Thomasina  Montgomery  (Tammi Terrell) was born in April 1945 in Philly. She suffered from health, mental and physical trauma problems through her life, following on from the agony of being raped when she was a teenager. Her singing career also began when she was just a teenager, recording for Scepter / Wand Records. Her first 45 release in November 1961 being "If You See Bill". She then spent two years as a member of James Brown's live show. The 17-year-old Terrell became involved in an abusive relationship with Brown (1962), who was 12 years older than her. Her 2nd single escaped in April 62 on Wand. In May 63 James & his team cut her on the song "I Cried" that was issued on JB's Try Me label. However, that same year Terrell left Brown's entourage after he assaulted her for not watching his entire stage performance one night. She then recorded for Checker Records (March 64) before signing with Motown in 1965. I can't find anything about her being signed by the company but it must have been in late summer 65 as they probably took her into the studio to record that October. She had been teamed with the production teaming of Harvey Fuqua (& Johnny Bristol). Promo copies of her 1st Motown 45 were pressed up in November & sent out to radio stns & music magazines -- her 45 starting to get airplay from the start of December. All her pre-Motown releases had been under the name Tammy Montgomery, so it must have been someone connected to Motown that re-named her.

Motown were staging their big Christmas / New Year show @ the Fox Theatre in Detroit from late December through to the new year. Tammi wasn't originally down to be amongst the Motown acts on that show but it seems she was added due to the success her 45 was enjoying locally. Motown had been staging Motortown Revue shows since 1961 and 1965 was no different. But in 65 the tour was badged as being THE BIGGEST SHOW OF STARS OF 1965. As the revue went from venue to venue, some acts would be added whilst others dropped out (many called back to Detroit for recording sessions). On Saturday October 23rd the revue played the Vets Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio (the 4 Tops / Temptations / Martha & Vandellas being joint top of the bill). . . . JUST IN PASSING -- Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) defeated Floyd Patterson that night to become the youngest world heavyweight boxing champion at that time. The boxing match was broadcast live into US cinemas, so there must have been a real tug as to which venue to go to in Columbus that night.

By the time the package did the Xmas show @ the Fox in Detroit (late December), the Temptations were top of the bill. It seems Tammi & David Ruffin met at these shows and quickly became romantically involved. They were soon an item & later in 1966, Terrell accepted Ruffin's marriage proposal. However she soon discovered that Ruffin was already married, had a wife, three children, and another girlfriend in Detroit. Their relationship however continued, but partly due to Ruffin's drug addiction, the pair would have violent arguments. In 1967, Terrell ended their relationship after Ruffin hit her in the head with his motorcycle helmet. In early 67 Motown had teamed her in the studio with Marvin Gaye. Their musical partnership resulted in the first single release as a duet -- "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"; Tamla - April 67. The partnership was highly successful and the pairing of Marvin & Tammi were a recording entity that Motown was giving a big push to by September 67. Lots more hit duets were enjoyed, the last of these being around the time of her death. Motown/ Tamla didn't really push any more of her solo releases, though she had been teamed with the likes of Smokey Robinson plus Holland / Dozier / Holland for tracks released on her solo album - 'Irresistible Tammi Terrell- M #652 (January 1967 / November 68 ?). However, Tammi's health continued to be problematic & she would pass away in March 1970.

MY QUESTIONS ....

.... anyone know who instigated her signing to Motown ?

... who came up with the stage name TAMMI TERRELL ?

.... the release # of her solo album -- 'Irresistible Tammi Terrell- M #652 would suggest it was originally down for a January 1967 release. But it didn't seem to emerge till November 68. Was this coz by then she was becoming too ill to record much and so they decided to put out lots of the earlier solo tracks that had been laid down ?

I don't yet have a copy of the book her sister wrote about Tammi. The above questions may well be answered in that.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by Roburt

6 minutes ago, Roburt said:

Thomasina  Montgomery  (Tammi Terrell) was born in April 1945 in Philly. She suffered from health, mental and physical trauma problems through her life, following on from the trauma of being raped when she was a teenager. Her singing career also began when she was just a teenager, recording for Scepter / Wand Records. Her first 45 release in November 1961 being "If You See Bill". She then spent two years as a member of James Brown's live show. The 17-year-old Terrell became involved in an abusive relationship with Brown (1962), who was 12 years older than her. Her 2nd single escaped in April 62 on Wand. In May 63 James & his team cut her on the song "Try Me" that was issued on JB's Try Me label. However, that same year Terrell left Brown's entourage after he assaulted her for not watching his entire stage performance one night. She then recorded for Checker Records (March 64) before signing with Motown in 1965. I can't find anything about her being signed by the company but it must have been in late summer 65 as they probably took her into the studio to record that October. She had been teamed with the production teaming of Harvey Fuqua (& Johnny Bristol). Promo copies of her 1st Motown 45 were pressed up in November & sent out to radio stns & music magazines -- her 45 starting to get airplay from the start of December. All her pre-Motown releases had been under the name Tammy Montgomery, so it must have been someone connected to Motown that re-named her.

