Zalazar 1

David Zalazar
History 96W
Caroline Harris
Transitioning into the Secular Sphere: The Crossing Over of Sam Cooke, Aretha
Franklin, and Marvin Gaye
And honey I know you'll be there to relieve me, The love you give to me will free me, If
you don't know the thing you're dealing, Ohh I can tell you, darling, that it's sexual healing.1
These lyrics are taken from the song Sexual Healing, one of Marvin Gayes most famous
songs. Despite associating Gaye with this raunchy music, his upbringing showed otherwise: his
father was a pastor and he grew up singing in a Pentecostal Church. Marvin Gaye wasnt the
only Pentecostal artist with this same career change; Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke also began
singing in the church and eventually grew into a more popular secular sound. Now you might be
thinking, why did these young Pentecostal gospel singers transition into a more secular sound?
Why would these young artists exchange their Pentecostal roots for popularity? Sadly, there is no
definitive answer due to controversy that comes with celebrities, however, through their music, it
can be seen that their motive for crossing over was the effect that obstacles--like abuse, debt, and
death--had on them during their lifetimes. It was crucial that these artists gained a foundation in
their Pentecostal roots before transitioning into the secular world, for their deep connection with
God would be the only thing to get them by the realities of the real world. Despite the traditional
nature of the gospel music sung by Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, and Marvin Gaye, the obstacles
occurring in the daily lives of these young Pentecostal artists led to their ultimate crossing over
from the sacred to the secular realm of music. However, the impact of their Pentecostal
1 "Marvin Gaye." - Sexual Healing Lyrics, http://www.metrolyrics.com/sexual-healing-lyricsmarvin-gaye.html.

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upbringing shows through their fame and fortune with their integration of gospel in their secular
music and in their political involvement. This was not only important for their own sanity when
life got tough, but this personal connection with god was evoked to the crowd, and it made the
experience so much more personal.
Sam Cooke, the multi-genre musician with one of the most influential crossover and
cross-racial appeals of the Mainstream Era, would have never gained his influential glory if it
werent for his early upbringing in a Pentecostal family and his involvement in the family church
group, the Singing Children. Marc Meyers, a frequent journalist for The Wall Street Journal who
has interviewed icons of R&B like Smokey Robinson and Motowns Founder Berry Gordy Jr.,
wrote that during the depression, [Cookes] father, a minister, moved the family to Chicago,
where he was installed at Christ Temple Church.2 It was this move which jumpstarted Cookes
career as a gospel singer and eventually led to Sam joining the infamous Soul Stirrers. Here,
Cooke began his crossover into the secular realm of music; although he still sang gospel, Cooke
began popularizing his music and gaining the exposure of the music industry while being a
popular touring artist.
With his womanizing repertoire, a wallet full of money, and his allowed accessibility into
segregated bars, Sams love life was full of infidelity. Despite his Pentecostal, family oriented
background, popularity brought change. Through the progression of Cookes music, it is evident
that his religious roots were still a vital role in his life. In his song A Change is Gonna Come,
Cooke combines the emotion of the erafrom his personal problems to the struggle of the Civil
Rights Movementand resolves it with his passionate gospel voice. It is this voice which
exemplifies that Cooke is still the same person as he was when he was a member of the Soul
2 Myers, Marc, The death of Souls King, The Wall Street Journal, Last Modified
December 9, 2014, http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-death-of-souls-kingremembering-sam-cooke-50-years-after-his-death-1418168242.

