Tammi Terrell

Thomasina Winifred Montgomery (April 29, 1945 – March 16, 1970), professionally known as Tammi Terrell, was an American singer-songwriter, widely known as a star singer for Motown Records during the 1960s, notably for a series of duets with singer Marvin Gaye.

Terrell began her career as a teenager, first recording for Scepter/Wand Records, before spending nearly nine months as a member of James Brown's Revue, recording for Brown's Try Me label. After attending college, Terrell recorded briefly for Checker Records before signing with Motown in 1965. With Gaye, she scored seven Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" and "You're All I Need to Get By".

Terrell's career was interrupted when she collapsed into Gaye's arms as the two performed at a concert at Hampden–Sydney College on October 14, 1967. Terrell was later diagnosed with a brain tumor and had eight unsuccessful surgeries before dying on March 16, 1970, at age 24.

Thomasina Winifred Montgomery was born on April 29, 1945, in Philadelphia to Jennie (née Graham), and Thomas Montgomery. Jennie was an actress while Thomas was a barbershop owner and local politician. According to Terrell's sister, Ludie, their mother was mentally ill.

Terrell was the older of two siblings. According to the Unsung documentary, Ludie said her parents thought Terrell would be a boy and, therefore, she would be named after her father. When Terrell was born, the parents settled on the name Thomasina, nicknaming her "Tommie". At age 12, Terrell changed her name to "Tammy" after seeing the film Tammy and the Bachelor and hearing its theme song, "Tammy".

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.