THE SHARP KNIFE OF A SHORT LIFE

Soul singer Tammi Terrell was born Thomasina Montgomery in 1945 in Philadelphia. She began her musical career at 13, and eventually changed her professional name to “Tammi”, inspired by the hit movie Tammy and the Bachelor. She signed with Motown Records in 1965. Tammi was a pop star in the classic sense of the term: though she did not possess a particularly strong singing voice, she was beautiful, vivacious, and had star quality, and became a Motown darling in short order.

Tammi is best remembered for her duet recordings with fellow Motown artist Marvin Gaye, with hits including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Your Precious Love” and “Ain’t Nothin’ Like The Real Thing”. Her personal life was a little less idyllic: she was romantically linked to both James Brown and Temptations singer David Ruffin; both relationships were rumored to be abusive.

During an onstage performance with Marvin Gaye in 1967, she collapsed in his arms; she was later diagnosed with a brain tumor. Several surgeries were unsuccessful at alleviating her condition. Tammi Terrell passed away in March, 1970, in Philadelphia, at the age of 24.