I wrote about one of the two of my favourite singers a few days ago, Joni Mitchell, and now it's the turn of Tammi Terrell. Between these two, I don't have a preference.They are very different women and very different singers, but they are contemporaries; Joni was born in November 1943 and Tammi in April 1945. I don't know if they knew each other, but I like to imagine that even if they did not know each other, they would have admired each other's music, their vocals in particular.
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery began performing at an early age; she was a natural on stage. James Brown, the godfather of soul, noticed her and asked her to join his band. She did join but not for long; not because she lacked the talent, but because James Brown became infatuated by Tammi and an affair began, again, not for long. Rumours abounded that James was physically abusing Tammi and her parents came to bring her home.
Soon after, Berry Gordy, the legendary creator of Motown, spotted Thomasina Montgomery performing. He decided straightaway that he would like this charismatic young woman, with a strong and soulful vocal to join the Motown stable. He insisted that she change her name and so she became Tammi Terrell. On joining, Berry's masterstroke was to put Tammi with the prince of Motown, Marvin Gaye, and for them to duet together. It worked. In fact it was magical. Their voices wrapped around each other and their performances were electric; they were more than a man and a woman duetting; they produced live theatre and audiences would believe that they were actually in love.Subtle touches such as Tammi saying,'Hey Marvin' and Marvin saying, 'Talk to me Tammi' succeeded in creating the belief that this was a love affair. Both strenuously denied that this was the case. Marvin was married to Anna Gordy and Tammi was madly in love with David Ruffin, the lead singer of The Temptations.
Their first hit was Ain't No Mountain High Enough followed by Your Precious Love. The duet was riding a wave of success.
But it would be very soon cut short as Tammi collapsed into Marvin's arms on stage, while performing Your Precious Love. Tammi had been complaining of severe headaches. Very soon after her collapse the headaches were explained. Tammi had a brain tumour. She was twenty-one years old. Eight operations followed, Tammi believing each time that this time, she would be cured. It was not to be and Tammi died in March 1970, one month short of her twenty-fifth birthday.
It is almost too heartrendingly poignant to consider just how successful, this hugely talented singer would have been if she had not lost her life at such young age.
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Joni Mitchell and Tammi Terrell
My two most loved female singers are Joni Mitchell and Tammi Terrell. I'm going to deal with Joni today and Tammi another day.
Joni Mitchell first came to my notice when I was at university in Manchester doing a joint degree in English and French. At first I wasn't keen on her; her voice was very high and a little bit whiny at times. Another reason was that the boy I was with at that time thought she was wonderful and beautiful. Overcoming my jealousy, I decided to give her a good hearing. I was enraptured. The nuances of that voice I had once thought whiny, the range of her vocals and her superb lyrics, that noone, not even Bob Dylan had previously created, were evidence of a musical genius.
Blue, Court and Spark, For the Roses, Hejira, The Hissing of Summer Lawns - I listened to them all with a mixed sense of disbelief and adoration. There wasn't only me adoring Joni, many men were entranced by her including Leonard Cohen, Graham Nash, David Crosby, James Taylor and others.
At the age of 19 she lost her virginity and became pregnant, She did her best to protect her parents from the dreadful scandal, as it was regarded at the time. She was their only child too. Joni gave up her daughter for adoption but in the late nineties she made it public that she wanted to find her daughter. She did find her, Kilaurin Gibb, and for a while the two were happily reunited. But only for a while sadly.
Joni lives alone now, saying she prefers it that way. She will be 70 years old on November 7th, and by that time she will have been smoking for 61 years. She began at age 9 when she became ill with polio. Incredible - and even now, unapologetically, she smokes like a chimney.
You would think that Joni Mitchell would be a feminist, but interestingly she declares herself not to be a feminist. She becomes very exercised by the label and disassociates herself from it wholeheartedly. The reason she gives is that feminists don't like men and they wish to separate themselves from the male of the species. Well, not quite Joni; maybe the radical, lesbian, separatist feminists do, but not the vast majority of feminists. Anyway, who cares that she may be a bit eccentric on this, when she can write lyrics such as - 'I met a woman, she had a mouth like yours, she knew your life, she knew your devils and your deeds.' What better way to describe the mother of the man she loves. Genius.
