Tammi Terrell and the Supremes

**luke** · 10-02-2018, 09:59 PM

I recall Tammi being mentioned to replace Diana. Was this just fans’ opinions or were there some serious discussions about this before she became ill?

**marv2** · 10-02-2018, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by luke

I recall Tammi being mentioned to replace Diana. Was this just fans’ opinions or were there some serious discussions about this before she became ill?

I've never heard much about this other than her name was mentioned in passing and then quickly disqualified due to her personal health. It was like she was just a consideration.

**sup_fan** · 10-03-2018, 12:10 AM

My understanding is that while she might have been an ideal candidate by the time they were legitimately looking for a replacement in early 69 she was far too ill to ever have been a serious candidate

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 12:22 AM

I personally never thought Tammi Terrell was a good candidate for the Supremes. I do not think she would have stay with the group, any group very long. If I had to pick a female singer already with Motown, it would have probably been Brenda Holloway. She not only had the talent, but the personality to get along well with others.

**TheMotownManiac** · 10-03-2018, 04:55 AM

Originally Posted by marv2

I personally never thought Tammi Terrell was a good candidate for the Supremes. I do not think she would have stay with the group, any group very long. If I had to pick a female singer already with Motown, it would have probably been Brenda Holloway. She not only had the talent, but the personality to get along well with others.

I never thought of Brenda - she had the goods for sure. Very interesting idea. I think Ross fans would have preferred her over Jean.

**midnightman** · 10-03-2018, 01:06 AM

That was NEVER gonna happen. And Tammi was near death at the time.

I think it came from someone online who had a fantasy of one of the Motown female acts that never got on to be a potential replacement.

Tammi was never a serious option for replacement but she probably thought being in the group was beneath her at this point. She had been in her solo career since she started singing. Always independent.

Just... NO.

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by midnightman

That was NEVER gonna happen. And Tammi was near death at the time.

I think it came from someone online who had a fantasy of one of the Motown female acts that never got on to be a potential replacement.

Tammi was never a serious option for replacement but she probably thought being in the group was beneath her at this point. She had been in her solo career since she started singing. Always independent.

Just... NO.

That's weird she would think that. The Supremes were one of the biggest groups in the World at that time. Tammi Terrell had no big hits outside of the duets she did with Marvin Gaye. She had other issues........many of them that would not have made her a good fit for the Supremes. Outside of Motown fans, she is largely forgotten, whereas the Supremes are still well remembered by many people.

**midnightman** · 10-03-2018, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by marv2

That's weird she would think that. The Supremes were one of the biggest groups in the World at that time. Tammi Terrell had no big hits outside of the duets she did with Marvin Gaye. She had other issues........many of them that would not have made her a good fit for the Supremes. Outside of Motown fans, she is largely forgotten, whereas the Supremes are still well remembered by many people.

Tammi had enough drama to suddenly join a group no matter how huge they were. Tammi never struck me as someone who wanted to chase shadows, she wanted to make her own shadow, so to say. Like I said, a very independent woman.

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 01:28 AM

I don't even remember seeing Tammi Terrell on TV.

**midnightman** · 10-03-2018, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by marv2

I don't even remember seeing Tammi Terrell on TV.

She was on three shows with Marvin:

The Hy Lit show in 1967 [[that clip has since become legendary)
The Today Show [[the footage hasn't been seen but we've seen a couple of pictures of them on it)
And The Tonight Show [[think the Tonight Show was the last one before her illness)

So before any of our times.

**reese** · 10-03-2018, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by midnightman

She was on three shows with Marvin:

The Hy Lit show in 1967 [[that clip has since become legendary)
The Today Show [[the footage hasn't been seen but we've seen a couple of pictures of them on it)
And The Tonight Show [[think the Tonight Show was the last one before her illness)

So before any of our times.

She and Marvin also appeared on "Expo'67," the familiar clip where they are singing outside. Too bad there is no other footage. Although I wonder just how much more TV [[if any) they did after her collapse on stage.

**midnightman** · 10-05-2018, 09:03 PM

Originally Posted by reese

She and Marvin also appeared on "Expo'67," the familiar clip where they are singing outside. Too bad there is no other footage. Although I wonder just how much more TV [[if any) they did after her collapse on stage.

