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Celeb Reelz: Motown stars suffered abuse and tragedy
Motown stars went through hell.
Blog King, Mass Appeal
DETROIT —🎵”Baby, baby, where did our love go? Ooh, don’t you want me (baby, baby)? Don’t you want me no more (baby, baby)? Ooh, baby, baby.”🎵 Celeb Reelz released the alarming documentary of Motown Records and how tragedy struck many of the company’s artists. Founded in 1959, Motown took the music industry by storm. Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells (aka the Queen of Motown) and Diana Ross & The Supremes were among the company’s early breakout stars. “Smokey would have been an electrician if he hadn’t met me,” said founder Berry Gordy, who borrowed $800 to start the company. “He was the soul in Motown and he wrote the first company song. And, he wrote hits for all of the early acts.” In 1961, The Marvelettes’ “Please Mr. Postman” became Motown’s first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Sadly, everything went downhill after that.
Marvin was shot dead by his cross-dressing father, who abused him for years. Joe Jackson, patriarch of The Jackson 5, beat the hell out of his kids too — using both a belt buckle and an extension cord. When he wasn’t busy delivering spankings, Joe made the musical quintet carry cinder blocks for hours from one side of their garden to the other. He had ’em rehearse 5 hours a day after school.
And, if they missed a step, he would whoop some ass.
Florence Ballard of The Supremes went through hell and back before passing away at age 32. Florence was raped by a friend when she was 17. And, her alcoholism caused all kinds of problems within the group. Florence suffered a failed solo career, and she was relegated to accepting food stamps and welfare. “My Guy” singer Mary Wells went through hell too.
In 1961, she married Motown background singer Herman Griffin, who cheated on her.
She divorced his black ass two years later after he forced her to undergo a pair of abortions to safeguard her career.
In 1964, Mary became the first artist to sue Motown. “I had made a lot of money for the company, and I had nothing to show for it,” she said. In 1966, Mary married Cecil Womack from the Valentinos. They had 3 children. But Mary cheated on Cecil with his own brother, Curtis. She felt so much guilt, she attempted suicide in 1977. “Cecil was suffering; Curtis was suffering; I was suffering; I just couldn’t take it,” Mary explained. That same year, she divorced Cecil and moved in with Curtis; they had a child together.
By 1978, Mary was addicted to heroin and cocaine.
“I used drugs for relief, like so many other people do but never talk about it,” she said.
Mary also lost her voice due to years of smoking cigarettes.
She could no longer perform and became destitute.
Mary died in 1992, two years after being diagnosed with larynx cancer.
Tammi Terrell, best known for her “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” duet with Marvin, was only 24 when she kicked the bucket. She was in an abusive relationship with James Brown, who pummeled her repeatedly. Then she hooked up with Temptations singer David Ruffin, who also beat her ass. He bashed Tammi in the head with a hammer and hit her in the face with a motorcycle helmet.
In 1967, Tammi fainted on stage and fell into Marvin’s arms.
She was later diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.
By 1970, Tammi was confined to a wheelchair and she weighed a measly 93 pounds.
She also lost her eyesight, and her scalp was depilated.
Tammi died on March 16, 1970.
The DeBarge family went through so much hell, you gotta wonder if a curse was involved. The band “Switch,” the group “DeBarge” and solo artist Chico DeBarge comprised the family brand. Heroin addict Bobby DeBarge, who was in “Switch,” received a 5-year prison sentence in 1988 for drug trafficking. He also contracted HIV and died of AIDS in 1995.
Bunny DeBarge, who was sexy as hell, battled drug addiction and breast cancer.
In 1986, El DeBarge pleaded “no contest” after a woman claimed he pulled her hair, dragged her to the floor, and hit her when she refused to give him a piece of ass. El was fined and sentenced to 200 hours of community service. The “Rhythm of the Night” singer was also guilty of not wearing a condom. El smashed so many chicks, he ended up with 12 kids.
His heroin addiction led to bouts of homelessness and a 13-month prison stint.
El was busted for selling drugs in 2012.
And last, but not least… Paul Williams, a founding member of The Temptations, self-medicated with booze to cope with sickle cell anemia.