Joni Mitchell first came to my notice when I was at university in Manchester doing a joint degree in English and French. At first I wasn't keen on her; her voice was very high and a little bit whiny at times. Another reason was that the boy I was with at that time thought she was wonderful and beautiful. Overcoming my jealousy, I decided to give her a good hearing. I was enraptured. The nuances of that voice I had once thought whiny, the range of her vocals and her superb lyrics, that noone, not even Bob Dylan had previously created, were evidence of a musical genius.
Blue, Court and Spark, For the Roses, Hejira, The Hissing of Summer Lawns - I listened to them all with a mixed sense of disbelief and adoration. There wasn't only me adoring Joni, many men were entranced by her including Leonard Cohen, Graham Nash, David Crosby, James Taylor and others.
At the age of 19 she lost her virginity and became pregnant, She did her best to protect her parents from the dreadful scandal, as it was regarded at the time. She was their only child too. Joni gave up her daughter for adoption but in the late nineties she made it public that she wanted to find her daughter. She did find her, Kilaurin Gibb, and for a while the two were happily reunited. But only for a while sadly.
Joni lives alone now, saying she prefers it that way. She will be 70 years old on November 7th, and by that time she will have been smoking for 61 years. She began at age 9 when she became ill with polio. Incredible - and even now, unapologetically, she smokes like a chimney.
You would think that Joni Mitchell would be a feminist, but interestingly she declares herself not to be a feminist. She becomes very exercised by the label and disassociates herself from it wholeheartedly. The reason she gives is that feminists don't like men and they wish to separate themselves from the male of the species. Well, not quite Joni; maybe the radical, lesbian, separatist feminists do, but not the vast majority of feminists. Anyway, who cares that she may be a bit eccentric on this, when she can write lyrics such as - 'I met a woman, she had a mouth like yours, she knew your life, she knew your devils and your deeds.' What better way to describe the mother of the man she loves. Genius.
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
On Benefits and Proud
Did anyone see last night's Channel 5 programme called On Benefits and Proud? Well, if you did, you may understand what I am about to say, which is that the people who were supposedly proud, were, in reality, anything but proud. Of course they blustered and said they didn't care about what anyone said and f*** 'em all' was one woman's attitude, but they didn't really think this. As they blustered and claimed that they couldn't get a job and they were definitely not going to work in McDonald's, KFC, Burger King or any other fast food joint, their lack of self-worth and their vulnerability became fully exposed.
A couple, neither of whom had worked for at least six years, had the look of real poverty about them. I am certain that people will rail against what I think about this and accuse me of being on the loony side of left wing; nevertheless it holds true. They looked unkempt, clearly took no pride in their appearance or the condition of their home. Obviously, it doesn't cost much to buy some soap and with places like Primark, Tesco and George at Asda, clothes can be bought cheaply. But it isn't about soap and cheap clothes, it's about a huge lack of self-belief brought about by a poor education, neglectful parenting and a lack of personal resourcefulness. In other words, many benefit claimants have a mountain to climb. They see people smartly dressed, driving reliable cars, going to restaurants and the cinema, children attending good schools and they realise that those people are at the top of the mountain - a summit that for them is impossible to reach.
Next time you hear people moaning about benefit scroungers, and admittedly there are some, don't believe the bluster and bravado; look closely and see the fear inside.
A couple, neither of whom had worked for at least six years, had the look of real poverty about them. I am certain that people will rail against what I think about this and accuse me of being on the loony side of left wing; nevertheless it holds true. They looked unkempt, clearly took no pride in their appearance or the condition of their home. Obviously, it doesn't cost much to buy some soap and with places like Primark, Tesco and George at Asda, clothes can be bought cheaply. But it isn't about soap and cheap clothes, it's about a huge lack of self-belief brought about by a poor education, neglectful parenting and a lack of personal resourcefulness. In other words, many benefit claimants have a mountain to climb. They see people smartly dressed, driving reliable cars, going to restaurants and the cinema, children attending good schools and they realise that those people are at the top of the mountain - a summit that for them is impossible to reach.
Next time you hear people moaning about benefit scroungers, and admittedly there are some, don't believe the bluster and bravado; look closely and see the fear inside.
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