Marvin Gaye
Who could ever forget those classic hits I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Let’s Get It On and Sexual Healing? However, while a lot of people may be familiar with the songs, many may not be with the man behind them: Marvin Gaye.
Marvin Gaye lived to only almost 45 years but still managed to become renowned around the world as one of the best and most influential soul singers and songwriters of his time. He lived from April 2, 1939 to April 1, 1984—a day away from his 45th birthday.
Besides a soul/R&B singer/songwriter, Marvin Gaye was also a fine musician with the ability to play multiple instruments (including piano and drums), an arranger, and a record producer. His peak time of international recognition, accomplishments, fame and fortune was enjoyed in the 1960s and 1970s, although even now, more than two decades after his death, his memory and his songs are legendary.
Before making it big, Marvin joined several doo-wop groups, including The Marquees with Bo Diddley, and released a few hit singles, like Wyatt Earp in 1958. He was involved with several record labels before officially becoming a Motown artist in 1960 and rapidly became the label’s top solo male singer. In 1961, Gaye released his debut album with Motown, The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye. His biggest hits of the 1960s include Stubborn Kind of Fellow, How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), and I Heard It Through the Grapevine. He also shared many famous duets with fellow musician and friend Tammi Terrell, who died of brain cancer in 1970; most notably You’re All I Need to Get By and especially Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.
During his time with Motown, Gaye was renowned for aggressively fighting the label’s restrictive record-making process. He managed to write and produce his own singles and albums (namely What’s Going On in 1971) free of the Motown system and process. His self-sufficient success inspired many other musicians in the soul music industry, including Stevie Wonder, Babyface, and Luther Vandross.
The 1970s saw more successful albums released in addition to What’s Going On, particularly Let’s Get It On and I Want You. He also spent some time working and collaborating with Diana Ross. Further hit singles include Let’s Get It On, Got to Give It Up and Sexual Healing. Sexual Healing became his final big hit and gave him two Grammy Awards in February 1983.
Marvin Gaye was married twice. His first marriage lasted 13 years and was to Anna Gordy, the sister of Motown record label boss Berry Gordy. Gaye’s second marriage of four years was to Janis Hunter, daughter of hipster icon Slim Gaillard. Both relationships were known as troubling and tumultuous. He has three children, Marvin Pentz Gaye, III (adopted by Marvin and Anna); and Frankie and Nona Gaye, born to Janis and Marvin out of wedlock.
Marvin Gaye had been dealing with drug addictions, tax and money issues, and relationship problems for most of his adult life. Near the end he struggled paranoia and suicide contemplation. Gaye had premonitions of his murder in his final years of life. On April 1, 1984, one day before his forty-fifth birthday, Gaye's father shot and killed him after an argument that had started after Marvin's parents argued over misplaced business documents. Marvin, Sr. later was sentenced to six years of probation after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Charges of first-degree murder were dropped after doctors discovered he (Marvin Sr.) had a brain tumor. Later serving his final years in a retirement home, he died of pneumonia in 1998. Marvin Gaye’s legacy continues to live on. There have been countless tributes to his music and work. Popular and successful artists such as Usher, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, and R. Kelly have named Marvin Gaye as one of their biggest influences and inspirations. He was also posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and Hollywood’s Rock Walk in 1989. A star was given in his name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990.
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