1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: This episode contains content that may be disturbing to some listeners. 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: Please check the show notes for more information. 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 2: Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis. This is a 4 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 2: story about voices, voices that were meant to sing in 5 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 2: perfect harmony, but instead lied and betrayed. It's about believing 6 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 2: in the lie and burying the lie, and about what 7 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,919 Speaker 2: happens when the lie can no longer be silenced. It's 8 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 2: a story about suits, furs, a pair of Doberman's with 9 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 2: gangster names, and a star Tammy Terrell, who lit up 10 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 2: every room she walked into and whose voice made Marvin 11 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 2: Gay cry. It's also a story about the man who 12 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 2: nearly destroyed her, a walking, talking, coked up time bomb, 13 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 2: and horn rims and sequins. This is a story about 14 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 2: the Temptations and the disgrace they never sang about. And 15 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 2: since we're talking about the Temptations, of course, this is 16 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 2: also a story about great music. Unlike that music, I 17 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 2: played a few at the top of the show that 18 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 2: wasn't great music. That was a preset loop from my 19 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:26,120 Speaker 2: melotron called Detroit schlock City MK one. I played you 20 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:28,919 Speaker 2: that loop because I can't afford the rights to Bridge 21 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,720 Speaker 2: over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel, And why would 22 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 2: I play you that specific slice of choir Boy Cheese? 23 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 2: Could I afford it? Because that was the number one 24 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: song in America On March sixteenth, nineteen seventy and that 25 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 2: was the day that rising motown star Tammy Terrell died 26 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: at the age of twenty four, a death that instantly 27 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 2: cast suspicion on her abusive ex David Ruffin, who it 28 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 2: was whispered, was to blame for one of the most 29 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 2: shocking scandals in R and B and pop music history. 30 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 2: On this special part two episode Voices, Lies, Suits, furs, Dobermans, 31 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: a coked up time bomb, Tammy Terrell in the Temptations, 32 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: I'm Jay Brennan. 33 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 1: This this disgrace. 34 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: Slam February sixth, nineteen sixty seven, the Houston Astrodome. The 35 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 2: bell signaling the start of the seventh round rang out. 36 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 2: The roar of the crowd is deafening. Ernie Terrell lumbered 37 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,920 Speaker 2: from his corner of the ring, gloves up, game face on, 38 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,480 Speaker 2: but that's all it was at this point a brave face. 39 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: The one time heavyweight champ was struggling. His left eye 40 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,119 Speaker 2: was swollen shut his legs were wobbly, and the only 41 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 2: thing he was about to punch was a one way 42 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 2: ticket to his own private Pellucaville. He met his opponent 43 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 2: in the middle of the ring, the mat feeling as 44 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 2: spongy as a slab of rotted hardwood under his feet, 45 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: A left hook came in like a wrecking ball and 46 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 2: sent Ernie to the ropes. He clung to them in 47 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: a desperate attempt to stay upright, and for the moment 48 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 2: it worked. His one good eye watched those two giant 49 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 2: fists coming him over and over, raining down on him, 50 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: trying to pummel him into nothingness. And then, in addition 51 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 2: to the NonStop barrage of punches, came a flurry of 52 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 2: shit talking from his opponent's mouth, which he was now 53 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 2: shouting hoarsely through the teeth clenched around a wet. 54 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: Mouthguard what's my name? What's my name? 55 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 2: Ernie absorbed each blow, the physical ones and the verbal ones, 56 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 2: as he looked up at his a point Muhammad Ali, 57 00:04:11,320 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 2: his eyes burning red like hell fire, like the devil himself, 58 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 2: a manifestation of Ernie's reckoning. 59 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:22,040 Speaker 1: Standing at a sweaty six foot three, a man wasn't going. 60 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 2: To stop until Ernie Terrell was flat on the map. 61 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: Before the fight, during a press interview, Ernie had called 62 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 2: Ali not by his Muslim name, but by his given name, 63 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: Cassius Clay. Nothing disrespected or pissed off Muhammad Ali more 64 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: for Ernie. It was an honest mistake, at least that's 65 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 2: what Ernie was saying. But it was a mistake that 66 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 2: he was paying dearly for now. After fifteen rounds, Muhammad 67 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: Ali won by unanimous decision, and neither Ernie Terrell nor 68 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 2: the world would ever get his name wrong again. Two 69 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 2: years early in nineteen sixty five, when Ernie Terrell was 70 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: still the World Boxing Association champ, his name was the 71 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: one that meant something, or at least it did to 72 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 2: Thomasina Montgomery, an aspiring R and B singer who had 73 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: shortened her first name to Tammy and took Ernie Terrell's last. 74 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 1: Name for her own. 75 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 2: It was rumored that Tammy had married Ernie, but there's 76 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,359 Speaker 2: no record of this, so it stands to reason that 77 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: the surname was simply a strong recognizable choice for a 78 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 2: little known singer on the come up. But Tammy Terrell 79 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 2: shared more than just a name with the WBA boxing champ. 