Remembering Marvin Gaye (1939-1984)

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Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. (né Gay; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of successes, which earned him the nicknames “Prince of Motown” and “Prince of Soul”.

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Gaye’s Motown hits include “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” (1964), “Ain’t That Peculiar” (1965), and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968). He also recorded duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross. During the 1970s, Gaye became one of the first Motown artists to break away from the reins of a production company and recorded the landmark albums What’s Going On (1971) and Let’s Get It On (1973).

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His later recordings influenced several R&B subgenres, such as quiet storm and neo soul. “Sexual Healing”, released in 1982 on the album Midnight Love, won him his first two Grammy Awards.

Marvin Gaye’s last televised appearances were at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, where he sang “The Star-Spangled Banner”, Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever in 1983, and on Soul Train.

On April 1, 1984, Gaye intervened during a fight between his parents at their home in Western Heights, Los Angeles. Gaye’s father, Marvin Gay Sr., subsequently shot and killed him; it was the day before Gaye’s 45th birthday.

Gay Sr. later pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, receiving a six-year suspended sentence and five years of probation. Institutions have posthumously bestowed Gaye with such awards and honors as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and inductions into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Marvin Gaye Discography

Main article on Wikipedia: Marvin Gaye discography

Solo studio albums

The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye (1961)
That Stubborn Kinda Fellow (1963)
When I'm Alone I Cry (1964)
Hello Broadway (1964)
How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You (1965)
A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole (1965)
Moods of Marvin Gaye (1966)
In the Groove (1968)
M.P.G. (1969)
That's the Way Love Is (1970)
What's Going On (1971)
Trouble Man (1972)
Let's Get It On (1973)
I Want You (1976)
Here, My Dear (1978)
In Our Lifetime (1981)
Midnight Love (1982)

Collaborative albums

Together (with Mary Wells) (1964)
Take Two (with Kim Weston) (1966)
United (with Tammi Terrell) (1967)
You're All I Need (with Tammi Terrell) (1968)
Easy (with Tammi Terrell) (1969)
Diana & Marvin (with Diana Ross) (1973)

Posthumous albums

Dream of a Lifetime (1985)
Romantically Yours (1985)
Vulnerable (1997)
You're the Man (2019)
Funky Nation: The Detroit Instrumentals (2021)

List of tributes to Marvin Gaye

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Marvin Gaye – Sexual Healing (Official HD Video)

Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (Official Video 2019)

“We shot ‘What’s Going On’ in Detroit and Flint Michigan, we wanted a place that resonates with the song and the history of Motown, while also remaining relevant to the sociopolitical issues in the music video.

The music video took four days to shoot, but I travelled to Michigan a couple weeks early to find the right people. It was very important for us to find real people that resonated with the stories, rather than casting actors. We wanted the history of the song and the communities we filmed in to come through in our video. For example, Steve Smith, who plays the blind man in our music video, actually worked for Motown when ‘What’s Going On’ was originally recorded.

The church we filmed in was one of the first establishments to set up a water station for the Flint community – they would hand out clean water and raise awareness on the ongoing crisis within the community.

In addition to Steve Smith, we had the opportunity to feature other influential community figures in our music video, including Karen Weaver, the mayor of Flint, and pivotal activists. They have been involved in the Flint Water Crisis for many years. One such activist in our music video is named Ariana Hawk, who, along with her young son, was featured on the cover of Time Magazine during the height of the water crisis. She ended up moving from Flint, only to return in order to continue the fight for her community. To this day, the Flint Water Crisis has yet to be resolved, and Ariana continues to be a strong activist in the movement.

“The point is that this is a historic song for an important moment in history, and what’s beautiful is that it’s message is timeless and universal. It’s about human emotions, human relationships, and a coming together. My hope is that our music video will remind people to continue asking Marvin Gaye asked in 1971.” – Director: Savanah Leaf

Music video by Marvin Gaye performing What’s Going On (Official Video 2019). © 2019 UMG Recordings, Inc.

Lyrics:

Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today, yeah

Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
Oh, what’s going on (What’s going on)
What’s going on (What’s going on)
What’s going on (What’s going on)
What’s going on (What’s going on)

Right on, baby
Right on, baby
Right on

Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we’re wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply ’cause our hair is long
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Come on talk to me
So you can see
What’s going on (What’s going on)
Yeah, what’s going on (What’s going on)
Tell me what’s going on (What’s going on)
I’ll tell you, what’s going on (What’s going on)

Right on, baby, right on
Right on, baby
Right on, baby, right on