By PlatinumPal (141.151.14.26) on Monday, August 04, 2003 - 06:02 pm:

Thanks for your patience friends while I searched for a viable link to the full version of the following. I copied and pasted this for your viewing. It was prominently positioned as the LEAD STORY in Stu (and Dan's) very popular column in the Phila. Daily News.

The only thing missing is the lovely photo that everyone in town's been talking about! I'm sure that most of you have seen the Motown photo before. If I recall correctly, it's the same one from Sue's "Women Of Motown". I'm getting more excited everyday.

Published on Tue, Jul. 15, 2003

Stu Bykofsky | In the works
BOOK WORKING ON TAMMI TERRELL
By Stu Bykofsky & Dan Gross
stuspy@phillynews.com

LUDIE MONTGOMERY is working on a book about her late sister, North Philly native and Motown legend Tammi Terrell.

Born Thomasina Montgomery, Tammi graduated from Germantown High and studied pre-med at Penn before giving to the world such gifts as her classic duets with Marvin Gaye - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" and "You're All I Need to Get By."

Tammi died at 24 of a brain tumor in 1970. Ludie and Los Angeles writer Vickie Wright have interviewed numerous friends of Tammi, including Patti LaBelle, Ashford & Simpson and Mary Wilson, and are shopping for a publisher.

The end game is to turn Tammi's story into a film and also get Tammi a star of the Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame. Ludie and Vickie are seeking local folk who have their own stories about Tammi. If you have one, call Vickie 818-757-3135, or e-mail

tammiproject@aol.com.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, August 04, 2003 - 08:05 pm:

Great piece Blondie. Keep up the good work you're doing.

By don (68.75.58.12) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 10:16 pm:

I think I would be interested in reading about Ms. Terrell as soon as it is released. And another thing I like to add, if Motown would really get offa their high-horses and at least come up with at least some unrelease tracks and put it into some kind of compliation, like a Best Of. The other nite ago I heard T.T. singed a unreleased of "All I Do". A song Stevie Wonder wrote, produced, and co-arranged. Which he later redone it and put it on his Hotter Than July LP (Motown, 1980), that featured Michael Jackson and The O'Jays. And to be honest with all you forum logger's her redition has a gracefully, hauntingly beauty of a song. The same as felt when I heard Brenda Holloway's "Ev'ry Little Bit Hurts just these two songs gives me chills & goosebumps, dang!!!!

By PlatinumPal (151.197.120.104) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 02:59 am:

Hey Don, just in case you begin to find it too hard to wait for Ludie & Vickie's bio of Tammi, check out the fictional "Conversations With The Mann". It masterfully incorporates real persons as characters in the story. Guess which real person is included more than all others, and in away that captures much of her true personality??

Now that the cat's outta the bag, check out the book... ya won't be sorry! Also a MOVIE version of the critically acclaimed novel has been initiated by MGM! BTW, I agreed with your sentiments regarding All I Do Is Think OF You.

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 11:52 am:

Hi Don.

The song "All I Do" by Tammi Terrell is available on the 2 cd set called , "A Cellarful of Motown". Chek it out, if you haven't already.


Handsome

By Thommygirl_70 (205.188.209.109) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 03:22 pm:

'All I Do' is most definitely the highlight of 'A Cellarful of Motown' it brought tears to my eyes listening to it....

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 03:36 pm:

I agree Thommygirl...as usual we wonder why this wasn't released on album & single previously.

Handsome

By Thommygirl_70 (205.188.209.109) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 03:43 pm:

Definitely Handsome!! And a few years ago when "Gotta Find A Way To Get You Back" was officially released I couldn't believe that song was actually held back for all of these years. Why that song(and 'All I Do') was never released as a single or at the very least put on her "Irresistible" album is really beyond me. Those are two of her best performances, I think.

By Don (68.75.48.245) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 07:58 pm:

Thank You All.

By Thommygirl_70 (205.188.209.109) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 08:35 pm:

Thank you too, Don. I'm ALWAYS happy to discuss Tammi Terrell-related stuff

By redhead (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 04:48 pm:

I read the article. It's really cool. Ms. Wright told me that she and Ludie help write that article with the help of their public relations guy when Vickie was in Philly working on the book with Ludie. I wish I could have seen the picture though.

By Vickie (64.236.243.31) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 05:25 pm:

Hey Dinelle,
I didn't say I wrote that article..I said I helped coordinate it . It was written by Dan Gross..He did a nice job with it...

Just to clarify...

By redhead (64.12.97.7) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 08:56 am:

Okay so I misinterpreted! It happens sometimes. The email that you sent me about the article was deleted so I couldn't copy word for word what you said. But I still like the article. BTW,I thought you said you had little access to your computer.

By Vickie (198.81.26.170) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 11:16 am:

I am glad you like the article, it was great for what we needed it to do...Dan & Stu want to follow our progress with the project..

And yes
I have limited access to my computer right now...