80 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: She shared Ernie's pain in humiliation, and she too got 81 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: the shit kicked out of her. 82 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:43,920 Speaker 1: Not by Muhammad Ali. 83 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 2: Of course, but instead by the so called hardest working 84 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 2: man in show business, James Brown, who hired her as 85 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,960 Speaker 2: a backup singer and then put those hardest working hands 86 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 2: all over her in nineteen sixty five, when Tammy left 87 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 2: James Brown's Review, when she left her hometown of Philadelphia 88 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 2: and went to Detroit, where the sound of Young America 89 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 2: was being created, where there was swinging, swaying and records playing. 90 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: She put on Ernie Turell's brave face, but on the 91 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: inside she was a woman fractured, and not just by 92 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:17,919 Speaker 2: the godfather of soul. 93 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:20,040 Speaker 1: She'd suffered abuse. 94 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: From men and boys since she was eleven years old. 95 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: But no one could see this woman, or should I say, 96 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 2: people chose not to see this woman. 97 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 1: This was nineteen sixty five, after all. 98 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 2: One year after Time magazine published an article about a 99 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,360 Speaker 2: study in a medical journal in which doctors, actual doctors, 100 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 2: described male physical abuse toward women as quote temporary therapy unquote. 101 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 2: So when most people looked to Tammy Terrell, they looked 102 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 2: past the telltale signs of abuse, instead focusing on her 103 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 2: breathtaking beauty. 104 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: She walked into a. 105 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,560 Speaker 2: Room, she sat down at your table, and all eyes 106 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 2: were on Tammy. Women were jealous and men were ready 107 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 2: to rode it all away if she asked them to, 108 00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 2: Men like Motown's Berry Gordy, who was so smitten he 109 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 2: forgot all about Diana Ross for a hot minute when 110 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 2: he saw Tammy perform at a Detroit nightclub, and it 111 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 2: didn't take long for Gordy to sign her to his label, 112 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 2: which he did on her twentieth birthday, April twenty ninth, 113 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:25,239 Speaker 2: nineteen sixty five. The timing of Tammy's official signing was fortuitous. 114 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: It happened just weeks after Motown finally crossed over from 115 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: R and B to the pop chart thanks to a 116 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 2: number one hit by one of their most reliable vocal groups, 117 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 2: the Temptations, My Girl, that had a heartbeat, bass guitar 118 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: fingersnaps and ascending guitar line and swelling strings in bright brass, 119 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 2: and of course those striking vocal harmonies, all hallmarks of 120 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:55,880 Speaker 2: the trademark Motown style. My Girl was, by anyone's estimation, 121 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 2: a monster tune, and it was designed to be so 122 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: at Motown. One of the steps in Barry Gordy's auto 123 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 2: industry inspired studio factory system was quality control. He would 124 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 2: play a newly recorded song for a cross section of 125 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 2: employees in order to determine if it was good enough 126 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 2: to release. Part of this process was to ask the 127 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 2: group of people the same bulletproof question every time, if 128 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 2: you had one dollar, would you spend that dollar on 129 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:27,559 Speaker 2: this record or would you buy a hot dog? Pretty 130 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 2: much every time people chose one of those Detroit style 131 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 2: coney dogs over the song. But that wasn't the point. 132 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: The point was how long it took everyone in the 133 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: room to opt for the hot dog. 134 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 2: The longer the pause, the harder the decision, the better 135 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 2: the song. And while My Girl didn't make everyone in 136 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 2: that quality control meeting pass on the hot dog, it 137 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 2: did make their deliberation an arduous one. And while any 138 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 2: song that could compete with basic human sustenance like that 139 00:08:55,520 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 2: was a surefire hit. But the the other thing that 140 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 2: My Girl had going for it was that it was 141 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 2: the first Temptation song to be sung by the newest 142 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 2: member of the group. Until this point, David Ruffin had 143 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,439 Speaker 2: been holding down harmony vocals with Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, Well, 144 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 2: Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams got all the glory on lead. 145 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:21,880 Speaker 2: But Smokey Robinson, Motown's resident Shakespeare and one of my 146 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,040 Speaker 2: girl songwriters, saw something in David that no one else did. 147 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 2: David's voice was mellow, but it was also gruff, a 148 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 2: two sided coin that could make the ladies swoon and 149 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 2: then make them cry. Smokey called him a sleeping giant, 150 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 2: so Smokey woke the Giant up. And once the Giant 151 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 2: got his first taste of success, right off the bat, 152 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: he wanted more. The finest white boots and softest Sway bests, 153 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:58,199 Speaker 2: the sleekest, loudest bike rolling down West Graham Boulevard, sequins, 154 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 2: silk pants, and diamond and crust a horn rimmed glasses. 