April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970) was a famous American singer and songwriter. She became a big star for Motown Records in the 1960s. Tammi was especially known for her amazing duet songs with singer Marvin Gaye.

Tammi's music career started when she was a teenager. She first recorded songs for Scepter and Wand Records. Then, she spent almost nine months singing with James Brown's band, called his Revue. She also recorded for Brown's Try Me label. After a short time in college, Tammi recorded for Checker Records. She finally signed with Motown in 1965.

With Marvin Gaye, Tammi had seven songs that made it into the Top 40 on the Billboard music chart. These hits included "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", and "You're All I Need to Get By". "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" was even added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Tammi's career was sadly cut short. On October 14, 1967, she collapsed into Marvin Gaye's arms while they were performing. Doctors later found out she had a brain tumor. She had eight surgeries, but sadly, she passed away from the illness on March 16, 1970, when she was just 24 years old.

Early Life of Tammi Terrell

Tammi Terrell was born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her mother, Jennie, was an actress, and her father, Thomas, owned a barbershop and was involved in local politics.

Tammi was the older of two sisters. Her family originally thought she would be a boy and planned to name her after her father. But when she was born, they chose the name Thomasina. They gave her the nickname "Tommie." When she was 12, she changed her name to "Tammy" after watching the movie Tammy and the Bachelor and hearing its theme song, "Tammy".

Tammi went to Germantown High School in Philadelphia.

Tammi Terrell's Music Career

Early Recordings and First Steps

In 1960, Tammi signed with Wand Records, which was part of Scepter Records. This happened after Luther Dixon discovered her talent. She recorded a song called "If You See Bill" using the name Tammy Montgomery. She also recorded demo songs for the group The Shirelles.

After releasing another single, Tammi left Wand Records. She then met James Brown and signed a contract with him. She started singing backup for his concert tours, known as James Brown's Revue. In 1961, Tammi started a group called The Sherrys. However, she left the group in late 1962 after some disagreements. In 1963, she recorded the song "I Cried". This song was released on James Brown's Try Me Records and became her first song to appear on the music charts, reaching No. 99 on the Billboard Hot 100.

After her time with James Brown, Tammi signed with Checker Records. She released a duet song with Jimmy Radcliffe called "If I Would Marry You," which she helped write. After this song didn't do very well, Tammi decided to take a break from music. She enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania to study pre-med and stayed there for two years.

During her time at college, singer Jerry Butler asked Tammi to sing with him in nightclubs. They made a plan so Tammi could continue her studies while touring. In April 1965, while performing in Detroit, Berry Gordy, the head of Motown Records, saw her. He promised to sign her to Motown. Tammi agreed and signed with the label on April 29, her 20th birthday.

Her song "I Can't Believe You Love Me" became Tammi's first R&B Top 40 hit. Soon after, "Come On and See Me" also became popular. In 1966, Tammi recorded two songs that would become classics: Stevie Wonder's "All I Do (Is Think About You)" and The Isley Brothers' "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)". After her first Motown single, Tammi joined the Motortown Revue, performing before The Temptations.

Becoming a Star with Marvin Gaye

In early 1967, Motown decided to have Tammi sing duets with Marvin Gaye. Marvin had already had success singing duets with other artists. At first, Tammi and Marvin recorded their parts separately. For their first song together, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", they each recorded their own versions. Motown then mixed their voices together.

This song became a huge pop hit in the spring of 1967. It reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 on the R&B charts, making Tammi a big star. Their next song, "Your Precious Love", was even more successful, reaching No. 5 on the pop chart and No. 2 on the R&B chart. By the end of that year, they had another top-ten hit with "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You". This song reached No. 10 on the pop chart and No. 2 on the R&B chart. The other side of that record, "If This World Were Mine", also became a hit. Marvin Gaye later said this was "one of Tammi's favorites."

All four of these songs were on Marvin and Tammi's first duet album, United, released in late 1967. Throughout that year, Marvin and Tammi started performing together. Tammi's energetic performances helped Marvin, who was usually shy on stage, become more confident. They also performed their hits on television shows. In 1970, they were voted the No. 1 R&B duo by Cash Box magazine.

Health Challenges and Final Recordings

As Tammi became a star, the headaches she had suffered since childhood became more frequent and severe. Even though she was in pain, she insisted to her friends that she was well enough to perform.

However, on October 14, 1967, while singing "Your Precious Love" with Marvin Gaye at Hampden–Sydney College, Tammi collapsed into Marvin's arms on stage. Soon after returning home, doctors diagnosed her with a serious brain tumor on the right side of her brain. She had brain surgery on January 13, 1968.

After recovering from her first surgery, Tammi returned to the recording studio in Detroit. She recorded "You're All I Need to Get By". Both that song and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. Despite Tammi's positive attitude, her tumor got worse, and she needed more surgeries.

By 1969, doctors told Tammi she could no longer perform live because of her tumors. Motown released Tammi's first and only solo album, Irresistible, in early 1969. Tammi was too sick to promote the album. All the songs on it had been recorded earlier and saved for later release.

There are different stories about how Tammi and Marvin's third album, Easy, was made. Some reports say Tammi was too ill to record, and another singer, Valerie Simpson, sang in her place. However, Valerie Simpson said that Tammi was brought into the studio when she was strong enough to sing over Valerie's guide vocals, meaning Tammi did sing on the album. The album Easy included the hit songs "Good Lovin' Ain't Easy to Come By", "What You Gave Me", "California Soul", and the UK top-10 hit "The Onion Song".

In late 1969, Tammi made her last public appearance at the Apollo Theater, where Marvin Gaye was performing. When Marvin saw Tammi, he rushed to her side, and they began singing "You're All I Need to Get By" together. The audience gave them a standing ovation.

Personal Life

During the Motortown Revue in 1966, Tammi had a relationship with The Temptations lead singer David Ruffin. In 1967, Tammi ended their relationship.

At the time of Tammi's death, she was engaged to Ernest "Ernie" Garrett. He was a doctor at the hospital where she had been treated.

Death

Because of ongoing problems from her brain cancer, by early 1970, Tammi Terrell needed a wheelchair. She also experienced blindness and hair loss, and weighed only 93 pounds (42 kg). After her eighth and final operation on January 21, 1970, Tammi went into a coma. She passed away on March 16, 1970, at the age of 24.

Tammi's funeral was held at the Janes Methodist Church in Philadelphia. She was buried at Mount Lawn Cemetery in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania. At the funeral, Marvin Gaye gave a speech while their song "You're All I Need to Get By" played.

Awards and Nominations

Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye were nominated for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental for their song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" at the 10th Annual Grammy Awards in 1968. This song was later added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Side A is by Terrell, side B is by Jackson

Compilation Albums

Singles

• Credited to Tammy Montgomery.

See also

In Spanish: Tammi Terrell para niños

• List of notable brain tumor patients