Scuttlebutt has it he drunk 2 to 3 fifths of a bottle of Courvoisier per day.
Goddamn!
Paul was found dead in a car parked in an alley.
A gun was adjacent to his cadaver.
His death was ruled a suicide.
What’s my take?
Seems since slavery, followed by the civil rights movement, too many mofos beat the sh*t out of their kids without expressing love.
Those same individuals have also failed to teach children the importance of establishing good credit, obeying the law, and building good relationships — both professionally and romantically.
That’s why marriage rates are low and incarceration numbers are high.
Look, beating up a kid is easy.
It’s also cowardly.
Little people can’t fight back.
Ditto for women in domestic situations.
If you love a child, the modus operandi should entail helping him or her become successful.
Me personally, I’ve never received a spanking from a man.
My dad never whooped me.
My uncles never whooped me.
Only my mom and her sisters whooped my ass — which was hella confusing because disciplinary action is traditionally a man’s job.
I guess what I’m trying to say is there’s too much beating and not enough teaching.
As a society, we simply must do better.
Watch the disturbing documentary.
Share your thoughts.
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So, so, sad nothing is never what it things appears to be. All so tragic.
So Joe Jackson beat the skin color off Mike 😂
Tammy Terrell was the saddest story
Florence was the supremes, I believe she was murdered.
An older person once told me that James Brown played a part in Tammi’s death by the beatings that brought about brain injury. It was never said again, and I’ve always wondered about this. I also heard that her death sent Marvin Gaye into a deep depression.
Diana Ross was a talentless heaux!
They beat Tammi to death, this story really hurts. She didn’t have no Brothers or Uncles, I don’t know what her father was thinking letting his daughter get abused like that, her father was a coward, a damn shame, even the men who saw this being done was cowards for not not stopping the abuse to Tammi, may her soul and spirit rest in peace .
Mary Wells really destroyed her and career by committing adultery. Shameful thing to bring on her husband and children.
The Debarge family was savagely abused by their father. To me it wasn’t all about the drugs.The drugs gave them an escape but it was their father that caused a lot of abuse.
Diana Ross makes me sick smh
@Roland Bullock: Diana Ross got special treatment from Berry Gordy because of their love affair, not because of her talent. Ross was very threatened by the other very talented ladies of Motown. Her talent only shined in my opinion in “Lady Sings The Blues.”
Florence should have been the Front Girl – better voice, and so beautiful
Whippings like that with the belt, tree stick, shoe, or whatever else mom, dad and other family members decided to use was our norm in the black neighborhood in the 70s, 80s and 90s. It wasn’t called abuse until the 2000s hit and the new generation started. I myself along with my generation as kids who grew up getting those Joe Jackson type whippings. We made the decision to have our kids and not do the same thing. We decided to not hit at all but to talk to them or try the corner idea. And if we whip than we use our hand only on the butt. To this day idk if what we was hit with was abuse or just another way of whippings.
Tammi Terrell was a beauty and very talented. Its a damn shame what James Brown and David Ruffin did to her.
mary fucked her husband’s brother…… dam thats foul
Joe was secretly jealous of his sons talent. He was a failed musician himself
We Been knew James Brown was abusive. He was a Taurus, self centered pushed everyone away and was very abusive to women.
Tammi Terrell was so beautiful. How could any man mistreat her. Kindness always wins.
None of these artists were truly happy… they had money and fame but they were plaqued with demons…
Paul Williams death was questioned by his family as right handed Paul “shot” himself on the left side of his head. Not sure how you manage that. Also there was a bottle of alcohol on his left side that looked like it had been dropped and the gun fired 2 shots, where did the second shot go?
Florence’s rotten ass husband came back when she had a house. A roof. I’m old enough to remember the day that she died.
Let Tammi’s unfortunate choice of abusive men be a lesson to women with destructive men. Get out before they take you out. She was worthy of so much better. David Ruffin hit her in the head with his helmet. James Brown beat her black and blue because she didn’t watch his concert! What! That’s what abusive people do. Go off on anyone who they think has done them wrong over little things. It’s so sad. Her voice and soulful ain’t no mountain high enough should cause a man to love her. Again, no matter a man’s talent, looks or his money. If he is beaten on you. Leave his sorry hateful abusive treatment and love you.