155 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 2: To underscore his newfound status, he got a pair of 156 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:09,880 Speaker 2: Doberman's and he gave them gangster names, Bonnie and Clyde. 157 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,719 Speaker 2: Because the Giant was not just a singer and a 158 00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 2: hit maker, he was a straight up gangster, and like 159 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 2: all gangsters, he wanted the most desirable women in town 160 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 2: draped across his arm. The Giant wanted none other than 161 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 2: Tammy Terrell, and on the first night they met in 162 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 2: a Murder City nightclub, he got her and neither of 163 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 2: their lives would ever be. 164 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 1: The same again. 165 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 2: In late July, the fourth consecutive day, the racially charged 166 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 2: riots set fire to the streets in Detroit. 167 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 1: Over on Woodward Avenue. 168 00:11:15,840 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 2: The Algiers Motel became a particularly infamous spot when three 169 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 2: white police officers shot and killed three innocent black teenagers there. 170 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 2: In the weeks and months and years before this tragedy, however, 171 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,480 Speaker 2: the Algiers was already well established as an infamous locale 172 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 2: in town, seeing as it was a magnet for sex 173 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 2: workers drug dealers in the Detroit PDEs Vice squad. It's 174 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 2: also said to be the first place David Ruffin took 175 00:11:41,880 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 2: Tammy Terrell just hours after they met, and their immediate 176 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 2: sexual attraction demanded equally immediate privacy and action. A sort 177 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,199 Speaker 2: of joint like the Algiers was custom made for moments 178 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 2: like these. It was cheap, it was the last place 179 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 2: too successful entertainers would be expected frequent, and it was 180 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:02,959 Speaker 2: only a mile and a half down the road from 181 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:09,080 Speaker 2: where David and Tammy were now both working at Hitsville, USA. 182 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 2: It wasn't long, however, until David decided that he wasn't 183 00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:16,680 Speaker 2: content to just hide Tammy away at the Algiers. He 184 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,920 Speaker 2: wanted the world to know that she was just like 185 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 2: the song said, his girl, and he spared no expense 186 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,440 Speaker 2: in doing so. He bought the two of them matching 187 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,760 Speaker 2: mink and sable threads, as well as rings and watches 188 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 2: made of gold and diamonds. They traveled in the Stretch 189 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 2: limo when they weren't riding on David's motorcycle, and he 190 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 2: got them an apartment on the west side of town, 191 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 2: with bear and leopard skin rugs in the sitting room 192 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 2: and octopus and formaldehyde positioned under a lavish glass coffee 193 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 2: table in the living room, and a giant painting of 194 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 2: a black stallion that he hung over the bed. David 195 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:56,840 Speaker 2: Ruffin lived as excessively as any of Motown's stars, perhaps 196 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,400 Speaker 2: driven by a desire to make up for lost time, 197 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 2: that time being the years he spent living in poverty, 198 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,679 Speaker 2: growing up with no running water in rural Mississippi. And 199 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,199 Speaker 2: so as the Temptation scored four more number one R 200 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 2: and B singles in nineteen sixty six and two number 201 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 2: one R and B albums the following year, with the 202 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:18,560 Speaker 2: hit songs Ain't Too Proud to beg and I Wish 203 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:21,960 Speaker 2: It Would Rain featuring David Ruffin on lead vocal for 204 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 2: the Temptation's new superstar Excess became part of the ongoing celebration. 205 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 2: It was a celebration fueled by cocaine and women. Because 206 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:38,439 Speaker 2: Tammy Terrell wasn't David Ruffins one and only. There was Jenna, 207 00:13:38,840 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 2: the former Go Go dancer that David knocked up and 208 00:13:41,760 --> 00:13:45,080 Speaker 2: stepped out on. And then there was Sondra, his wife 209 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 2: back home, the one David cheated on with the Go 210 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 2: Go dancer, and who, as David told the dancer, had 211 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 2: died in childbirth, but in reality he was very much 212 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:58,360 Speaker 2: alive and busy raising his two other infant children. Tammy 213 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 2: was oblivious to the existence of these other women, at 214 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 2: least for a while, so oblivious in fact, that she 215 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:07,959 Speaker 2: said yes when David proposed to her. But to those 216 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 2: not blinded by gaudy diamond rings and even gaudier furs, 217 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 2: to those on the outside looking in all the showy 218 00:14:15,640 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 