So we all know Tammi Terrell died of a brain tumor in 1970 at 24, but I didn't know until recently (hey that was way before my time) that it was rumored that David Ruffin was partly blamed for her death because he physically abused her. But I had read somewhere before that before she went to Motown, she was in a relationship with James Brown somewhere down the line and that he physically abused her as well. Sure I know that woman must have had a difficult life during her short time here on earth, but why was David Ruffin soley to blame? It was never proven that his abuse is what led to the tumor, but if James had started beating on her way before David did (and who knows what other men she dated did to her) then why isn't James included in the "part to blame" as well?

It's a shame when talented people do bad things and have to deal with a lot of bullshit during their lifetime. I guess that's just life.

Cause David Ruffin was unlikable

TheWifey said:

unlikeable by not showing up to rehearsals?

missfee said:

No David Ruffin became a druggie. The higher he got, the worst his behavior. It didn't help that he had a fallen out with the Temptations.

his whole personality was unlikable
he was arrogant and crude
james b was likable

missfee said:

Dang! I'm so sorry that happened to her. She was unbelievably talented and beautiful. I love PRECIOUS LOVE by her and Marvin Gaye. Gosh! That's such a beautiful song.

DawnD said:

when she died that was a big turning point for marvin gaye
[Edited 11/17/07 17:32pm]

heybaby said:

After that Marvin Gaye was never the same.

heybaby said:

After that Marvin Gaye was never the same.

I haven't heard of any of this. I wasn't even sure why she died so early.

Jboogiee said:

He sure wasn't.

TheWifey said:

It all depends on who you ask. Many of his band members would say different.

Timmy84 said:

It was obvious they were in love...

PAPAROBBIE said:

I think he was talking about mainstream America. In the 50s, 60s and 70s pretty clean cut guy (besides his 8 years in jail for stealing a coat out of a car in his early teens). Loved, almost worship like by the black community and the white people loved him to (until 1968).

bboy87 said:

Nah, they were actually just very good friends...no romantic involvement.

PAPAROBBIE said:

That doesn't mean they weren't in love. You can definitely love someone without having a sexual relationship with them.

Marvin was pretty intimidated by her contrary to what I've always thought.

She was a wild dame and nobody seemed to tame her(as he put it) which is the reason why she brought the worst in some of the possessive men she was with(James Brown and David Ruffin').

I think her death was a combination of things, but it sure hit home to alot of people. And yes, Marvin took it REAL HARD, she was the inspiration behind "Whats Going On", she also the reason behind his semi-retirement @ the time.

Hmmmm, I didn't remember the David Ruffin connection at all! I did, however, know about James Brown and the rumor that he was abusing her. There have been several stories about how her brain tumor developed and whether someone's abuse caused it. What we DO know for sure is the impact her death had on Marvin. As someone else said, he was never the same after she died. Also, personally, I make a distinction between loving and being "in love." I think Marvin loved Tammi, but nothing suggests that he was "in love" with her.

daPrettyman said:

But his love for her was more of a family thing. He looked at Tammi as a sister more than a lover. And yeah, he was truly intimidated by Tammi because he was afraid of aggressive independent women. which is what Tammi was. But regardless, he was REAL close to Tammi and it hit him REAL HARD when she died. It actually tore his world apart as most of his friends from the Motown days say that Marvin was never the same after that but he bounced back somehow afterwards.

PAPAROBBIE said:

exactly what i was thinking.

Harlepolis said:

Interesting, I hadn't heard that before.

Nobody knows (or will ever know) if the abuse "caused" the brain tumour per se, but it's highly unlikely.

Marvin went into seclusion for about 8 months after Tammi's death, and it really changed him. She had collapsed in his arms on stage in 1967 after complaining for months of relentless headaches and migraines. Then she lingered for about 3 years, with memory loss and some paralysis. I think there were eight operations. It's unknown which of the later Gaye-Terrell duets she actually sang on, as Valerie Simpson (who was able to mimic Tammi's voice very well) sang on quite a few. But Motown never kept a record, and so fans continue to debate if it's actually Tammi on some tracks to this day.

daPrettyman said:

Paparobbie was correct. Marvin even acknowledged that their was
no romantic involvement between the two. They were just friends.
Marvin may have wanted to tap dat but they were never involved.

VoicesCarry said:

I know, isn't this wild??? I read that Valerie Simpson denied singing on the later duets records while Tammi was ailing, but Marvin said that she did indeed sing Tammi's parts in his biography with David Ritz. Can you imagine how he felt with them passing off their record as if Tammi was singing where he knew the whole time that it was all a lie??? That's pressure for real....especially with him dealing with her dying.

missfee said:

Valerie lying her ass off, she know her ass subbed for Tammi, their vocals are slightly different! Tammi would've given the songs on "Easy" much more umph in it than what Val was doing. She trippin' or she has her braids on too tight. I still believe what Marvin said!

Timmy84 said:

damn dude, do you really think it was easy for Valerie to lie? Sh*t like that is complicated.

sosgemini said:

I read somewhere that she signed for a confidentiality contract, which explains the whole thing's secrecy.

If its true, she might get her ass sued BIG TIME if she opened her mouth about the subject.

It is what it is, David Ritz and Marvin revealed the source for us,,,and its enough coming from them.

Harlepolis said:

Exactly! It's been years since she's been with Motown? What is she gonna do? Wait until Berry croaks over and say "well ok, I did sub for her"?

Anyway, I really feel sorry for Tammi and all that she went through in that period. It just makes me sad thinking of what she would accomplish had she lived.

Timmy84 said:

uhhh, if her confidentiality contract stipulates such.....yeah!