Post by Sophisticated Lady on Apr 5, 2007 21:16:54 GMT -5
On April 29, 1945 in Philadelphia, Thomasina Montgomery, was born. At the age of 13 Tammi was regularly opening acts for Patti LaBelle And the Blue Belles.
In 1961 at the age of 15 she was discovered by producer Luther Dixon and signed to Specter/Wand Records. She made her debut with "If IYou See Bill". She was later signed to the james Brown's Try Me label, issuing "I Cried in 1963 also touring with his live revue; "If I Would Marry You" appeared on Checker a year later, during which time she also studied Pre-Med at the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1965, Terrel was spotted by Harvey Fuqua and was introduced to Berry Gordy Jr. making her label debut with "I can't Believe You Love Me" and other songs followed with "This Old Heart of Mine" and "Come on and See Me".
In 1967, she was paired with Marvin Gaye who previously recorded with Mary Wells and Kim Weston. The had such chemistry together. In 1967 they enterted the pop charts with the magnificent songs "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", and "Your Precious Love.
Later in 1967, Terrell begin to have severe migraine headaches and she collapsed in Marvin Gaye's arms while in concert at Virginia's Hampton-Sydney University, she was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Although the tumor forced Terrell to retire from performing live, she continued to record with Marvin and Her own album "Irresistible" in 1968.
In 1969 her health declined so that she was unable to finish with the third duet album, Valerie Simpson sang on most of the recordings on the "Easy" album.
The way that Marvin and Tammi with such romance led to rumors that they were lovers. Tammi Terrell passed away at the age of 24 on March 16, 1970.
She will never be forgotten, she is a legend.