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Tammi Terrell

American singer–songwriter.

Born April 29th, 1945 in Philadelphia.

Died March 16th, 1970 at 24 years old in Philadelphia (brain cancer). [ref]

Occupations
musician, recording artist, singer, songwriter
Wikipedia

Tammi Terrell, the powerhouse of soul, has died at the age of 24. Widely regarded as a pioneer of the Motown sound and one of the most popular singers of the late 1960s, Terrell had a powerful, expressive voice with a wide range and versatility. Her passionate, emotive singing on tracks such as “Ain't No Mountain High Enough” and “Your Precious Love” cemented her place in pop music history. Terrell was born in Philadelphia in 1945, and it wasn’t long before her talent was recognized. Early in her career, she followed a traditional route and toured with a gospel group, eventually signing with James Brown and then joining the Motown label. It wasn’t until 1967, however, that Terrell’s career took off. Working with Marvin Gaye, the pair became known as the ‘Dream Team’ and created a stream of hits, establishing them among the leading acts of the time. Sadly, Terrell’s career was cut short. In 1967 she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and she tragically passed away on March 16th, 1970, from complications due to the illness. Her death was felt deeply within the music community and her incredible voice, powerhouse performances and dedicated work ethic will always be remembered.

I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity. Gilda Radner