2: clothing and the cocaine, the multiple women, it painted a 219 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 2: very clear picture. Shelley Berger, the Temptation's longtime manager put 220 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 2: it this way bluntly, and I quote, I think David 221 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 2: dreamed of being a pimp. Even David's older brother Jimmy, 222 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,480 Speaker 2: whose ballad What Becomes of the Broken Hearted cracked the 223 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 2: billboard top ten in the summer of nineteen sixty six, 224 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:43,040 Speaker 2: used the word pimping to describe how David used and 225 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 2: disposed of the women around him. But Tammy Terrell wasn't 226 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 2: one to be played by any of this pimp shit. 227 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 2: Neither was she the type who was going to let 228 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,640 Speaker 2: herself get tossed by the wayside. She was a Terrell, 229 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 2: She was a born fighter. The window sash was thrown open, 230 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 2: and the balmy Detroit air came flooding in. Tammy was 231 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 2: already hot, her heart racing, her head pounding, the tears 232 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 2: running down her face, and the warm blast from outside 233 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,960 Speaker 2: did her no favors, just like David did her no favors, 234 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 2: not anymore, not since she'd discovered the truth that he 235 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 2: was a liar and a cheat. She was just another 236 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 2: spoil that the giant reaped. She stuck her head out 237 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 2: the open window, and then the upper part of her 238 00:15:32,040 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 2: torso followed. She half contemplated going all the way just 239 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:37,880 Speaker 2: to piss David off. 240 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: Wouldn't that be something? 241 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 2: It would give a whole new meaning to his song 242 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 2: I Know I'm Losing You, and that motherfucker would be 243 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 2: sorry once and for all when he looked down from 244 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 2: the apartment to see her lifeless body split out on 245 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 2: the sidewalk below. As passers by stopped panicking, screaming, and shock, 246 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 2: she couldn't help see the irony of her situation. On 247 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:06,320 Speaker 2: the radio, her duets with Young America's beloved Marvin Gay 248 00:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 2: songs like Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Your Precious Love, 249 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 2: the songs that were making her famous temptations famous, actually 250 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 2: were a stark contrast to the bitter drama playing out 251 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 2: in her real life. It's a common misconception that Tammy 252 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 2: and Marvin were lovers because the classic duets they cut 253 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 2: are some of the greatest love songs ever, But theirs 254 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 2: was a collaborative musical love. It existed on the microphone 255 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:35,000 Speaker 2: and on the records. The love that Tammy had experienced 256 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:37,840 Speaker 2: with David, or what she thought was love, maybe what 257 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 2: she fooled herself into. 258 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: Believing was love. 259 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 2: That love hurt Marvin's love didn't hurt like that, which 260 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 2: made her wonder was. 261 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:47,480 Speaker 1: It even real? 262 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 2: Right then, David came storming out of the bedroom in 263 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 2: his underwear, coked up as usual, squeezing his running nose 264 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,240 Speaker 2: in between his fingers. Go ahead, he yielded, Tammy, do it. 265 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 2: He got closer, close enough now that she could smell 266 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 2: as sweat and his cologne. It was a combination that 267 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 2: she once found undeniable, but now it just made her angry. 268 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 2: She was also angry that she was failing to elicit 269 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 2: the desired response. She knew that what David was doing 270 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 2: at this moment was exactly what she was doing, trying 271 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 2: to hurt him. 272 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: Go ahead, he yelled. Jump. Tammy's head was throbbing. 273 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 2: She'd endured headaches her entire teenage and adult life, but 274 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:31,520 Speaker 2: her time with David it made them even worse. She 275 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:35,120 Speaker 2: pulled herself back inside the apartment and slammed. 276 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:35,440 Speaker 1: The window shut. 277 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 2: Fuck you, David, all you care about is yourself. 278 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: Eddie and Otis and the other guys told me all about. 279 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 2: Your bullshit, how you want to change the name of 280 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 2: the band, David Ruffin and the Temptations like you're Diana 281 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 2: fucking Ross bitch, you're not even Mary fucking Wilson. 282 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: Why don't you take. 283 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 2: Your stupid country ass and fuck off back. 284 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 1: To whatever backwater hole you crawled out of. 285 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,359 Speaker 2: Or, better yet, go crawl him back to the latest 286 00:18:01,359 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 2: and greatest Horry you just fucked. 