The singer/song writer of some of Motown’s most memorable hits, including Let’s Get It On and How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), had a life and career which reached the height of fame and achievement and ended in tragedy.
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. was born on April 2, 1939 in Washington D.C.
His parents, Marvin Gay Sr. and Alberta Cooper, recognized his musical talent early on, giving him the opportunity to participate in the choir of his father’s church.
Although deeply in love with music, Marvin wasn’t much into school, which led him to drop out of high school at age 17 to join the Air Force, but was discharged only eight months later in June 1957.
During his Motown years, he added the “e” to his last name, because he didn’t want to be associated with his father.
The change also served as a tribute to R&B Artist Sam Cooke, who made the same change.
After his brief military career, Gaye returned to D.C., where he started singing with a group called The Rainbows, just to form his own group The Marquees shortly thereafter.
The group signed with Okeh Records, where they received some attention with the single Wyatt Earp.
Looking for further opportunities, Gaye happened to meet Harvey Fuqua, who had his owngroup called the Moonglows.
Although they worked with him for a short while, the group dissolved.
Fuqua and girlfriend Gwen Gordy then moved to Detroit with Gaye following.
Now living in Detroit, Gwen introduced Gaye to her brother Berry at a Christmas party in 1960 which was hosted by a label called Motown. Soon, Gaye became a part of Motown, starting as a drummer for Smokey Robinson and his group The Miracles.
It was the humble beginning of a musical miracle.
“At Motown, Marvin was one of the main characters in the greatest musical story ever told.
Prior to that, nothing quite like Motown had ever existed — all those songwriters, singers, producers working and growing together, part family, part business — and I doubt seriously if it will ever happen like that again.
And there’s no question that Marvin will always be a huge part of the Motown legacy.”
Smokey Robinson said in an interview published by the Rolling Stone
Gay then went on to marry Gwen and Berry’s sister Anna in 1962.
The same year, he released the single Stubborn Kind of Fellow, which was his first attention getter as a Motown artist.
Gaye continued releasing singles, landing a couple of top forty hits throughout the sixties, but it took him until 1968 to have his first number one single, Heard It Through The Grapevine.
Touched by the news of Tammi Tarrell’s ( his duet partner, with whom he recorded Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and Your Precious Love) severe brain tumor, he composed the song as a tribute.
Gaye went on to focus on social problems such as poverty, racism and the Vietnam war, which led to the 1970 release of the What’s Going On LP.
A generally solid album, one track titled Inner City Blues still gains quite a bit attention these days.
In 1972, Gaye had a brief stint in Hollywood, where he composed the motion picture soundtrack Trouble Man.
The following years forced him to focus more on his private life.
His rocky marriage ended in 1975.
As a result of an ongoing legal battle, Gaye was forced to waive the royalties of his next album to his former wife, which explains the title his next LP, Here, My Dear.
One reason for the break up was Gaye’s admiration for Janis Hunter, daughter of jazz musician Slim Gaillard.
Only two years after his divorce in October 1977, Gaye married again, this time to Hunter.
They divorced only two years later.
The late 70’s were a little difficult for him, since he had to cope with substance abuse problems, as well as the IRS trying to get a hold of him.
He eventually moved to Europe in 1981, and resided in Amsterdam, where he started working on his upcoming album In Our Lifetime, which was released the same year.
Still fighting a cocaine addiction, he returned to the US and moved in with his parent’s.
On the afternoon of April 1, 1984, he was with his mother and father, when they began to argue.
His father became furious and shot his son. Gaye died just one day before his 45th birthday.
According to a rumor, the last words his father said before shooting his famous son were “That’s the last 45 you ever gonna hear.”
His remarkable career was publicly acknowledged with a posthumous 1987 induction into the Rock’ Roll Hall of Fame.
To contact JP Busche, email him at jbusche@ut.edu.
For a complete set of the best of Marvin Gaye, check out his iTunes Essential playlist.