Artist:Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Song:Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Album:Anthology
Marvin Gaye had several duet partners but Tammi Terrell was the most memorable. She was born Thomasina Montgomery Apr. 29, 1945 in Philadelphia. After a couple of false starts as Tammy Montgomery, Berry Gordy saw her perform with Jerry Butler in Detroit in 1965 and signed her to Motown and renamed her Tammi Terrell. Her first solo records didn't catch on but Gordy was looking for a new duet partner for Marvin Gaye after Kim Weston left Motown. Gaye & Terrell were put together with writer/producers Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson. It was a potent combination as 1967's Ain't No Mountain High Enough was the first of several hits for the duo. But Tammi was suffering from migraine headaches and collapsed into Marvin's arms while on stage in Hampton, VA in 1967. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor, had eight operations, suffered memory loss and paralysis and died on Mar. 16, 1970 at age 24. Marvin Gaye was so upset that he quit touring for a couple of years. This 2CD Anthology comp is a good overview of Marvin Gaye's career for those who don't want to get the 4CD box set The Master. There's also a 2CD Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell comp which includes some of her solo recordings. This video of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell singing Ain't No Mountain High Enough shows their tremendous chemistry.
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