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Stirrers and still the Cooke which inspired Aretha Franklin to cross over to secular music, the
only difference was that he had been molded by the obstacles that life had thrown at him.
Sam Cooke also had to overcome the emotional distress associated with death, but not of
a close friend or parent, but of his own baby son Vincent, which occurred due to his and his wife
Barbaras negligence. During a time where everything was going great for the Cookes:
economic stability and widespread fame in the secular sphere of music, tragedy hitshowing that
money doesnt always buy happiness. During a day at the studio, Sam Cooke received a call
notifying him of his sons drowning in the front yard pool.3 If Barbara would have been taking
better care of Vincent or if Cooke was home more often instead of being in the studio all day, this
incident could have easily been avoided. However, Sam would constantly blame his wife and he
eventually fell into a deep depression and would use gigs to get away from home.4 The moral of
this incident was simple: no matter who you are, tragedy can strike at any given moment.
Through his faith and music as a medium of emotional relief, Cooke eventually rose back to his
feet.
As heard in his song Lost and Lookin, which was written in response to the death of
his son, Sam Cooke sounds, as the title implies, lost. There is a sense of no direction in his
vocals, with the constant repetition of the phrase Im lost, and Im lookin for my baby; It
ultimately shows how Cooke blamed himself for what happened to his son.5 This song, however,
3 Boyer, Edward. J, COLUMN ONE: The Soulful Legacy of Sam Cooke, Los Angeles
Times, Last Modified December 23, 1994, http://articles.latimes.com/1994-1223/news/mn-12372_1_sam-cooke/3.
4 Famously Dead, Sam Cookes Death, http://www.famously-dead.com/singers/samcooke.html.
5 Lost and Lookin Lyrics, Metro Lyrics, http://www.metrolyrics.com/lost-and-lookin-lyricssam-cooke.html.

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also shows Cooke returning to his gospel roots in times of disparity and unstableness. Despite
not making it obvious in his secular music, Cooke had a deep internal connection with God. The
death of his son proved to be a big obstacle for Cooke; however, it was this strong connection
and his Pentecostal roots that helped scar the emotional wounds created by this obstacle and
helped Cooke overcome his pain.
Even before becoming a critically acclaimed musician, Sam Cooke attempted to break
through the boundaries imposed by the Jim Crow laws through his musical career. This fight for
civil rights was always on the mind of this young musician; in 1959, right before his
performance in Little Rock Arkansas, Cooke refused to perform two separate shows to
accommodate an all-white and all-black audience.6 It was not until both races were sitting in the
same room that Cooke went on with his performance, despite only singing directly to the black
side of the auditorium.7 However, this was not the only account of Cooke rejecting
performances; he eventually got to a point in his career where he would only play for nonsegregated audiences, despite losing revenue. In this aspect, Cooke was contributing to the Civil
Rights Movement in hope to spark change in the community and show that black and whites
could mingle and enjoy the joys of life in unison. It was not until October 8, 1963 that Cooke
experienced the ruthlessness of the Jim Crow laws. While attempting to check in to a hotel in
Shreveport, after making a phone reservation, he was turned away in person.8 After refusing to

6 Greene, Erik, Sam Cooke: Pioneer for Music, betias,

http://www.instantactionsports.com/sports-betting-articles/entertainmentb4.html.
7 Ibid.
8 Leli, Brian, Observing Change: Sam Cooke and the Civil Rights Movement, Gapers
Block, Last Modified February 11, 2010,
http://gapersblock.com/transmission/2010/02/11/observing_change_sam_cooke_and
_the_civil_rights_movement/