By stephanie (68.50.216.139) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 11:52 am:

My favorite Tammi Terrell song is Lone Lone Town.
Its about time she is getting the notoriety and respect that she deserves at this time..
Stpehanie

By Thommygirl_70 (205.188.209.109) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 01:20 pm:

Great choice,stephanie! The horns in that song sort of remind me of the big-band era. I love this song too.

By Nish (216.148.246.70) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 02:21 pm:

Lone Lonely Town is rockin'! I also like her version of "This Old Heart Of Mine" and "That's What Boys Are Made For."

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 04:39 pm:

My favorites are:

I Can't Believe You Love Me
What A Good Man He Is
He's The One I Love

Handsome

By PlatinumPal (151.197.36.244) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 05:07 pm:

One sign of a GREAT ARTIST is that many persons choose so many different songs as favorites from her/him. Your beautiful posts sure prove that for Tammi. I smile thinking of the smile that I'm certain would be on her face at this fulfilling time. I think that the day is coming when the media will catch up to the deep respect and esteem rendered to her from music lovers worldwide.

Another sign is when an act can achieve brilliance with several different writing/production teams. Once again Tammi wins hands down.

By David Meikle (62.252.128.6) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 05:18 pm:

Tammi's version of "This old heart of mine" is fantastic!

By Thommygirl_70 (64.12.97.7) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 02:08 pm:

I L-O-V-E Tammi's version of 'This Old Heart Of Mine"!! It is my favorite! I like this thread a lot What are some of everyone's favorite pre-motown Tammi songs? I am *currently*(lol) loving 'Sinners Devotion', 'This Time Tomorrow', and 'If You See Bill' And PlatinumPal, you are making a whole lotta sense, sir!!!

By Thommygirl_70 (64.12.97.7) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 02:09 pm:

oh and Handsome, I L-O-V-E you're favorite Tammi song picks!!

By Handsome (170.118.157.134) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 02:19 pm:

How did I forget about-"All I Do"...Wonder if she has anymore unreleased tracks? Bring 'em on HW, ha ha!

My pre-Motown song I liked by Tammi is "I cried" .

Handsome

By Thommygirl_70 (64.12.97.7) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 02:38 pm:

Handsome, 'All I Do' was a buried treasure for all of these years and I thank God it was *finally* released!! I love 'I Cried'!! My favorite part of that song is when she has her spoken word: "Now listen. Turn your record player down real low, so listen."


oh yeah, speaking of Tammi's pre-motown songs, there was a song that she recorded called 'I Wantcha To Be Sure' I think it was the B-side to 'Voice of Experience' during her Scepter/Wand days. Has anyone ever heard this song before? I never have. I hope that one day this song gets released again so that I can get it.

By redhead (152.163.252.68) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 03:14 pm:

I like "Come On And See Me", "Too Much To Hope For", and "I Gotta Find A Way To Get You Back". It's kinda brought me a little inspiration for the story that I'm writing right now.

Dinelle

By Thommygirl_70 (152.163.252.68) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 04:42 pm:

Hi Dinelle, I have found Tammi's songs to be quite inspirational in my life as well

By Nish (216.148.246.70) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 04:51 pm:

I love "If I Would Marry You," "Sinner's Devotion," and "Make The Night Just A Little Longer." (Tommy Hunt's version is good, too, and if you listen closely to his version, you notice they didn't clean up Tammi's vocal too well, because you can hear her a little bit.)

By redhead (64.12.97.7) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 06:08 pm:

Thanks, Thommygirl. I heard that Tammi's music, both duets and solos, have made an impact on a lot of fans. Including me. Vickie said that Ludie got a kick out of the fact that someone so young chose to write about her older sister.

By Thommygirl_70 (205.188.209.109) on Friday, August 15, 2003 - 07:27 pm:

Hi Nish, I love all three of the songs that you mentioned!! My favorite part of 'If I Would Marry You' is when Tammi says, 'Whoa,whoa,whoa,whoa'!! That made me laugh. I was like, 'You Go,Girl!'

By PlatinumPal (151.197.168.225) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 01:48 am:

As I said B4, Soulful Friends, you're the greatest!

Thommygirl, you seem to express so many of my feelings so well. We're kindred souls. There was a time that I foolishly thought that I was the only one feeling Tammi this way. How happily wrong I was!!

I think time has been very good to Tammi's legacy, and I am very certain that thanks to Ludie, Vickie, Harry, Collins, John Ridley and so many more, the BEST is yet to come!!

Oh What A Great Gift Tammi Has Left Us!

By Thommygirl_70 (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, August 17, 2003 - 08:39 pm:

Hi PlatinumPal, How are you? Reading your last post, I feel so compelled to tell you a story here! When I first got a computer and came onto the Internet the *very* first thing that I did was search up information on Tammi Terrell. I must admit that when I first saw that there were people out there who loved her and enjoyed her music the way that I do I was completely floored. It took me so off-guard that I had to move away from my computer and cry. I remember that day very well. I know that may sound a bit corny but it was a very emotional thing for me. Like you, I had no idea that there would be people out there who remembered her. It sounds weird for me to say that now, but I guess that was the state of my mind back then! Now, I come online and converse with Tammi fans like you, and it is such an amazing thing for me. It's really hard for me to explain.

