The Onion Song
Encyclopedia
"The Onion Song" was a hit for soul
singers Marvin Gaye
and Tammi Terrell
in 1969. It reached the top ten overseas, and was a more modest hit in the U.S.
Originally assigned to Diana Ross & The Supremes, the song was reassigned to Gaye and Terrell in early 1969. Terrell, then suffering from a brain tumor
, was unable to perform onstage after an October, 1967 performance where she fell before being carried offstage by Gaye for medical treatment. She found out she had brain cancer, a result of Terrell experiencing headaches since childhood. For many years, co-songwriter Valerie Simpson was reported to have sung on this recording with Gaye. However, Simpson, in recent years, denied the claim, saying she only recorded with Marvin as a vocal guide for Terrell. In David Ritz
's biography of Gaye, Divided Soul, Gaye alleged that Simpson sung on the record because Terrell was "too ill to record". Terrell was in the studio, it was claimed, but was using a wheelchair
.
The song, which reflected social consciousness, became Gaye & Terrell's biggest hit in the United Kingdom
, entering the singles chart on 29 November 1969 and peaking at #9 on 9 December prior to Terrell's March 16, 1970 death.
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singers Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
in 1969. It reached the top ten overseas, and was a more modest hit in the U.S.
Originally assigned to Diana Ross & The Supremes, the song was reassigned to Gaye and Terrell in early 1969. Terrell, then suffering from a brain tumor
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
, was unable to perform onstage after an October, 1967 performance where she fell before being carried offstage by Gaye for medical treatment. She found out she had brain cancer, a result of Terrell experiencing headaches since childhood. For many years, co-songwriter Valerie Simpson was reported to have sung on this recording with Gaye. However, Simpson, in recent years, denied the claim, saying she only recorded with Marvin as a vocal guide for Terrell. In David Ritz
David Ritz
David Ritz is an American author, most of whose books are biographies of soul music and R&B legends such as Ray Charles, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Janet Jackson. On four occasions, his co-authored autobiographies of musicians have been awarded the Ralph J...
's biography of Gaye, Divided Soul, Gaye alleged that Simpson sung on the record because Terrell was "too ill to record". Terrell was in the studio, it was claimed, but was using a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
.
The song, which reflected social consciousness, became Gaye & Terrell's biggest hit in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, entering the singles chart on 29 November 1969 and peaking at #9 on 9 December prior to Terrell's March 16, 1970 death.
Credits
- All vocals by Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and Valerie Simpson - All instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...