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follow the order of the hotel management and leave the hotel, he was arrested.9 This very
moment sparked the fury in Sam Cooke and was the catalyst to the creation of the infamous song
A Change is Gonna Come. Cooke knew that this song could possibly alienate his white fan
base; but his attention to detail and emotion put into the recording show that Cooke released the
song to create a sense of optimism for his brothers.10 Despite the strong opinion Cooke had
towards the topic of black oppression in the song, he includes a verse to connect this overtly
political song with God. Cooke sang, Its been too hard living, but Im afraid to die, Cause I
dont know whats up there beyond the sky.11 This fear of the heavens can be interpreted in
multiple ways: it can either show how Cooke, like most blacks at the time, were constantly afraid
for their livessince innocent people, like 13 year old Emmett Tillwere being murdered for
little to no reason; or it can also be used as insight to Cookes instability with his personal
relationship with God and his doubts if he will make it to heaven. No matter the interpretation,
the constant repetition of the phrase A Change is Gonna Come creates a reassurance that all
these obstacles will eventually be resolved; it is also through this constant reassurance and this
raw religious doubt that this song became an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement.
Moving into what would generally be considered a positive benefit of being famous,
money and sexual appeal were actually one of the main catalysts for all of Sam Cookes
problems. Cookes acquired riches eventually drove him into the secular scene, where the
positive publicity made it easier for him to waste money on prostitutes. Cooke was living the
9 Ibid.
10 Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke, 1963, YouTube Video, 3:11,
Posted by Basicly, just GOOD black music, October 27, 2009,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbO2_077ixs.
11 Ibid.

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life: he had money to buy what he wanted, he had enough fame to get him into most segregated
events, and he had the looks and vocals to drive any woman crazy. Sadly, Cooke was gunned
down in the company of a prostitute.12 What brought Cooke happiness eventually led to an
altercation with the motel managerwho according to Cooke was reportedly hiding Elisa Boyer
and led to Cookes murder at gunpoint.13 Despite much debate on what happened on the night
of his death, what is certain is that due to his fortune and his love for sex, Cooke brought death
upon himself.
Like Sam Cooke, Arethas father, Reverend C.L. Franklin, had a significant influence on her
career as a gospel musician. After her mothers death, Franklin began building her relationship
with God and gaining the religious foundation that would eventually launch her into stardom.
Arethas Father was a big supporter of his daughters career as a musician; he would often allow
her to open for his sermons and would, in return, pay her fifty dollars.14 Not only did C.L.
Franklin guide Aretha through her crossover into Columbia Records, but he also kept her roots
alive by inspiring her to continue to record gospel albums, despite her eventual acquired success
as a secular recording artist. Arethas album One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism exemplified
her upbringing and the importance of Pentecostalism in her life. The album not only included
one of her fathers sermons, which shows her strong connection with her father, but it overall
shows how one of Arethas most cherished albums was centered on the more reserved
12 Shattuck, Kathryn, Whats On Today, New York Times, January 11, 2010,
Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost.
13 Hutchinson, Lydia, and Bill DeMain. The Mysterious Death of Sam Cooke,
Performing Songwriter Ent LLC, Last Modified December 11, 2013,
http://performingsongwriter.com/mysterious-death-sam-cooke/.
14 Werner, Craig Hansen, Higher Ground: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis
Mayfield, and the Rise and Fall of American Soul, New York: Crown Publishers, 2004,
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0307420876.

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Pentecostal community. It was through this religious upbringing where Aretha gained the most
important valuestaying true to her religionand with this asset, Aretha was able to overcome the
emotional rollercoaster life would eventually bring.
At the age of ten, Aretha had to overcome one of the most traumatic obstacles that could happen
to any child--the loss of a parent; however, through her faith and the gateway of music, Aretha
was able to overcome this psychological pain. The impact of this event was evident not only
through her music, but to those around her. Mavis Staples, a man who met Aretha on the gospel
circuit when they were both teenagers, described the impact of her mothers death.15 Staples
stated that Aretha would carry around one of her mothers hair brushes, and what would
constantly bring her joy was the fact that it still had some of her mothers hair on it.16 This was a
clear evidence of the psychological trauma Aretha underwent--if she found joy in old hair. In her
autobiography, on the topic of her mothers death, Aretha stated,
I was very close to her and I cant say which, if either of my parents was a greater
influence on meI cannot describe the pain, nor will I try17
The loss of this role model had a deep impact on Arethas life, since she had not only lost her
mother, but she had lost one of her early childhood inspirations which capitalized off of her
music. Through her exposure in the church as a gospel singer and her roots in the Pentecostal
faith--which believes that after death, those who are saved go to heaven--you can infer that

15 Werner, Craig Hansen, Higher Ground: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis
Mayfield, and the Rise and Fall of American Soul, New York: Crown Publishers, 2004,
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0307420876.
16 Ibid.
17 Ibid.

