Tammi Terrell was born in Philadelphia in 1945 and started singing early. James Brown noticed her talent and signed her to his label. She put out her first album, "The Wonderful World of Tammi Terrell," in 1962.
Her career changed when she began working with Marvin Gaye at Motown. Their duets became some of the label's most memorable recordings. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" was a hit that showed how well their voices fit together.
Terrell was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1967. She kept performing when she could, returning to the stage in 1970, but her health worsened. She died that same year at age 24.
Her recordings with Gaye, including songs like "Two Can Have A Party" and "All I Do Is Think About You," have stayed in rotation on soul stations and playlists. They capture a particular sound from that Motown era.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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