Artists & Bands

Tammi Terrell tunes

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The saddest tale of Motown!

Tammi’s first success came as being part of James Brown’s backing band when she was only a teenager.

At the age of 20, she signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown and embarked on a collaboration with Marvin Gaye.

Unusually, the duo had songs written for them by a songwriting team outside the hit factory, Ashford & Simpson.

Three notable songs came out of this collaboration between Terrell, Gordy, Gaye, Ashford, and Simpson: Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, and You’re All I Need To Get By.

Her career took an unexpected turn when she collapsed onstage into Marvin Gaye’s arms. Doctors discovered a brain tumor and Tammi entered treatment.

A year later, Tammi attended a Marvin Gaye concert at the Apollo Theatre. Marvin was now singing with Carla Thompson instead but entered the audience for Tammi, who by now was in a wheelchair to sing You’re All I Need To Get By.

This would become her final performance as she died soon after, only 24 years old. Marvin sang the same tune at the funeral.