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Aretha overcame her mothers death through God.18 By also examining the songs Aretha would
sing, like God will take care of you and Say a Little Prayer it is evident that these songs not
only helped the crowd overcome their problems, but aided in Arethas grieving for her mother.
Despite the deep psychological distress that Aretha underwent after the death of her
mother, the pain she felt after the loss of both her father and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also took
a big toll on her. Despite being such a renowned artist, you can see the anguish in her voice when
she dedicated the song Precious Lord, Take my Hand to her father and Dr. King in 1984.
Looking at the video of this performance, at around minute 2:26 you can both see and hear the
emotion put into this version, where Aretha reaches the highest pitch in her vocal range and
screams in anguish to the heavensleaving everything on the stage.19 This song alone shows the
impact both men had on her life, both as an artist and growing up to become the woman she is.
Aretha Franklin underwent many deaths, which would break down any person; however, with
the influence she had as a child and her integration in the church, Aretha was able to overcome
these obstacles and grow stronger as a person and as a musician, and it was due to her love for
God.
While I have shown the importance and influence Arethas father had on Arethas
persona-serving as her principal parental figurethe close connection Dr. King and Aretha had
can be supported with the close relationship MLK had with C.L. Franklin. Brooke Obie, editor at
Ebony Magazine, conducted an interview on Aretha Franklin on August 20, 2013 around the

18 Markey, Dell, Pentecostal Beliefs: Where Do We Go When We Die, Opposing

Views, http://people.opposingviews.com/pentecostal-beliefs-die-5966.html.
19 Aretha Franklin, Aretha Franklin-Precious Lord, Take my Hand (1984/Live),
YouTube Video, 4:57, Posted by yaskam, March 23, 2009,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b9qH6-IvEs.

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50th anniversary of the March on Washington.20 When asked about her relationship with Dr.
King, Aretha stated Well, he and my dad were great friends and my dad from time to time,
being the older gentleman would counsel Dr. King sometimes.21 In fact, C.L Franklin trusted Dr.
King so much that he allowed Aretha to go tour the country with him during his protest for black
civil rights.22 This close relationship during Arethas transition into adulthood not only kept her
Pentecostal roots alive, but the constant interactions with Dr. King and his aim for justice and
equality helped mold Aretha into the woman she is today.
Due to the lack of a mother at a very young age and her fathers busy schedule, Aretha gained the
occasional freedom that was crucial for the evolution of her music and its overall transition into
the secular realm. Aretha would often travel across the country with her sisters, attending
different events where she would often sing for money.23 This independence was crucial to the
evolution of Arethas voice; not only did it provided her with a real world experience in show
business, where she learned how to stand up for herself and find worth in her talent, but it gave
her the confidence to stand up for her earnings. During one of Arethas performances in Chicago,
Aretha was cheated from her money from her family friend Mahalia Jackson since she didnt
know how to stand her ground; whether this was educational or not, Mahalia simply replied talk

20 Obie, Brooke, [The Spiritual Life]: Aretha Franklin Remembers MLK, Ebony, Last
Modified August 20, 2013, http://www.ebony.com/wellness-empowerment/thespiritual-life-aretha-franklin-remembers-mlk-405#axzz3c933nvHa
21 Ibid.
22 Ibid.
23 Werner, Craig Hansen, Higher Ground: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis
Mayfield, and the Rise and Fall of American Soul, New York: Crown Publishers, 2004,
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0307420876.