I only mention Hy Lit, Today and Tonight because there were the only U.S. appearances but the Expo one would be #4 in list of total American shows, yes. They never got a chance to do their duets outside of NA as we all know WHY that never happened.

I always looked at both Marvin and Tammi's careers as careers of missed opportunities [[though Marvin eventually did become a permanent global music legend thanks to his '70s and '80s recordings). The magic they could've still done but maybe it was fate that Tammi left as early as she did. Cancer sucks.

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by midnightman

She was on three shows with Marvin:

The Hy Lit show in 1967 [[that clip has since become legendary)
The Today Show [[the footage hasn't been seen but we've seen a couple of pictures of them on it)
And The Tonight Show [[think the Tonight Show was the last one before her illness)

So before any of our times.

Nope not before my time. It's just that I was not living in Philly in 1967 to catch the local broadcast of Hy Lit's show. If it was later syndicated, we did not get it in Detroit.. The Today Show came on while I was getting ready for school so I pretty sure I would not have seen it and the Tonight Show would have been on past my bedtime in the 60s. I never saw Tammi Terrell on television whereas the Supremes were on every week it seemed on one show or another.

**rovereab** · 10-04-2018, 06:21 AM

Originally Posted by midnightman

She was on three shows with Marvin:

The Hy Lit show in 1967 [[that clip has since become legendary)
The Today Show [[the footage hasn't been seen but we've seen a couple of pictures of them on it)
And The Tonight Show [[think the Tonight Show was the last one before her illness)

So before any of our times.

Are there links for the above appearances that we can use please?

Thanks.

**milven** · 10-04-2018, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by rovereab

Are there links for the above appearances that we can use please?

Thanks.

**TheMotownManiac** · 10-03-2018, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by luke

I recall Tammi being mentioned to replace Diana. Was this just fans’ opinions or were there some serious discussions about this before she became ill?

No one would be a better candidate than Tammi - she was PERFECT .........except for two things:

1) She was way too much of a diva to work in a group - she and Mary would have killed each other in six months.

2) She was completely incapable of working for over two years prior to Jan 14, 1970.

She was cute, vocally spot on, and really the only other Motown female with genuine star quality charisma. Even if she had been in perfect health, I doubt she would have wound up on Ed Sullivan in Feb 70 doing Up The Ladder.

**sup_fan** · 10-03-2018, 10:27 AM

i think [[assuming she was not ill) that Tammi might have been an obvious choice in that she had a similar, unique, nasal sound to Diana. i've not heard much about her from a personality standpoint other than the little bit we hear about her tumultuous relationship with David Ruffin. and in Martha's bio, she's not very complimentary to her either.

In another Motown book Scherrie is quoted with saying that someone once threw her name into the mix of potential diana replacements. but then someone said "no she wouldn't be interested" That could have been interesting

Considering Brenda was long gone from motown by this time, i find it hard to believe she would have been a candidate. and frankly i'm not overly fond of her singing. just person opinion

although she too was long gone, what about Kim Weston?

**Thornton** · 10-03-2018, 11:03 AM

I've never gotten the impression that Tammi was seriously considered, but she would have been my ideal replacement. I was sold once I heard her cover "Baby Love" during her Roostertail concert. Syreeta was probably the most realistic choice if they were going to hire someone already at Motown.

**RanRan79** · 10-03-2018, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by sup_fan

Considering Brenda was long gone from motown by this time, i find it hard to believe she would have been a candidate. and frankly i'm not overly fond of her singing. just person opinion

although she too was long gone, what about Kim Weston?

Sup Fan I'm done with you. Not fond of Brenda's singing? Taking shots at Smokey's lyrics? I'm blocking your ass right now.

But seriously, Brenda was gone of course, but had she still been with Motown I don't think it would've worked because I just don't think it would be easy for any woman [[or man) to have any measure of accomplishment as a single artist and then transition into the front person of a group. Vocally Brenda sounds nothing like Ross, but IMO she had the same kind of abilities: the lyrical personality, the ability to sing MOR and sound comfortable doing it, the vocal ability to appeal to all kinds of people. So in that regard she would have been a good Ross replacement. Plus she had a star look to herself that I think would've fit in.

