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TAMMI TERRELL
PHILADELPHIA'S SWEETHEART
By Bnita Govens
When you mention Tammi Terrell around Philadelphia, those that knew her have fond
memories. They remember her sweet voice, her beautiful face--a hometown sweetheart
who did not reach her fullest potential. Thomasina Montgomery was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 24, 1945 (some reports state that she was born
on April 29, 1946. The headstone on her grave, however, shows 1945 as her birth year).
She was the daughter of a former actress; her father, Bob Montgomery, owned a
barbershop on Berks Street in North Philly.
Young Tammi’s entertainment career started with a series of talent contests at
Philadelphia’s Earle Theater at age 11, and she began her recording career at age 15
under New York’s Scepter/Wand record label and her recordings included "If You See
Bill," "Sinner's Devotion" and "Voice Of Expeience." James Brown saw her at the
Uptown Theater, and she became a member of the James Brown Revue and recorded
for Brown's Try Me label. According to one source, Brown said that he and Tammi were
romantically involved. After one year, she left the James Brown Revue due to her family’
s objections (maybe because she was still a teenager). She recorded as Tammi
Montgomery until 1964 and had a brief stint at Checker Records. She recorded several
singles in the early sixties, but none would garner the success that she would
eventually have with Motown.
Tammi studied pre-med at the University of Pennsylvania for two years. When Motown
founder and President Berry Gordy heard her in a Detroit nightclub in 1965, she signed
with Motown and recorded under the name Tammi Terrell. She was briefly married to
boxer Ernie Terrell, brother of ex-Supreme Jean Terrell (one other source states that she
was not married to him; only that she took the name because it was shorter than
Montgomery). Tammi made an entire album of her own entitled "Irresistible" and had
two R&B charted hits with "I Can't Believe You Love Me" and "Come On And See Me."
In 1967, she became Marvin Gaye’s recording partner, his third after Mary Wells and Kim
Weston. And what a collaboration! Marvin had found his soulmate in song. No other
duet in recording history could come close to the romantic, melodious sounds that
Marvin and Tammi delivered. Rumors abound that they were lovers—who wouldn’t
believe that rumor just by hearing them sing together?
Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua were the initial producers for Marvin Gaye and Tammi
Terrell. They produced their earlier songs, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” which
reached #3 on the R&B charts, and the #2 R&B track, “Your Precious Love”, both found
on Tammi’s United album and released in October 1967. Johnny Bristol once said that
“the sound of their two voices together was better than any of the other duets Marvin
had done.”
All of Tammi and Marvin’s popular hit recordings were composed by Nickolas Ashford
and Valerie Simpson. Not only had the Ashford and Simpson duo written, but they also
produced, sang background vocals and played piano on their Marvin and Tammi
compositions. Their first #1 song was “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”, in June 1968.
Two months came their second #1 hit, “You’re All I Need To Get By,” which Ashford and
Simpson affirmed is a song with gospel connotations. These songs are found on Tammi’
s You’re All I Need album.
Tammi had complained of severe migraines for some time. There was speculation of an
alleged brain disorder due to physical abuse—some say from ex-Temptation David
Ruffin, some say from a Motown executive. She was on the verge of stardom when she
collapsed on stage, in Marvin’s arms, at Hamden-Sydney College in Virginia in 1967.
She was then diagnosed as having a brain tumor and underwent six operations in two
years. Afterwards, she was unable to perform publicly. As her health deteriorated,
Valerie Simpson stepped in to perform several songs intended for Tammi, the most
notable was “The Onion Song”, which was released posthumously.
She died thirty years ago in Philadelphia’s Graduate Hospital on March 16, 1970, at the
tender young age of 24. Her funeral was held at Janes United Methodist Church in
Germantown section of Philadelphia. Germantown High School, located next to the
church, announced her funeral over the loudspeaker and closed the school for the day.
Many of her Motown family members, including Marvin Gaye, were in attendance. Gaye
wrote in his biography, Divided Soul, that
“Tammi was the victim of the violent side of love—at least that’s how it felt. I have
no…knowledge of what really killed her, but it was a deep vibe, as though she was dying
for everyone who couldn’t find love.” After Tammi Terrell’s death, Marvin Gaye spent
time in seclusion and did not work for three years thereafter. She is buried in Mount
Lawn Cemetery in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, northwest of Philadelphia International
Airport. Her sister, Ludie Montgomery, continues to receive love and support for Tammi
via letters and via e-mail.
Our Sweetheart will continue to live on through her music and our memories.
