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The Tragic Tale of Marvin and Tammi
Two talented singers whose intertwined lives were cut short
Founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. in Detroit, Motown Records took the music world by storm in the 1960s with the “Motown Sound,” a combination of rock, soul and rhythm and blues performed exclusively by Black artists. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell recorded individually and together for Motown but each met a tragic end.
Marvin Gaye joins Motown
Born in Washington, DC, Marvin Gay Jr. started out singing gospel as did several Motowners. He later developed an interest in doo wop and recorded doo wop records as part of a group called Harvey and the Moonglows.
When the Sixties came along, Gay added an “e” to the end of his name in an attempt to avoid a negative association with the word “gay.” That’s when Motown began to take off and Marvin found his way to Detroit. After a few years there, he married one of Berry Gordy’s sisters, Anna, who was seventeen years older than Marvin.
Gaye started out with the record company as a session drummer who did some backup singing. He was interested in becoming a solo artist…