287 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know all about that shit, David. It takes 288 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:07,919 Speaker 1: too babe. Just like Marvin said, do you want to talk. 289 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 2: About a real man, David, Marvin's a real man. Marvin's 290 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:14,840 Speaker 2: a class act. He's not like you, and he's not 291 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 2: like James Brown. He doesn't need to. 292 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: Beat a woman to feel like a real man. In fact, 293 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:20,400 Speaker 1: he's twice the man that you. 294 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 2: Are, and he's got twice the voice too. At that, 295 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 2: David's eyes went so wide it looked like the horn 296 00:18:30,480 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 2: rooms would pop right off his face. He walked away 297 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 2: into another room, rambling, and then moments later was back, 298 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:42,200 Speaker 2: still pissed off, still in his tidy whities, still coked 299 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 2: out of his gourd, Only this time in his hand 300 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 2: he held a large and heavy object, and he proceeded 301 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,760 Speaker 2: to use that very large and heavy object to inflict 302 00:18:51,880 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 2: maximum pain and do maximum damage. 303 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: To the face of Tammy Treu. 304 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,959 Speaker 2: Tammy would later tell multiple people that David Roughin hit 305 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 2: her in the head with his motorcycle helmet. She also 306 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 2: said that after all the previous instances of physical abuse 307 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,920 Speaker 2: she'd endured well with him, this one, the motorcycle helmet incident, 308 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 2: that this was the one that ended their relationship for good. 309 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,359 Speaker 2: By the time that Tammy walked away from David, everyone 310 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 2: at Motown knew what was going on. Even Studio had 311 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:28,360 Speaker 2: Barry Gordy knew the score. And this was a guy 312 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 2: who Tammy had come to see the way she saw 313 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 2: Marvin Gay as a man who wasn't like the rest, 314 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 2: but was something of a protector. 315 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:37,879 Speaker 1: But the protectors had all. 316 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 2: Gone silent and the damage had been done. It was 317 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:43,840 Speaker 2: there in the cold light a day written all over 318 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:48,240 Speaker 2: her petite body, the welts, the bruises, the golf ball size, 319 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:50,520 Speaker 2: not that she showed to the temptations. 320 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: Otis Williams. 321 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:55,439 Speaker 2: Otis is the last surviving member of the group and 322 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,160 Speaker 2: the only one who read a book. In his memoir, 323 00:19:58,440 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 2: originally published in nineteen eight, Otis had this to say 324 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 2: about it all quote, David's thing with Tammy was intense 325 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,639 Speaker 2: and quite tumultuous. Their relationship was definitely. 326 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:10,440 Speaker 1: A Rocky one unquote. 327 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 2: Rocky tumultuous David's thing. Why was David Ruffin's violent and 328 00:20:18,040 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 2: destructive behavior still being swept under the rug two whole 329 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:26,280 Speaker 2: decades after the fact. Was it to protect a legacy, 330 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 2: to protect that squeaky clean money making image. Even the 331 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 2: popular Temptations mini series, it was released ten years after 332 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:38,400 Speaker 2: Otis's book. While it didn't portray David in the greatest light, 333 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,600 Speaker 2: it failed to admit a deeper truth, a truth that 334 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 2: was known to everyone who spent any time inside the 335 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 2: walls at two six' four to Eight West Grand boulevard In, 336 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 2: DETROIT a truth that was the first thing on everyone's 337 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 2: minds when the worst fate imaginable Befell Tammy terrell the 338 00:20:57,119 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 2: day the deaths came, Calling we'll be right back after. This, we're, We're. 339 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:16,119 Speaker 2: We're When David ruffin's on and off again, Girlfriend, jenna 340 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:18,639 Speaker 2: the Former Go go dancer he'd had an affair with 341 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 2: while still married to his first, wife a woman who 342 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,160 Speaker 2: had given birth to one of his, children heard About 343 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,679 Speaker 2: david's affair With Tammy, terrell she became. 344 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 1: Distraught she tried to take. 345 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 2: Her own life first by slashing her wrists with a 346 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,560 Speaker 2: razor and then by drinking bottles of eye drops that 347 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,719 Speaker 2: contained high levels of. Mercury neither did the, job instead 348 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 2: landing around the floor of her, apartment bloody and, sick 349 00:21:41,760 --> 00:21:45,640 Speaker 2: where a friend found her shortly. After the first phone 350 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 2: call the friend made was To David. Ruffin she Expected 351 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:50,880 Speaker 2: david to drop everything in hall asked to take care 352 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,200 Speaker 2: of the mother of his. Child david's, response, however was 353 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 2: quite the. Opposite why are you calling, me he, asked 354 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 2: call the. Police but When Jimmy terrell collapsed on stage 355 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:05,600 Speaker 2: while performing With Marvin gay On october, fourteenth nineteen sixty, 356 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 2: seven In virginia after the alleged motorcycle helmet incident and 357 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 2: after her presumed break up With David, Ruffin david came. 358 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 2: Running he Found tammy back in her hometown in A philadelphia. 