Terrell, Tammi (Thomasina Montgomery)

Terrell, Tammi (Thomasina Montgomery), singing partner to Marvin Gaye who died far too young; b. Philadelphia, April 29, 1945; d. Cleveland, Ohio, March 16, 1970. Terrell’s uncle was boxer Bob Montgomery, her mother an actress. By her 15th birthday, Tommi Montgomery started singing on records for Wand. She was produced by James Brown during this period, toured with his Revue, and was allegedly his abused girlfriend. She also changed her name to “Tammi” at this time. At age 20, she signed with Motown and entered into another allegedly abusive relationship with David Ruffin of the Temptations. She hooked up with Marvin Gaye—musically but not romantically—two years later. During 1967 they cut such classic Ashford and Simpson written tracks as “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (#19 pop) and “Your Precious Love” (#5 pop). However, late in the year, Terrell collapsed on stage. In the hospital, she was diagnosed as having a brain tumor. She continued to sing, releasing duets with Gaye including “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” (#10, 1968), the classic “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” (#8 pop, #1 R&B, 1968), and “You’re All I Need to Get By” (#7 pop, #1 R&B—five weeks—1968). By the time “Keep On Lovin’ Me Honey” and “Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy to Come By” came out, Terrell’s parts were actually being performed by Valerie Simpson, because Terrell was too weak to sing. Her passing in the late winter of 1970 threw Gaye into a tailspin that kept him from recording for two years and performing until 1972. It also precluded her having any kind of solo career on Motown.

Discography

Irresistible (1968); United (1968); You ′re All I Need (1968).

—Hank Bordowitz