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to your dad about it.24 Despite the close relationship, Aretha was still cheated from her money;
however, it was through these obstacles and experiences in the real world that Aretha learned her
worth and gained the grit to stand up for herself in the real world.
Despite growing up in a Pentecostal household, young Franklin became pregnant and put herself
in a position where she would be placed into adulthood. Due to her popularity, Aretha had many
little relationships from a very young age. At the age of twelve, she fell in love with a boy she
called Romeo whom she would go out with on small dates.25 However, it was not until she fell
in love with an older boy who dressed nice and owned a convertible that problems ensued. At the
age of 14, Aretha became pregnant with her first son; the father, in response, would ...drive past
the house with the top dropped, blow the horn and keep going.26 This pregnancy had a huge
impact in Arethas life. Not only did she have to leave school to take care of her child, but she
was forced to remove herself from the regular activities all teenagers had. Despite her struggles
as a teenage mother, they can also be taken in positive light: this obstacle in Arethas childhood
could have been motivation for her crossing over, since she now had a child to feed and would
want to give her child something positive to be proud of.
From adolescence, Marvin Gayes Pentecostal upbringing nurtured his subsequent crossover into
a secular realm of music. Gaye grew up in a Pentecostal family: his father was a minister at the
Pentecostal House of God.27 Marvin Gaye stated in an interview conducted on Follies in
Belgium I know a great deal about God and I've been with God all of my lifeIm a pretty
24 Ibid.
25 Werner, Craig Hansen, Higher Ground: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Curtis
Mayfield, and the Rise and Fall of American Soul, New York: Crown Publishers, 2004,
https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0307420876.
26 Ibid.

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religious guy.28 Despite his future career in music being full of sensual lyrics, as seen in Sexual
Healing, Gaye responds to how he combines his secular lifestyle and his spiritualism by saying,
Im not gonna pretend Im a saintsex or religionthere both controversial but if one can
work it out, then its okay.29 This Pentecostal background allowed Gaye to grow as a musician;
not only by providing him with the knowledge of the scripture but by immersing Gaye in the
jubilant music since birth.
Although his lyrics usually oppose the teachings of the Pentecostal church, Gaye still
stays true to his religious upbringing by incorporating God into many songs like Just To Keep
You Satisfied, in his most overtly sexual album Lets Get it On. In this song, Gaye sings,
I stood all the jealousy, all the bitchin' too, Yes, I'd forget it all once in bed with
you...Now its time for us to say farewell,..God knows we tried.30
Deep in an overtly sexual album where most, if not all, songs reference sex, Marvin Gaye
provides a link of God in his love life. By saying that God knows they tried, he is ultimately
saying that despite everything he put up with, God knows he tried to make it work, however, it
was time to move on. With the simple reference to God, Gaye is ultimately showing how his love
for God and his connection with his Pentecostal roots is still present, only hidden within his
convoluted life. Despite all of this back-and-forth between religion and secularism, Marvin Gaye
27 Marvin Gaye Killed by his Father 30 Years Ago [Talkback], Los Angeles Times,
Last Modified April 1, 2014, http://articles.latimes.com/2014/apr/01/local/la-me-lnmarvin-gaye-killed-by-father-30-years-ago-today-talkback-20140401
28 Marvin Gaye Interview, Follies, Belgium, May 7, 1981, Eyeneer, 3:44,
http://www.eyeneer.com/video/r-bsoul/marvin-gaye/interview.
29 Ibid.
30 Lets Get It On Lyrics, Metrolyrics, http://www.metrolyrics.com/lets-get-it-onlyrics-marvin-gaye.html.

