Jean Terrell
Jean Terrell is an American R&B and jazz singer best known for replacing Diana Ross as the lead vocalist of The Supremes from 1970 to 1973. Born Velma Jean Terrell on November 26, 1944, in Belzoni, Mississippi, she moved to Chicago early in life and later pursued music alongside her brother, former heavyweight boxer Ernie Terrell.
Jean Terrell grew up in a musical family after relocating from Mississippi to Chicago for better opportunities. In the late 1960s, she performed with her brother in the group Ernie Terrell and the Heavyweights, gaining local notice in clubs.
Discovered by Motown's Berry Gordy in 1969 at a Miami club, Terrell joined The Supremes after Diana Ross's departure, performing alongside Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong starting January 14, 1970. The group scored hits like "Up the Ladder to the Roof" and "Floy Joy," with lineup changes including Lynda Laurence replacing Birdsong; Terrell left in 1973 alongside Laurence.
Post-Supremes, Terrell signed with A&M Records and released her debut solo album I Had to Fall in Love in 1978, featuring the minor R&B hit "Don't Stop Reaching for the Top" (No. 72). In the early 1980s, she toured a one-woman show blending Supremes tracks, her solo material, and covers, often backed by former Supremes members.
Terrell semi-retired after her solo efforts, influenced by her Jehovah's Witness beliefs conflicting with promotional demands. Now in her 80s as of 2026, she remains recognized for revitalizing The Supremes during a transitional period.
I Had To Fall In Love
A2 No One Like My Baby (Fred Bliffert 3:45)
A3 Rising Cost Of Love (Bobby Martin, Zane Grey, Len Ron Hanks 3:34)
A4 Change Up (Zane Grey, Len Ron Hanks 5:00)
B1 How Can You (Live Without Love) (Zane Grey, Len Ron Hanks 3:21)
B2 I Had To Fall In Love (Benny Gallagher, Graham Lyle 4:16)
B3 That's The Way Love Grows (Chris Rae, Frank McDonald, Gerry Shury 3:30)
B4 You've Been So Good For Me (Zane Grey, Len Ron Hanks 4:23)
B5 No Limit (Zane Grey, Len Ron Hanks 3:19)
Label: A&M Records – SP-4676
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Disco
I Had to Fall in Love was the sole solo album released by former Supremes lead singer Jean Terrell. Released in 1978 on the A&M label, the album features a blend of soul, R&B, jazz, and disco-inspired tunes that allowed Terrell to showcase vocal strengths and a range largely unseen during her time with the Supremes.
The Bobby Martin produced album is a collection of romantic love songs featuring good production quality and Terrell's "pure gold" vocals. It is noted for being musically different from the Motown sound she was known for, incorporating a jazzy and soulful feel. The production also features members of the A&M band L.T.D.
The album includes several standout tracks, such as the minor R&B hit "Don't Stop Reaching for the Top" (which peaked at #72 on the R&B charts), "How Can You Live without Love," "That's the Way Love Grows," and "No Limit", which is regarded a modern soul classic by many UK soul fans. The title track itself was a single release and is a melodic love song that establishes the album's theme.
Unfortunately, the album did not receive extensive promotion because Terrell decided to turn her back on secular music shortly after its release due to her religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness, which prevented her from promoting it in the standard way (e.g., extensive touring). This lack of promotion meant the album failed to make a significant impact on charts at the time, although it has since become a sought-after item for collectors and fans of classic 70s soul.