359 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 2: Hospital at, first her dramatic collapse was chalked up to. 360 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 2: Exhaustion her grueling tour With marvin performing every, night seven 361 00:22:27,080 --> 00:22:30,520 Speaker 2: days a, week meant popping aspirin every, night seven days 362 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 2: a week to keep her persistent. Headaches At bay doctors 363 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 2: ran a few tests and sent her home for bed, 364 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,639 Speaker 2: rest but before too, long she was. Back after her 365 00:22:39,680 --> 00:22:43,840 Speaker 2: dentist noticed that half of her face was. Sagging this, 366 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 2: time doctors discovered a tumor in the lower posterior part 367 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 2: of her. Brain they operated and removed the, tumor but 368 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:55,679 Speaker 2: the malignant growth, had for who knows how, long blocked 369 00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 2: drainage of spinal fluid which had built up around her. Brain, 370 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 2: this the doctor, said was why she experienced such debilitating. 371 00:23:03,720 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 2: Headaches so a few months, later a second surgery was 372 00:23:08,280 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 2: performed to insert a small tube in her head to 373 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 2: drain the, fluid but then the tube stopped working, properly 374 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 2: so additional surgeries were. Needed tammy would go on to 375 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 2: have eight surgeries in total over the next few. Years 376 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,520 Speaker 2: it was a long drawn out, ordeal during which the 377 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,879 Speaker 2: once stunning beauty would lose her, hair her, sight and 378 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 2: drop down to just over ninety. Pounds and when the 379 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 2: going got tough For Tammy, terrell, However David ruffin was 380 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 2: nowhere to be. Found he left her, bedside he stopped, 381 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 2: calling he stopped thinking of. Her in, fact he was 382 00:23:42,040 --> 00:23:45,880 Speaker 2: onto his next, Mark Barbara Gail, martin daughter Of Frank 383 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 2: sinatra's right hand Man Dean. Martin Whether david truly Missed. 384 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 2: Tammyterrell we'll never, know but we do know that at 385 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 2: this time in early nineteen sixty, eight there was plenty 386 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 2: That David ruffin was. Missing Eddie, Kendricks Paul, Williams Melvin, 387 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 2: franklin And Otis williams were standing around backstage at The 388 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 2: Versailles hotel In, cleveland LOOKING fi AND e in their 389 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 2: neatly pressed matching, suits all of them wondering the same, 390 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 2: Thing where the fuck Was. David it Was june twenty, 391 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,439 Speaker 2: second nineteen sixty, eight and The temptations were preparing to 392 00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:22,359 Speaker 2: perform the second to. 393 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: Last show of a ten night run at The. Versaides 394 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: for the. 395 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: First time since their, inception all members of The temps 396 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 2: were honest to god. Millionaires their latest, SINGLE I Wish 397 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:35,120 Speaker 2: It Would rain had recently topped the arm Bea art 398 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:37,200 Speaker 2: In march and made it all the way to number 399 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 2: four of The Billboard hot one, Hundred but then just 400 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,639 Speaker 2: a month, later In, april shots rang out in The 401 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 2: Memphis Sky Martin Luther King junior was assassinated while standing 402 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,000 Speaker 2: on the balcony outside his room at The Lorraine, motel 403 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:52,400 Speaker 2: a hotel that The temps. 404 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: Had stayed at. Recently while on. 405 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 2: Tour the gold star glow of success was suddenly tinged with. 406 00:24:58,200 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 1: The bloody shadow of. 407 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 2: Fear For, Eddie Paul melvin and otis the simple act 408 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:06,720 Speaker 2: of stepping out onto a stage in front of a 409 00:25:06,800 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 2: largely white, audience the lights blinding your, eyes which felt 410 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:14,479 Speaker 2: like you were presenting yourself as a. Target and if 411 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:18,000 Speaker 2: that wasn't bad, Enough david ruffin the voice of that 412 00:25:18,119 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 2: latest number ONE r AND b, single was once Again. 413 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 2: Mia it wasn't unusual For david to. Misrehearsal he'd been 414 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 2: spending more time in la Than detroit these, days and in, 415 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 2: general his mo was this drive around in his fancy ass, 416 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:35,640 Speaker 2: car peacock around in his fancy ass, clothes get off 417 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 2: with one of his fancy ass, women and make it 418 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 2: to the show in, dramatic last, minute fancy ass. 419 00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: Fashion he was. 420 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 2: Big time in them, all putting forth an unsolicited bid 421 00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 2: to be the leader of a band that wanted nothing 422 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 2: to do with. 423 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: Leaders what they all wanted was their fifth member here 424 00:25:50,880 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: with them right. 425 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 2: Now But david was two hundred miles away In, buffalo 426 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,200 Speaker 2: watching from the crowd as his latest, flame the Rap Packed, 427 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 2: progeny tried to get her own career off the. Ground 428 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:05,439 Speaker 2: so they went on without, him and halfway through the 429 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 2: show it was a. Commotion someone made their way through 430 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:09,840 Speaker 2: the audience and up onto the. 431 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:11,440 Speaker 1: Stage it Was. 432 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 2: David he slid right into the dance moves the group 433 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 2: was in the middle of his, voice blending in perfectly 434 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:20,840 Speaker 2: with them, all as if the first half of the 435 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,199 Speaker 2: set had just been a warm up for, this For 436 00:26:23,359 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 2: david's triumphant. 