Tammi Terrell’s name is forever linked to the legendary Motown label, founded by Berry Gordy as Tamia Records in 1959- known for producing some of the most iconic music of its era. Her voice so pure it could silence a packed room, a beauty so captivating that cameras seemed to adore her. Tammi’s songs, as one half of Motown’s most famous duets with Marvin Gaye, became the background music for love and heartbreak for generations. But behind the flawless harmonies and dazzling stage lights, however, was a woman battling a maelstrom of tumultuous relationships, emotional scars, and the demands of a fame she never had the chance to fully enjoy.
Born Thomasina Winifred Montgomery on April 29, 1945 in Philadelphia to Jennie née Graham and Thomas Montgomery. Thomas owned a barbershop and was also a local politician, and Jennie was an actress. Yet, for all her ambition and talent, Tammi’s personal life seemed destined for turbulence- a narrative that would intertwine with her professional ascent.
Terrell started her career as a teenager, first for Scepter/Wand Records before joining James Brown’s Revue for almost nine months and recording for Brown’s Try Me Label. Terrell briefly recorded for Checker Records, before joining Motown in 1965. Together with Gaye, she achieved seven Top 40 hits singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including;” Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing”, “You’re All I Need to Get By”, and all time favorite,” Ain't No Mountain High Enough”, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.
Luther Dixon discovered her and signed her to Wand Records, a subsidiary of Scepter Records, in 1960, marking the beginning of her career in the music industry, performing under the stage name Tammy Montogomery, she recorded “If You See Bill” and worked on demos for the Shirelles. After another single, Tammi left the label and embarked on a new phase in her career under James Brown’s mentorship.
Brown, nicknamed the “Godfather of Soul”, not only signed her but included her as a backup singer on his Revue tour. However, their relationship- both professional and personal- was fraught with complexity. Brown, who was twelve years her senior, started dating Tammi, who was only seventeen at the time. Their turbulent relationship was marred by emotional and physical abuse. In one particularly horrific incident in 1963, she was assaulted by Brown after she failed to watch his entire performance. Former Famous Flames member Bobby Bennett described the scene as horrific, saying Tammi was left shaken and bleeding. She ended the relationship and left Brown’s sphere of influence because she was determined to escape the abuse.
In 1963, Tammi resumed her solo career with the release of her first charting single, “I Cried”, which peaked at Number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100. In an otherwise turbulent time, the song which was released under Brown’s Try Me Records, represented a ray of hope. She then signed with Checker Records, and released “If I Would Marry You”, a duet she co-wrote with Jimmy Radcliffe. Despite her efforts, the song failed to make an impact, and Tammi decided to step back from the spotlight.
Announcing a semi-retirement she enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania where she majored in Pre-medicine. Tammi pursued a more sedate life centered on her studies for two years, but music kept calling to her. She received an invitation from well-known soul artist Jerry Butler to participate in a series of night-club performances. Butler helped Tammi ease back into performing, after securing her promise to balance music and study.
Her big break came when she signed with Motown Records on April 29, 1965, her 20th birthday, as promised by Berry Gordy. Motown didn’t take long to showcase Tammi’s extraordinary talent. Her debut single, “I Can’t Believe You Love Me”, became her first R&B Top 40 hit, followed swiftly by “Come On and See Me”. In 1966, she was recording future classics, like The Isley Brothers, “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)” and Stevie Wonders, “All I Do (Is Think About You)”. Tammi opened for none other than The Temptations at the famed Motortown Revue.
At the Motortown Revue of 1966, Tammi met David Ruffin of The Temptations, one of the greatest singers of all time ranked by Rolling Stone Magazine in 2008 and again in 2023. Their relationship was as passionate as it was volatile. Ruffin, who was already dealing with drug addiction, proposed to Tammi in a dramatic gesture during one of their performances. However, her elation was short-lived when she discovered he was already married with three children and another girlfriend in Detroit.
A turbulent relationship yet again for Tammi, characterized by heated arguments and frequent heartbreak began with this betrayal. Ruffin’s infidelity and violent tendencies escalated, culminating in a shocking incident in 1967 when he struck her on the head with his motorcycle helmet. Tammi ended the relationship soon after. She would later tell Ebony Magazine that the stress of their relationship, especially their heated arguments, had contributed to the terrible headaches she began to suffer.
Rumors swirled that Ruffin had also hit her with a hammer, though these reports were refuted in later accounts. In any case, there was no denying the psychological and physical toll their relationship had taken. In the words of Otis Williams a member of The Temptations;
“David could sometimes be rough on a lady. You hear and see things when you’re out on the road like we were. We all knew about Tammi and James Brown . We all knew how James Brown was about women , that he would flip a woman’s ass . And back then, you wouldn’t ever get the woman’s side , so people would assume , fairly or not , he flipped her ass because she provoked Him to”
Otis Williams
This quote highlights the toxic culture of silence and victim-blaming that surrounded women like Tammi. She was left to bear the emotional burden alone because despite the fact that her peers in the music industry saw the abuse, their voices hardly ever joined hers. The systemic challenges that women in the industry often endured, without the understanding or support they sorely needed, added to her difficulties.
Tammi channeled her energy into her music, in spite of the trauma, and she found comfort in her collaborations with Marvin Gaye. Their partnership, which resulted in classic duets like “You’re All I Need to Get By” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, became the highlight of her career. The chemistry between them was so palpable that fans speculated about a romance, but their relationship was one of deep friendship and mutual respect. Marvin became a source of comfort for Tammi offering her the emotional stability she craved.
However, because of complications from a brain tumor Tammi’s health had severely deteriorated by early 1970. In addition to becoming blind due to the side effects from the brain tumor, she was in a wheelchair, and had lost a significant amount of weight, down to just 93 pounds. She slipped into a coma on January 21, 1970, following her eighth and final surgery. At the age of 24, Tammi died on March 16, 1970. Her funeral was held at Jones Methodist Church in Philadelphia.
The story of Tammi Terrell is both tragic and intricate. Behind the glitzy exterior was a woman who endured many hardships, from abusive relationships to the pressures of fame. She used her music to express love, resiliency, and hope, but she refused to let these hardships define who she was.
Although she passed away too soon, her legacy lives on in the music industry. Tammi’s story is proof of the strength of tenacity, and she continues to be a symbol of strength. Even in the face of unfathomable adversity, her emotionally charged songs serves as a constant source of inspiration, reminding us that life can be lived with passion and purpose.
Referenced songs:
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
You’re All I Need to Get By- Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
If You See Bill- Tammi Terrell
I Cried- Tammi Terrell
Come On and See Me- Tammi Terrell
All I Do (Is Think About You)- Stevie Wonder (Tammi Terrell recorded with Motown)
This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)- The Isley Brothers (Tammi Terrell recorded with Motown)
If I Would Marry You- Tammi Terrell and Jimmy Radcliffe
I Can’t Believe You Love Me- Tammi Terrell