Kim Weston? No.

How about this shocker: what if instead of transitioning Wanda Rogers into a solo Marvelette under the name the Marvelettes, Motown had officially retired the Marvelettes name and sent Wanda to the Supremes to replace Diana? Of course in reality we know Wanda had addiction issues that would have eliminated her from the running period. I'm talking about a scenario where her addiction issues weren't part of the equation. In my opinion, and I've said this in this forum before, Wanda Rogers had all of those tangibles that made the public take notice of Diana when the camera was on, and Wanda had a voice that was instantly recognizable. In other words, Wanda was a poor man's Diana Ross. The one thing that I think would've worked against her as Ross' replacement was that I'm not convinced Wanda could do the Vegasy standards or be an effective show hostess. Of course this could have worked to her advantage if the Supremes dropped the standards completely and went head first into the direction they should have gone in with the new decade.

**reese** · 10-03-2018, 11:11 AM

Knowing her health status, Tammi couldn't have been under serious consideration. Perhaps Motown threw that tidbit out so that there would be some positive talk about Tammi rather than the true graveness of her condition. After all, they were still releasing her records during this period as well.

**lucky2012** · 10-03-2018, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by reese

Knowing her health status, Tammi couldn't have been under serious consideration. Perhaps Motown threw that tidbit out so that there would be some positive talk about Tammi rather than the true graveness of her condition. After all, they were still releasing her records during this period as well.

I agree.
If not for her health issues, Tammi Terrell would have been the best choice at the time. She was already well-known from the popular and successful Marvin duets. She had a familiar and similar voice. She was young and attractive and had a positive public image. The post-Diana Supremes' image, talent and potential would have been assured. The only unknown factors were Tammi's personality and ambitions. Would she consider it a step down? I wonder how Frank Wilson & others would have produced the group?

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 12:14 PM

Thank God that Mr. Gordy found Jean Terrell. She was a better singer than everyone we mentioned here and she turned out to be absolutely perfect for the Supremes at that time in my opinion!

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by reese

Knowing her health status, Tammi couldn't have been under serious consideration. Perhaps Motown threw that tidbit out so that there would be some positive talk about Tammi rather than the true graveness of her condition. After all, they were still releasing her records during this period as well.

Yeah. Did you know that Tammi Terrell's mother banned everyone from Motown except Marvin Gaye from attending her funeral? She felt Motown did nothing but exploit Tammi as much as possible.

**luke** · 10-03-2018, 12:21 PM

Mary has commented on Tammi and the Supremes saying she was very lively and liked to kid around a lot or something to that effect but she was too ill. From what I’ve read about her I don’t think her personality would have fit into the Supremes... they were just coming off Diana Ross! Brenda ... hmmm...interesting.

**RanRan79** · 10-03-2018, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by luke

Mary has commented on Tammi and the Supremes saying she was very lively and liked to kid around a lot or something to that effect but she was too ill. From what I’ve read about her I don’t think her personality would have fit into the Supremes... they were just coming off Diana Ross! Brenda ... hmmm...interesting.

Didn't Mary call Tammi a liar? If she thought that, surely she wouldn't have wanted her in the group.

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by luke

Mary has commented on Tammi and the Supremes saying she was very lively and liked to kid around a lot or something to that effect but she was too ill. From what I’ve read about her I don’t think her personality would have fit into the Supremes... they were just coming off Diana Ross! Brenda ... hmmm...interesting.

She would have not fit into the Supremes well at all. People here have gone into great detail about some of Florence Ballard's issues that got her fired from the Supremes. Well, Tammi Terrell makes Florence Ballard look like a Nun or a schoolgirl! Watch her Unsung episode and read between the lines and also the biography written about her in the last 10 years. She was a mess!

**sup_fan** · 10-03-2018, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by marv2

She would have not fit into the Supremes well at all. People here have gone into great detail about some of Florence Ballard's issues that got her fired from the Supremes. Well, Tammi Terrell makes Florence Ballard look like a Nun or a schoolgirl! Watch her Unsung episode and read between the lines and also the biography written about her in the last 10 years. She was a mess!

