Tammi Terrell

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.