Like so many great recording artists, the legendary Tammi Terrell also left us much too soon. Music lovers would be surprised to know that Tammi Terrell actually began her singing career as a member of the James Brown Revue. That’s right, she sang with Mr. Dynamite himself as a teenager blessed with a golden voice. Once Tammi signed with Motown Records in 1965 and was paired with the Marvelous Marvin Gaye for a series of duets, Thomisina Winefred Montgomery was on her way at the tender age of 21 years old.
Ironically, it was a year or so later that right here in VA, Tammi Terrell collapsed into the arms of Marvin Gaye as they were on stage performing at Hampden-Sydney College. She was later diagnosed with a brain tumor, a condition that took the stunningly beautiful songbird away from us two years later in 1970. In the two short years with Motown, she and Marvin had 7 smash hits, a few that still remain classics that have been recorded over and over again by many different artists. Songs like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing”, and “Your Precious Love”, just to name a few.
On this day, Monday, April 29th, 2013, Tammi Terrell would have been 68 years old. There are millions of music lovers who may not have ever seen a picture of the lady to know what a beauty she was, but the songs she left behind, we know the lyrics WORD FOR WORD. Trust me family, THAT is what makes a classic! Happy Birthday Tammi. You’re Unforgettable….