Martha was very selective in what she said about Tammi. she sort of alludes to the fact that Tammi was a bit of a "wild" girl. not sure if it was drugs, sex or what. But martha's viewpoint was that she did not really like Tammi and therefore limited her time with her.

of course i never met Tammi so i don't really know. my thoughts are the Sups needed not only an attractive, personable singer that could provide strong lead vocals but they also need someone that could be a 3rd partner and help shape and guide the direction of the group. I don't know if tammi would have filled that last part really. to go from solo and duet work to group, sharing the group leadership with Mary. i could see that being a challenge

**midnightman** · 10-03-2018, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by sup_fan

Martha was very selective in what she said about Tammi. she sort of alludes to the fact that Tammi was a bit of a "wild" girl. not sure if it was drugs, sex or what. But martha's viewpoint was that she did not really like Tammi and therefore limited her time with her.

of course i never met Tammi so i don't really know. my thoughts are the Sups needed not only an attractive, personable singer that could provide strong lead vocals but they also need someone that could be a 3rd partner and help shape and guide the direction of the group. I don't know if tammi would have filled that last part really. to go from solo and duet work to group, sharing the group leadership with Mary. i could see that being a challenge

I think in Unsung they mentioned she was in the party scene a lot before her illness. Another reason she wouldn't be considered for a spot in the world's most famous girl group.

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by midnightman

I think in Unsung they mentioned she was in the party scene a lot before her illness. Another reason she wouldn't be considered for a spot in the world's most famous girl group.

Tammi Terrell had been "out there" in the life since she was 14 years old. She use to go with James Brown and he use to beat her up a lot. I always wonder what exactly did she do to make men want to physically harm her?

**marv2** · 10-04-2018, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by sup_fan

Martha was very selective in what she said about Tammi. she sort of alludes to the fact that Tammi was a bit of a "wild" girl. not sure if it was drugs, sex or what. But martha's viewpoint was that she did not really like Tammi and therefore limited her time with her.

of course i never met Tammi so i don't really know. my thoughts are the Sups needed not only an attractive, personable singer that could provide strong lead vocals but they also need someone that could be a 3rd partner and help shape and guide the direction of the group. I don't know if tammi would have filled that last part really. to go from solo and duet work to group, sharing the group leadership with Mary. i could see that being a challenge

It was drugs and sex....street life.

**RanRan79** · 10-03-2018, 01:05 PM

Tammi was a fan's opinion. If I recall correctly in the Flo Ballard scrapbook, she clipped out a small article from a magazine [[Soul?) that mentioned that she was a front runner for Diana's position if fans had their way, while Tammi Terrell was also a name that fans were passing around. Nothing in the "article" suggested that any of this was floating around official Motown circles.

In a perfect world Tammi would have been a perfect replacement. She had a voice that had similar qualities as Ross but still distinctive of her own personality. She was gorgeous, charismatic, fashionable, real star quality. And she had an edge that Diana lacked [[to the public), which might have been better received in the changing world from the 60s to the 70s. Of course we know that Tammi was ill and never would've been in consideration. I also think she would have never had the mindset to go from solo artist with hits [[even as a duet) to the lead singer of a group. The in thing was to spring from a group into a solo artist, not the other way around.

Plus didn't someone write a book saying that Florence and Mary couldn't stand Tammi? Was it a book on David Ruffin? Besides, Mary and Cindy were getting rid of the likes of Diana Ross and all the challenges she brought to the personal dynamics of the group. No way would they have considered replacing her with someone who could potentially bring the same kind of discord.

**blackguy69** · 10-03-2018, 03:45 PM

I’ve never read that Mary and Cindy didn’t like tammi but I did read that they didn’t like Syreeta

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by blackguy69

I’ve never read that Mary and Cindy didn’t like tammi but I did read that they didn’t like Syreeta

Mary said they liked her just find,but that had nothing to do with her becoming a Supreme. She was never presented as a candidate to join the group in the first place. Tammi had lived a hard life for someone that young. She had too many issues to fit into a group and the type of schedule the Supremes had would not have worked well with her.

**RanRan79** · 10-04-2018, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by blackguy69

I’ve never read that Mary and Cindy didn’t like tammi but I did read that they didn’t like Syreeta

Yeah, that was said about Mary and Cindy. I'm referring to Florence and Mary. Someone wrote a book about David Ruffin some years ago. I never read the book but someone who did told me that the person mentioned that Flo and Mary couldn't stand Tammi.