437 00:26:24,520 --> 00:26:29,400 Speaker 1: Return for the show to start for. Real the audience 438 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:29,919 Speaker 1: ate it. 439 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 2: Up The, temptations on the other, hand had long since 440 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 2: had their fill Of David ruffin they made sure they 441 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,760 Speaker 2: Got Barry gordy's, blessing and when they had, it they 442 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 2: told the one time sleeping giant that he was being 443 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:48,520 Speaker 2: cut down the. Size david was out and his, Replacement Dennis, 444 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:53,600 Speaker 2: edwards was. In But david wasn't about to go. Quietly 445 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 2: he showed up at the next gig and the. 446 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:57,439 Speaker 1: Next wired on. 447 00:26:57,520 --> 00:26:59,639 Speaker 2: Cocaine he made a beeline for the. 448 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,360 Speaker 1: Stage he was a man. Possessed he was. 449 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 2: A man Scorn he was a man who didn't take 450 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:09,480 Speaker 2: no for an. Answer The temptations road Manager Don foster 451 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 2: stepped out of the shadows and got directly in front Of, 452 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:15,400 Speaker 2: david blocking his. Path don put his hands up the 453 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:19,119 Speaker 2: fuck are you, Doing. David david didn't slow. Down he 454 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,560 Speaker 2: raised his hand and slapped on hard across the, face 455 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 2: And don recoiled backward and the path was. Cleared seconds, 456 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 2: Later david was back on, stage microphone in, hand singing 457 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:36,240 Speaker 2: alongside his, replacement and this went on for the next, 458 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 2: Month david's stage bombing and upstaging Until motown hired a 459 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:41,760 Speaker 2: bodyguard and placed him at the foot of the. Stage 460 00:27:42,359 --> 00:27:44,959 Speaker 2: The Big dude took the macho fucko energy emanating From 461 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,120 Speaker 2: David ruffin and sent it back out into the, universe 462 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:51,400 Speaker 2: Where david received, it acknowledged, it and finally stopped showing. 463 00:27:51,520 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 2: Up The temptation's next few studio albums took a giant 464 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 2: step away From David, ruffin away from the Tradition motown, 465 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:03,560 Speaker 2: sound and into the realm of a Post Jimmy hendrick 466 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:07,520 Speaker 2: Post slyestone psychedelic soul sound full of fuzzed out guitar 467 00:28:07,640 --> 00:28:11,000 Speaker 2: tones and harder want To Take You higher rhythmic. Edges 468 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:15,840 Speaker 2: albums Like Cloud, Nine Puzzle, people And Psychedelic shack represented 469 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 2: a bold new phase in the life of one Of 470 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 2: motown's most successful vocal. Groups Psychedelic shack in, particular was 471 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,199 Speaker 2: the number ONE r AND b record In america for 472 00:28:25,320 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 2: four straight weeks beginning in Mid april of nineteen, seventy 473 00:28:29,240 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 2: until it was dethrown from the top spot By Isaac 474 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,680 Speaker 2: Hayes's new Long player On may, sixteen the very same 475 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 2: day That Tammy, terrell had been in a coma during 476 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 2: The temptation's entire run at the, top. 477 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: Died at the age of twenty. 478 00:28:43,640 --> 00:29:06,640 Speaker 2: Four Tammy torrell's funeral was held a few days after 479 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 2: her death at The Jane Methodist church In. Philadelphia according 480 00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:13,560 Speaker 2: to an article On jet magazine at the, time thousands 481 00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 2: of mourners were in. Attendance that number would have been much, higher, 482 00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 2: however Had tammy's mother let just anyone walk through the 483 00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 2: church's front. Doors but not just anyone was welcome that. 484 00:29:23,680 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 1: Day there was a. 485 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,760 Speaker 2: Very specific and very large group of people that were 486 00:29:27,800 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 2: forbidden from Attending Tammy terrell's. 487 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 1: Funeral anyone who. 488 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 2: Worked for or was affiliated With Motown records was not. 489 00:29:34,960 --> 00:29:38,720 Speaker 2: Welcome Not Barry, gordy not any of The, temptations and 490 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:42,240 Speaker 2: certainly Not David. Ruffin none of those people were welcome 491 00:29:42,560 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 2: except for, one that Is Marvin. Gaye And marvin gay 492 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 2: fought back tears as he delivered the ceremony's emotional, eulogy 493 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 2: while one of his duets With, Tammy you're ALL I 494 00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:55,160 Speaker 2: need to get by played. 495 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:55,480 Speaker 1: Softly in the. 496 00:29:55,560 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 2: Background marvin's speech moved the entire, room and that song 497 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,400 Speaker 2: Of theirs was perhaps never more powerful than it was 498 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,320 Speaker 2: in that. Moment the fact That Marvin gay was the 499 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:11,080 Speaker 2: Only motown artist president of the funeral spoke, volumes and 500 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:13,560 Speaker 2: it also amplified what was now being heard through the 501 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:17,680 Speaker 2: grape vine That David ruffin had in some way played 502 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:21,480 Speaker 2: a part In tammy's, death and that the temptations very 503 00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 2: Gordy motown at. Large marvin excluded they were all complicit 504 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:30,520 Speaker 2: because they did nothing about. It the grapevine said that 505 00:30:30,600 --> 00:30:34,160 Speaker 2: the Abuse tammy sustained during her time With, david being 506 00:30:34,240 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 2: hit with a motorcycle helmet and perhaps even, worse only 507 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,920 Speaker 2: compounded her existing medical condition and ushered her faster toward 508 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 2: the end of her short. Life If tammy's days were 509 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,840 Speaker 2: numbered from the, start Then david removed a few weeks 510 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 2: here and there from the. 511 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:51,760 Speaker 1: Calendar at, least. 