Music
Remembering Motown Star Tammi Terrell
A look back at the Motown star on what would’ve been her 77th birthday.
Tammi Terrell was born in PHL. In 1960, she signed to Wand Records, where she released a single and did some demo work with The Shirelles. She created her own group, The Sherrys, but was kicked out after creative disputes. In 1963, she scored her first hit with “I cried.”
I was only the first of several singles to chart.
Later, after signing to Checker Records and going nowhere, Terrell decided to leave music and enrolled in college.
While in school, she sang with Jerry Butler at a few shows. Ultimately she joined him on tour. It was here that she met Motown founder Berry Gordy.
She signed to the famed label on her 20th birthday.
Once at Motown, her career took off.
Terrell scored two hits almost immediately. Riding this wave, she joined the Motown Revue, opening for The Temptations and becoming involved in a torrid affair with lead singer David Ruffin.
Her personal life might’ve been a mess, but her career was on fire.