Was Motown tha First DEATH ROW RECORDS wow so much talent an so many bad endings!
Joe Jackson (continue resting in peace) did no more than some other households across this country/world.
Whoopings attributed through slavery, a horrible WRONG that everyone wants to ignore and pretend it never happened.
David ruffin got kicked out for questioning barry gordy about their money and they put his demons on front street smh
Wow Tammy Terrell went through some shit. So sad !!
Abusive men back then were basically overlooked & given a pass unfortunately. We’ve all had examples in our lives, to do & what not to do, you must choose your own path regardless because today, YOU will definitely be held accountable I assure.
there’s always a price to pay when it comes to fame & fortune
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell was one of the best if not the best music duo in music history
I still can’t believe Tammi died at 24!!! Every time I hear her story I want to cry
Can’t stand that damn evil Jezebell Diana Ross!😒
Here’s the thing: Back then we lived our own lives and the celebrities had theirs. As long as they showed up for concerts or gave a great television performance, we were good. I still don’t want to know dirt on them. So, in case this is a disparaging post.
I heard Motown didn’t treat the artists very well. Most of their pay went into a trust & they didn’t get residual pay. They only got a small percentage of what was earned & the execs like Berry Gordy ran all the way to the bank. Too bad. Motown produced a lot of great talent.
I’m Totally Shocked That James Brown Wasn’t Charged For Having A Sexual Relationship With A Minor. Older Men Are Very Controlling. They Steal Their Youth From Them & Become Verbally & Physically Abusive. They Want Them To Dress & Look Older Than They Actually Are & Put FEAR In Them If They Try To Leave Them. Tammi Terrell Had The Most Beautiful Singing Voice Ever. She & Marvin Gaye Were An Amazing Duo. Rest In Heaven. 🙏🌷🌹🌺
Marvin Gaye was sticking up for his mother because his rotten father was blaming her for a missing insurance policy. Marvin shoved him out of his own room. His father fell and then Marvin gave it to him good. But the incident ended. Marvin Jr. was in his mother’s room to protect and console her. His father slowly went to get his gun and came especially to shoot Marvin Jr. twice in front of his mother. His father lied to the jury and the judge and got away with murdering his son in the house his son bought for his family.
Like Tammi Terrell Flo deserved so much better Pretty and talented ending up in the shadow of Ms Ross
Wow I’m 50 years old and this my first time hearing about James Brown abusing Tammy Terell. This is horrible.
Berry Gordy was P Diddy before P Diddy 👿👿👿
These record labels are greedy and soul – less. RIP to each of these remarkable legends 🙏💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎
I love Switch! I wanna be closer was my song
My favorite group of all time is the temptations . I wasnt born when they got together but grew up listening to their music. And when the movie came out I fell in love. I watched it 20 times in one day. My firSt concert was theirs in 2011. So when the part where Paul williams killed himself hurt.
Damn I had no idea about Tammi Tarrell’s history re: being treated so badly by James Brown n David Ruffin. She was so lovely!
They never mentioned in the Temptations movie that Paul had Sickle Cell. That was the true cause of his alcoholism.
The DeBarge family has the saddest story I have ever heard of. Everyone was always speaking bad about Joe Jackson being a horrible father, but no Robert DeBarge Sr was the absolute worst.
Most Motown acts were anxious to get off the label. They’d had enough of Berry Gordy.
I lost all respect for david ruffin and james brown for the way they treated Tammi Terrell, and karma tracked their ass down David was found tossed out in an alley beaten to death and left to die by drug dealers he owed money to and James never got the grand send off he deserved laying in wait for months while legal issues prolonged his home coming service it was a circus for tabloid news fodder.
I knew all this since 1984 , it all started with Marvin Gaye, motown & rocknation were given permission to be a respected black owned music label by the same nefarious Rocafellers.
RIP Mary Wells, MJ and his father Joe, Tammi Terrell, Marvin Gaye and his father, David Ruffin and his eldest daughter, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Slick Rick James, Dennis Edwards, Bobby DeBarge, Etterlene DeBarge, Mary Wilson, Flo Ballard, Barrett Strong and so many Motown artists and contributors.