Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. was born in Washington D.C. on 2nd April 1939 to minister, Marvin Gay Sr. and teacher Alberta Cooper. Growing up as part of the church Gaye was afforded the chance to sing and play instruments in the choir.
After a brief period in the air force Gaye become part of vocal group, The Moonglows in the late 1950s and sung lead vocals on the track, Mama Loochie. The group disbanded by 1960 and he was signed to Motown records primarily as a session drummer.
As a percussionist he made notable appearances on Stevie Wonder’s first number one single Fingertips as well as Please Mr Postman by The Marvelettes. A year later he signed as a solo artist at which point he chose to add an ‘e’ to his surname. He soon clashed with label boss, Berry Gordy over which music he would be allowed to record, a difference of opinions that would characterise their relationship. His cause was thought to have been helped by his relationship with Gordy’s sister Anna, who he later married.
His first album The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye was not a success but had more luck with the title track of his second album That Stubborn Kinda Fellow. 1963-4 saw him have a string of singles including How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You). Around this time he also wrote and drummed on Martha and the Vandellas’ Dancing in the Street.
Gaye recorded with a number of female vocalists but perhaps his most notable collaboration was with Tammi Terrell with Ain’t No Mountain High Enough being their greatest success. Tragically Terrell was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1967, she passed away three years later and Gaye was sent into a spiralling depression in which he failed to acknowledge his hit song, Heard it Through the Grapevine. Following her death he did not perform for 2 years. Despite this June 1970 saw him commence work on one of the greatest tracks of all time, What’s Going On.
Gordy was opposed to the track and only released it with very little publicity, which makes the single’s success all the more remarkable allowing Gaye to release a whole album of tracks in the same vein. The success of the classic record persuaded Motown to renegotiate Gaye’s contract to give him creative control, making him the highest earning black artist of the time.
Making the move from socially conscious music to more sensual tracks Gaye surpassed himself with follow up, Let’s Get It On for which both the track and the album became Motown’s biggest selling. The same year also saw him record an album of duets with Diana Ross.
By the late seventies Marvin Gaye was met with personal problems, he was divorced from his wife Anna, tax problems led to bankruptcy and he had various drug addictions. In 1981 he parted ways with Motown and the following year signed with Colombia. Despite his personal problems he was afforded another hit when he recorded Sexual Healing.
It was coming off of tour in 1984 that ultimately led to his demise. He returned to his family home and had constant arguments with his father. He was tragically killed by his father on 1st April 1984 when he attempted to intervene in an argument between his parents and was shot dead.