Motown were staging their big Christmas / New Year show @ the Fox Theatre in Detroit from late December through to the new year. Tammi wasn't originally down to be amongst the Motown acts on that show but it seems she was added due to the success her 45 was enjoying locally. Motown had been staging Motortown Revue shows since 1961 and 1965 was no different. But in 65 the tour was badged as being THE BIGGEST SHOW OF STARS OF 1965. As the revue went from venue to venue, some acts would be added whilst others dropped out (many called back to Detroit for recording sessions). On Saturday October 23rd the revue played the Vets Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio (the 4 Tops / Temptations / Martha & Vandellas being joint top of the bill). . . . JUST IN PASSING -- Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) defeated Floyd Patterson that night to become the youngest world heavyweight boxing champion at that time. The boxing match was broadcast live into US cinemas, so there must have been a real tug as to which venue to go to in Columbus that night.

By the time the package did the Xmas show @ the Fox in Detroit (late December), the Temptations were top of the bill. It seems Tammi & David Ruffin met at these shows and quickly became romantically involved. They were soon an item & later in 1966, Terrell accepted Ruffin's marriage proposal. However she soon discovered that Ruffin was already married, had a wife, three children, and another girlfriend in Detroit. Their relationship however continued, but partly due to Ruffin's drug addiction, the pair would have violent arguments. In 1967, Terrell ended their relationship after Ruffin hit her in the head with his motorcycle helmet. In early 67 Motown had teamed her in the studio with Marvin Gaye. Their musical partnership resulted in the first single release as a duet -- "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"; Tamla - April 67. The partnership was highly successful and the pairing of Marvin & Tammi were a recording entity that Motown was giving a big push to by September 67. Lots more hit duets were enjoyed, the last of these being around the time of her death. Motown/ Tamla didn't really push any more of her solo releases, though she was had been teamed with the likes of Smokey Robinson plus Holland / Dozier / Holland for tracks released on her solo album - 'Irresistible Tammi Terrell- M #652 (January 1967 / November 68 ?). However, Tammi's health continued to be problematic & she would pass away in March 1970.

MY QUESTIONS ....

.... anyone know who instigated her signing to Motown ?

... who came up with the stage name TAMMI TERRELL ?

.... the release # of her solo album -- 'Irresistible Tammi Terrell- M #652 would suggest it was originally down for a January 1967 release. But it didn't seem to emerge till November 68. Was this coz by then she was becoming too ill to record much and so they decided to put out lots of the earlier solo tracks that had been laid down ?

I don't yet have a copy of the book her sister wrote about Tammi. The above questions may well be answered in that.

For a brief period, Tammi was married to the boxer, Ernie Terrell ( one of many whom Mohammed Ali fought in the 60's )

As for Tammy ( inspired by a Debbie Reynolds film ) she introduced herself as that as she thought the name Tommie ( Thomasina ) was boyish, that's all described in Ludie Montgomery's book about her late sister.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by Agentsmith

Most places I've looked it states that Tammi was never married to the boxer, Ernie Terrell.

Ernie Terrell was a singer, performer & recording artist too. He played live shows with his sister Jean, who would go on to be a SUPREME.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Roburt

16 minutes ago, Roburt said:

Most places I've looked it states that Tammi was never married to the boxer, Ernie Terrell.

Yep, just been looking for this too. It's stated in Alex Mackenzie's book ' The Motown Stars ' this marriage apparently occured whilst she was enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, in 64. There's absolutely no reference to this in Ludie's biography. Instead she relates that Berry Gordy gave her the name, Terrell due to it's ' artistic ring '. I'd be more inclined to go along with that, though it would be correct to say that Jean Terrell was Ernie's sister, she of course became the Supremes lead after Ross' departure.

I'll have to read Ludie's book more thoroughly because, she's since done a revamped print more recently which i think Richard made a point of promoting when she came over here for the BISF in June.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Agentsmith

Is it known if there are more unreleased pre-Motown tracks by Tammy / Tammi.

Her US & UK (Marble Arch) LP contained 3 from Scepter / Wand that hadn't escaped on 45 ...

According to the liner notes of "Tammi Terrell- Come On And See Me- The Complete Solo Collection", Jerry Butler approached Tammi to join him on his Midwest Tour. While performing at Detroit's 20 Grand nightclub, Berry Gordy caught the show and signed her to Motown.