Sources: Joel Whitburn’s Top R&B Albums 1965-1998, Joel Whitburn’s Top R&B
Singles 1942-1999, Stars of Soul and R&B, The Billboard Book of #1 R&B Hits, www.
sonicnet.com, www.srv.net/~roxtar/tammi
You can reach Bnita by e-mail at: bagovens@msn.com
PHILADELPHIA'S SWEETHEART
By Bnita Govens
When you mention Tammi Terrell around Philadelphia, those that knew her have fond
memories. They remember her sweet voice, her beautiful face--a hometown sweetheart
who did not reach her fullest potential. Thomasina Montgomery was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 24, 1945 (some reports state that she was born
on April 29, 1946. The headstone on her grave, however, shows 1945 as her birth year).
She was the daughter of a former actress; her father, Bob Montgomery, owned a
barbershop on Berks Street in North Philly.
Young Tammi’s entertainment career started with a series of talent contests at
Philadelphia’s Earle Theater at age 11, and she began her recording career at age 15
under New York’s Scepter/Wand record label and her recordings included "If You See
Bill," "Sinner's Devotion" and "Voice Of Expeience." James Brown saw her at the
Uptown Theater, and she became a member of the James Brown Revue and recorded
for Brown's Try Me label. According to one source, Brown said that he and Tammi were
romantically involved. After one year, she left the James Brown Revue due to her family’
s objections (maybe because she was still a teenager). She recorded as Tammi
Montgomery until 1964 and had a brief stint at Checker Records. She recorded several
singles in the early sixties, but none would garner the success that she would
eventually have with Motown.
Tammi studied pre-med at the University of Pennsylvania for two years. When Motown
founder and President Berry Gordy heard her in a Detroit nightclub in 1965, she signed
with Motown and recorded under the name Tammi Terrell. She was briefly married to
boxer Ernie Terrell, brother of ex-Supreme Jean Terrell (one other source states that she
was not married to him; only that she took the name because it was shorter than
Montgomery). Tammi made an entire album of her own entitled "Irresistible" and had
two R&B charted hits with "I Can't Believe You Love Me" and "Come On And See Me."
In 1967, she became Marvin Gaye’s recording partner, his third after Mary Wells and Kim
Weston. And what a collaboration! Marvin had found his soulmate in song. No other
duet in recording history could come close to the romantic, melodious sounds that
Marvin and Tammi delivered. Rumors abound that they were lovers—who wouldn’t
believe that rumor just by hearing them sing together?
Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua were the initial producers for Marvin Gaye and Tammi
Terrell. They produced their earlier songs, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” which
reached #3 on the R&B charts, and the #2 R&B track, “Your Precious Love”, both found
on Tammi’s United album and released in October 1967. Johnny Bristol once said that
“the sound of their two voices together was better than any of the other duets Marvin
had done.”
All of Tammi and Marvin’s popular hit recordings were composed by Nickolas Ashford
and Valerie Simpson. Not only had the Ashford and Simpson duo written, but they also
produced, sang background vocals and played piano on their Marvin and Tammi
compositions. Their first #1 song was “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing”, in June 1968.
Two months came their second #1 hit, “You’re All I Need To Get By,” which Ashford and
Simpson affirmed is a song with gospel connotations. These songs are found on Tammi’
s You’re All I Need album.
Tammi had complained of severe migraines for some time. There was speculation of an
alleged brain disorder due to physical abuse—some say from ex-Temptation David
Ruffin, some say from a Motown executive. She was on the verge of stardom when she
collapsed on stage, in Marvin’s arms, at Hamden-Sydney College in Virginia in 1967.
She was then diagnosed as having a brain tumor and underwent six operations in two
years. Afterwards, she was unable to perform publicly. As her health deteriorated,
Valerie Simpson stepped in to perform several songs intended for Tammi, the most
notable was “The Onion Song”, which was released posthumously.
She died thirty years ago in Philadelphia’s Graduate Hospital on March 16, 1970, at the
tender young age of 24. Her funeral was held at Janes United Methodist Church in
Germantown section of Philadelphia. Germantown High School, located next to the
church, announced her funeral over the loudspeaker and closed the school for the day.
Many of her Motown family members, including Marvin Gaye, were in attendance. Gaye
wrote in his biography, Divided Soul, that
“Tammi was the victim of the violent side of love—at least that’s how it felt. I have
no…knowledge of what really killed her, but it was a deep vibe, as though she was dying
for everyone who couldn’t find love.” After Tammi Terrell’s death, Marvin Gaye spent
time in seclusion and did not work for three years thereafter. She is buried in Mount
Lawn Cemetery in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, northwest of Philadelphia International
Airport. Her sister, Ludie Montgomery, continues to receive love and support for Tammi
via letters and via e-mail.
Our Sweetheart will continue to live on through her music and our memories.
Sources: Joel Whitburn’s Top R&B Albums 1965-1998, Joel Whitburn’s Top R&B
Singles 1942-1999, Stars of Soul and R&B, The Billboard Book of #1 R&B Hits, www.
sonicnet.com, www.srv.net/~roxtar/tammi
You can reach Bnita by e-mail at: bagovens@msn.com