Zalazar 12

managed to stay true to his religious upbringing, since this was the backbone that would allow
him, like many other artists, to get through the emotional unrest that occurred as he transitioned
into stardom.
Marvin Gaye also indulged in the sex and money that comes with fame, however, unlike Cooke,
Gaye didnt stop until he was in a hole to deep to climb out of. Marvin Gaye owed over 4 million
dollars to the IRS.31 In an interview in 1983, on the topic of money and debt, Gaye responded,
let Caesar have what Caesar wants, I cant fight Caesar.32 With this statement, it can be
deduced that Marvin Gaye was speaking of the government and how no matter what he did, he
was still in debt and he couldnt get out of the hole he dug for himself. His solution: stop fighting
with the government, give them what they wanted, and live life happily with what God had
originally given him. Despite having everything he wanted in the height of his career, Gaye
eventually filed for bankruptcy in hope of being able to live peacefully without this burden
affecting his daily life and creating more stress and uncertainty.
Marvin Gaye dealt with the emotional pain that comes with death to a greater extent and even
underwent a period of clinical depression. Marvin Gaye had a very close connection with Tammi
Terrell, which after three failed singing partnersMary Wells, Kim Weston, and Oma Page
finally found the perfect pair with Terrell, who was a backup singer for James Brown at the
time.33 With a mere analysis of the performance for Aint No Mountain High Enough, which
was chosen as their first duet single by the Motown Label, one can clearly see their friendship
31 Marvin Gaye: Interview 1983, Soul interviews, 7:24, Posted by DJ Soulswede,
February 19, 2013, http://www.soulinterviews.com/marvin-gaye-interview-1983/.
32 Ibid.
33 It Took Two: Marvin Gayes Duet Legacy, The New Yorker, Last Modified March 12,
2013, http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/it-took-two-marvin-gayesduet-legacy.

Zalazar 13

through their spontaneity while singing and sense the deep connection both artists had for each
other through the look in each others eyes. Looking at the lyrics of this song, one can see the
ingenuity of the lyricism: mixing both an upbeat sensual secular style with common themes from
gospel musicfrom indirectly referencing heaven to the call-and-response seen in early field
holler songs. After achieving this strong relationship, Marvin had to endure the collapse of
Tammi on the stage of a 1967 performance in Farmville, Virginia, and then her death from a
malignant brain tumor.34 This drove Gaye into a deep depression, where he disappeared from the
music business to try to alleviate his distress; however, it was this emotional period where Gaye
eventually found meaning in his life and formulated the best of his work.
After the death of his beloved singing duet partner Tammi Terrell, Gaye went through a suicidal
period where he secluded himself from the world. Instead of reaching out to his Pentecostal roots
for relief, Gaye retreated to Belgium in order to fully escape from his problems in the U.S.:
whether it was his abusive father or his millions in debt.35 In an interview conducted in 1983,
Marvin Gaye was asked about how he felt after the death of Tammi Terrell, his infamous duet
partner. Gaye responded, I was close to that pointI was a manic depressantI didnt feel like
I was loved.36 It can also be said that Gaye committed suicide by getting into an altercation the
day of his death with his father. He reportedly kicked his father during a dispute about some

34 Mitchell, Pete, Trouble Man 30 Years On: The SECRET Life and Death of Marvin
Gaye, Express, Last Modified March 31, 2014,
http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/467868/Trouble-Man-30-years-onthe-secret-life-and-death-of-Marvin-Gaye.
35 Marvin Gaye: Interview 1983, Soul interviews, 7:24, Posted by DJ Soulswede,
February 19, 2013, http://www.soulinterviews.com/marvin-gaye-interview-1983/.
36 Ibid.

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insurance paperwork, and his father, in return, shot him three times in the chest.37 However, by
looking at the abuse that his father had given Gaye in the past, and by seeing his fathers overall
abusive natureGaye Sr. once stated I brought you into this world, and I will take you outit is
possible to believe that Gaye kicked his father knowing that his father would get furious and kill
him.38 Whether or not Gayes death was due to murder or suicide, the ultimate result was the end
of Marvin Gayes life. Even after seeming to overcome his suicidal tendencies, with the creation
of the album Sexual Healing, his ultimate death shows that Gaye never really succeeded in
fixing the problems which gave him pain; his small connections to God in his music showed that
despite still holding true to his roots, either vocally or lyrically, he was in a hole too deep.
This transitional period of depression did not go to waste; during these years, Gaye began
writing his new album Whats Going On, an overtly political album showcasing the Civil
Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, and a return of Gayes Pentecostal roots in his music. It is
through this transitional period in which Gaye proved that with a good connection with God,
even the most difficult obstacles could be overcome. Despite not being involved in politics on a
daily basis, Marvin Gaye successfully summed up the countries built up frustrations with the
album Whats Going On. Diving into the lyrics of the song, you can hear Gaye talking about
the Vietnam War with the phrase brother, brother, brother, theres far too many of you dying.39

