Fleeting Sweet Thing: The Incredible Tammi Terrell

Tammi Terrell collapsed onstage in 1967, falling into Marvin Gaye’s arms while performing at Virginia's Hampton-Sydney College. She was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and died shortly after. She was 24.

Born Thomasina Montgomery, she caught the eye (and ear) of Mr. James Brown in 1962, recording “If You Don’t Think” and “I Cried” for his short-lived Try Me imprint. A year later, a charmed Barry Gordy signed her to Motown records. This began her collaborations with Marvin Gaye, who, in a haze of depression, was said to have stopped recording for two-years after her death. But it would be their iconic duets (“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, “Your Precious Love”, “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing”) that Terrell would be most remembered by today.

Here’s the acapella of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. With the combined charisma and gleaming vocals, you can almost hear the music in the distance.


Tammi also recorded several 45s under the name Tammy Montgomery before her career took shape. It's unsettling to know she passed so shortly after. These songs, like her well-known duets, are full of promise.

“This Time Tomorrow” was recorded in 1964. Notice how the vocals flutter perfectly over the heavy production.


“Hold Me My Darling”, another great cut of Tammi’s, recorded for the Checker label.


Pictured below is Tammi’s “If You Don’t Think” 45 recorded for James Brown’s Try Me label.