512 00:30:51,640 --> 00:30:57,480 Speaker 2: That was the grapevine talking back In, Detroit David ruffin 513 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 2: was holed up in this place On. Parkside the doorbell. 514 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 2: Rang he opened the front door to see us on 515 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,959 Speaker 2: again off again Girlfriend jenna standing. There he let her 516 00:31:06,960 --> 00:31:09,880 Speaker 2: in and then led her to his. Bedroom If david 517 00:31:09,920 --> 00:31:12,600 Speaker 2: was in, mourning he was doing a great job hiding. 518 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 2: It but Then david was always in control of what 519 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 2: everyone else. Saw if only he could have kept control 520 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:22,160 Speaker 2: of the. Temptations jenna got nosy and started poking around 521 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 2: one of the drawers of his, dresser which was slightly 522 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:29,080 Speaker 2: open and stuffed inside were photos Of, tammy letters From, 523 00:31:29,080 --> 00:31:34,840 Speaker 2: tammy newspaper articles About. Tammy jenna looked At, David are you. 524 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:35,440 Speaker 1: Going to keep all? 525 00:31:35,440 --> 00:31:40,000 Speaker 2: These she, asked why do you? Care david, said she's. 526 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 2: Dead maybe it was the thought Of tammy six feet. 527 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 2: Under maybe it Was jenna poking through his, shit or 528 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 2: maybe it was Just david Being, david as they used 529 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,320 Speaker 2: to say around The motown offices Whenever tammy showed up 530 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:52,720 Speaker 2: black and. 531 00:31:52,720 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 1: Blue whatever it. 532 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:58,840 Speaker 2: Was Before jenna left that, Day david broke her nose 533 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:05,200 Speaker 2: with his. Fist marvin gave mewhile was dealing with a broken, 534 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 2: heart that would never be whole. Again tammy's death crushed. 535 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:14,320 Speaker 2: Him it sent him spiraling into cocaine, addiction a path 536 00:32:14,400 --> 00:32:17,040 Speaker 2: that had been blazed by a Certain David ruffin along before. 537 00:32:17,080 --> 00:32:21,400 Speaker 2: Him marvin used coke and LATER pcp to self medicaid 538 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:23,360 Speaker 2: and to dull him self to the reality of a 539 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:26,080 Speaker 2: world Without tammy in. It it was a world that 540 00:32:26,200 --> 00:32:30,160 Speaker 2: was beyond fucked, up And marvin didn't recognize it. Anymore 541 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 2: far too many people were, Dying and while he never 542 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:37,040 Speaker 2: got over Losing, Tammy marvin took that, pain that, heartbreak 543 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 2: and put it into his next, Record What's Going, on 544 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,160 Speaker 2: the First motown album that was more than just a 545 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 2: collection of songs and one of the greatest albums ever. 546 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:50,920 Speaker 2: Made it was an album made for a new, decade 547 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:55,240 Speaker 2: a New, america inspired by one Of motown's greatest, talents 548 00:32:55,960 --> 00:32:58,120 Speaker 2: a woman the great label had. 549 00:32:57,960 --> 00:32:58,920 Speaker 1: So wrongly let. 550 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:04,320 Speaker 2: Down and the fact That Tammy terrell didn't get to 551 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 2: hear her Friend marvin's. 552 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 1: Masterpiece, well that's just a. 553 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 2: Disgrace I'm Jake brennan and this Is, disgraceland all, right dis, 554 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 2: Goes thanks for listening to this episode Of. Disgraceland our 555 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:35,560 Speaker 2: part two episode on The temptations. Listen if you're An 556 00:33:35,560 --> 00:33:38,360 Speaker 2: apple podcast, listener get auto downloads turned on so you 557 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 2: don't miss any of our. 558 00:33:39,600 --> 00:33:40,000 Speaker 1: Stories. 559 00:33:40,240 --> 00:33:41,720 Speaker 2: Guys the question of the week THAT i want to 560 00:33:41,760 --> 00:33:45,200 Speaker 2: hear from you on is Was tammyterrell the most mistreated 561 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:49,000 Speaker 2: woman in music. History it's a long, LIST i, know 562 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:54,280 Speaker 2: but this, story my, god, damn just let down all 563 00:33:54,280 --> 00:33:56,440 Speaker 2: over the place from so many different. People six, one, 564 00:33:56,560 --> 00:33:58,280 Speaker 2: seven nine oh, six six sixty three eight with your, 565 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,480 Speaker 2: Answers hit me up on voicemaild me a, text disgracelampod 566 00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:05,440 Speaker 2: at gmail dot, com front email me at disgracelandpod on the, 567 00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 2: Socials you're gonna be able to hear your answers some 568 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:10,200 Speaker 2: of your answers, anyways on the next episode coming up 569 00:34:10,200 --> 00:34:12,319 Speaker 2: in new feed The After party episode where we play 570 00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,360 Speaker 2: your answers to our question of the week again With 571 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:17,520 Speaker 2: Tamu tuau the most mistreated woman in the history of. Music, 572 00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:20,239 Speaker 2: peez that's a tough, ONE i, know get at. Me 573 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 2: we'll get into it on the After, party all. Right 574 00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:26,400 Speaker 2: disgraceland was created By Yours truly and is produced in 575 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:29,880 Speaker 2: partnership With Double. Elvis credits for this episode can be 576 00:34:29,920 --> 00:34:33,320 Speaker 2: found on the show notes page at disgracelampod dot. Com 577 00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:36,719 Speaker 2: if you're listening as A Disgraceland All access, member thank 578 00:34:36,760 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 2: you for supporting the, show we really appreciate, it and if, 579 00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:42,000 Speaker 2: not you can become a member right now by going 580 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 2: to disgracelampod dot com Slash. 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