**blackguy69** · 10-03-2018, 06:55 PM

The tonight show clip was on YouTube

**marv2** · 10-03-2018, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by blackguy69

The tonight show clip was on YouTube

Yeah I saw that. I am hoping more of the old Tonight Shows with Johnny Carson will surface in good condition.

**midnightman** · 10-05-2018, 09:08 PM

Originally Posted by blackguy69

The tonight show clip was on YouTube

You can see it on YouTube now. Think Johnny Carson's estate uploaded it [[after someone else posted it and they had it yanked initially) but now people can see it on YouTube with the Carson logo.

**johnjeb** · 10-03-2018, 09:12 PM

I think the Expo 67 performance is from the Today Show.

**midnightman** · 10-05-2018, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by johnjeb

I think the Expo 67 performance is from the Today Show.

These pics were captioned [[from Divided Soul, I think) as being from The Today Show:

There are two more pics from that appearance with what appeared to be the Today host and they were being interviewed. Can't seem to find them right now but if you see some of Marvin's documentaries, they're in there.

**luke** · 10-04-2018, 08:53 AM

They were wonderful. She was a natural. She could have been a great comedienne too I imagine.

**reese** · 10-04-2018, 09:11 AM

The Hy Lit Show

**reese** · 10-04-2018, 09:08 AM

Expo '67

**luke** · 10-04-2018, 07:51 PM

Yes. Wanda has a Diana vibe . I could see it!

**144man** · 10-04-2018, 07:54 PM

Jimmy Ruffin was asked to become a member of the Temptations. Saundra Edwards joined the Downbeats to become the Elgins. There was therefore the precedent for a solo performer to become a group member.

**Zantellor** · 10-04-2018, 11:24 PM

Originally Posted by 144man

Jimmy Ruffin was asked to become a member of the Temptations. Saundra Edwards joined the Downbeats to become the Elgins. There was therefore the precedent for a solo performer to become a group member.

My opinion is the lady who should have been considered and replace Diana Ross was Saundra Edwards. As a singer she had the best voice to keep it sounding supreme while bringing something new and unique to The Supremes. She had one of the best voices I ever heard. Saundra was the missed chance.Ive said this many times and Im going to repeat it. Jean Terrell great singer that she is was the wrong woman to replace Diana Ross. She did not fit the image at all. She also seemed much to independant to be in a group.

**144man** · 10-05-2018, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Zantellor

My opinion is the lady who should have been considered and replace Diana Ross was Saundra Edwards. As a singer she had the best voice to keep it sounding supreme while bringing something new and unique to The Supremes. She had one of the best voices I ever heard. Saundra was the missed chance.Ive said this many times and Im going to repeat it. Jean Terrell great singer that she is was the wrong woman to replace Diana Ross. She did not fit the image at all. She also seemed much to independant to be in a group.

On listening to the records that Ian Levine produced in the nineties, Saundra Edwards was the only female artist whose voice had actually improved.

**RanRan79** · 10-06-2018, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by 144man

Jimmy Ruffin was asked to become a member of the Temptations. Saundra Edwards joined the Downbeats to become the Elgins. There was therefore the precedent for a solo performer to become a group member.

How many hits did they have? Charting singles? Of course there's always an exception to nearly every rule, but there has never been a point in the history of music during the "rock and roll era" where single artists with any measurable "success" were trying to join singing groups.

**luke** · 10-04-2018, 11:58 PM

Saundra good choice too tho I’m not sure about her stage presence from the couple of clips I’ve seen. Wanda sure sang Forever with energy and i’ ll Keep on Holdin on tho different from Diana’s flair. Recently watching their debut on Ed Sullivan Jean and Mary and Cindy really hit a homerun!

**marv2** · 10-05-2018, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by luke

Saundra good choice too tho I’m not sure about her stage presence from the couple of clips I’ve seen. Wanda sure sang Forever with energy and i’ ll Keep on Holdin on tho different from Diana’s flair. Recently watching their debut on Ed Sullivan Jean and Mary and Cindy really hit a homerun!

Believe it or not, after the original group, they are who I think of when I hear the name "Supremes".