Yes you are sooooo right, Tammi did indeed leave a remarkable gift behind. Her music will be cherished forever and of course the strong spirit that she had was quite something too. She was/is quite a role model for people. She seemed to be a confident young woman with such a brave and optimistic look on life. No matter what obstacles came her way, she always seemed to forge a head and work hard for what she wanted. That is very moving and inspirational

By Vickie (198.81.26.170) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 12:05 am:

This right here is the magic of Tammi's life...
Bringing people together....

By Dinelle (152.163.252.68) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 09:42 am:

That's so cool, Thommygirl. I like Tammi as well anyone. Even though I was born after she and Marvin were long gone, I was exposed to her duets at an early age. I like Tammi so much that I'm even writing a story about her. I've been writing most of it during my summer vacation. I had to stop because I've been traveling a lot. Vickie says it's really good. So does Weldon. I'll email you later, Vickie.

By Thommygirl_70 (152.163.252.68) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 06:31 pm:

Hi Dinelle! I am so glad that you are a fan of Tammi's as well. Like you, I was born after she died but my father used to play the Marvin and Tammi duets a lot when I was a little kid. It was only when I became a teenager that I began to fully appreciate the music. From that moment on though,nothing could stop me,lol! I became a really big fan of Tammi's and it was through her that I actually became a fan of Motown and soul music in general. Good luck with your story on Tammi! That sounds very fun and exciting. I am sure that if she were alive today, she would be quite pleased that you were writing a story about her. Talk to you later.

By stephanie (68.50.216.139) on Monday, August 18, 2003 - 10:37 pm:

When this Tammi project is done I hope that the author will talk to a lot of people who knew of her outside of Motown. I know that there are a lot of people who knew her but I would also like to read about how she coped with her illness and what she did before Motown, I want to know the good the bad and everything that went on in Tammy's life and especially the audience reaction when she did solo songs and not just songs with Marvin Gaye. I think it would be great to get some critiques of her music and see what they thought she would do with her voice and how she would fare as a solo artist. She is really good solo and I think that she would have fared well.
Stephanie

By PlatinumPal (141.151.78.19) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 01:42 am:

Steph, I am very certain that given enough time healthy, Tammi would have conquered the world, solo and/or duet. She's been gone this long and is still working toward that goal... we're all living proof of that fact!

Thommygirl, I just got back to Philly from New York. Sorry it's taken this long to respond. I'm so glad that you felt compelled to share your experience concerning Tammi. I would have hated to have missed that one! Please keep up your great posts, my friend.

By Nish (170.224.224.134) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 07:18 am:

Clearly Tammi's charisma has made an impression on those a generation removed from her original magic. I think this says something about where her place would have been among singers in the 70s. As I type, I'm listening to "Give A Little Love," and Marvin and Tammi are sounding soooooo good together. I know they have the duet magic going on in Soul Heaven.

By Thommygirl_70 (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 06:43 pm:

Stephanie, those are really good questions. I think that Tammi's fans want to know about the things that you have pointed out!
PlatinumPal, it is so nice to hear from you again! I hope that all is well with you. I enjoy our Tammi chats on this message board. Let's continue to keep Tammi's spirit alive here
Nish, you are so right! It's wonderful to know that Tammi's fan base includes people of ALL ages. The music that she left behind transcends age, race, religion, lifestyle, time and just EVERYTHING! I have been online and seen *so many* people from different areas of the world speak of how much they love Tammi's music. What a great thing that is!
'Give A Little Love' is one of my favorite duets from Marvin/Tammi. I think that it is such a romantic, doo-wop-like type of song sort of like how 'Your Precious Love' is also.

By Dinelle (152.163.252.68) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 07:30 pm:

Thanks,Thommygirl. Vickie said always that Ludie would get a kick out of the fact that someone so young wanted to write about her sister. Whenever anything I write about Tammi, whether it was for school or just for fun, like "Heaven On Earth: Tammi Terrell & Me", it just comes naturally. Normally, my most of my classmates think that my love Tammi's music is well...dumb. I just think of how I'll surprise them when I show my story. Speaking of "Heaven On Earth", it's coming along well. It's full of suspense and hilarious wisecracks. Talk to you later.

By Vickie (64.236.243.31) on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 - 10:10 pm:

All of this Just shows how influentual she truly is...

By PlatinumPal (151.197.224.122) on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 12:10 am:

...Oh how very true, Vonderful Vickie!

Speaking of influential, all Tammi fans should rush out to get the previously mentioned book, A CONVERSATION WITH THE MANN by John Ridley. Here our Tammi gets the SUPERSTAR treatment she deserves by being made the key female element in this novel of epic proportions!!

The MGM film is coming. Let's show our approval of such Vonderful acts of recognition for Her Greatness.