37 Marvin Gayes Death, Crime Museum, http://www.crimemuseum.org/crimelibrary/marvin-gaye-death.

38 Brown, DeNeen L., In Play, Marvin Gayes Sister Tries to show The Man Behind
the Music, The Washington Post, Last Modified March 4, 2013,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/my-brother-marvin-the-storybehind-the-shooting-of-randb-icon-marvin-gaye/2013/03/04/56ed42a8-84fe-11e2999e-5f8e0410cb9d_story.html.
39 Whats Going On Lyrics, Metro Lyrics, http://www.metrolyrics.com/whats-goingon-lyrics-marvin-gaye.html.

Zalazar 15

These lyrics were inspired by Marvin Gayes brother Frankie who returned from Vietnam and
brought with him the stories of the brutal deaths of the unmotivated U.S. military.40 In another
stanza, you also see Gaye referencing the civil rights movement with the phrase Picket lines and
picket signs, Dont punish me with brutality, Talk to me, so you can see.41 With this, Gaye
aimed at showing his audience how everyone who is oppressing Blacks and limiting them from
their rights should step in their shoes and get a feel of what it feels like to be treated inhumanely.
However, through the song Wholy Holy, Gaye would reconnect with his Pentecostal past and
used the Lord to overcome his depression. In the song, Marvin Gaye sang the powerful stanza
People, we all got to come together, Because we need the strength, power and all the
feeling...Everybody together, together and holy, Will holler love, love, love across the nation.42
His message is simple: with a little bit of love, unity, and with the lord, the country can overcome
any struggle of the era. Gaye himself even stated in an interview,
To be truly righteous, you offer love with a pure heart, without regard for what youll get
in return. I had myself in that frame of mind. People were confused and needed
reassurance. God was offering that reassurance through his music. I was privileged to be
the instrument.43
40 Hutchinson, Lydia, and Bill DeMain. The Mysterious Death of Sam Cooke,
Performing Songwriter Ent LLC, Last Modified December 11, 2013,
http://performingsongwriter.com/mysterious-death-sam-cooke/.
41 Whats Going On Lyrics, Metro Lyrics, http://www.metrolyrics.com/whats-goingon-lyrics-marvin-gaye.html.
42 Wholy Holy Lyrics, Metro Lyrics, http://www.metrolyrics.com/wholy-holy-lyricsmarvin-gaye.html.
43 Hutchinson, Lydia, and Bill DeMain. The Mysterious Death of Sam Cooke,
Performing Songwriter Ent LLC, Last Modified December 11, 2013,
http://performingsongwriter.com/mysterious-death-sam-cooke/.

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If you look at the album Whats Going On as a whole, you can see how the obstacles that Gaye
was dealing with in his daily life, whether he was directly associated or not, had a huge impact
on his musical career and how he wanted to portray himself to the world.
Marvin Gaye experienced suffering even without the death of his parents. Gaye, a man
who grew up immersed in church, ironically had to overcome other demons, like his pastor
father Marvin Gaye Sr.s sexual confusion and resulting cross dressing. The main problem of this
was the negativity Gaye Sr. received, and mixed with jealousy for Gayes fame and fortune led to
the constant abuse of his son. The impact of this was seen in one of Gayes later songs Piece of
Clay, which was not released until after his death in the Phenomenon Soundtrack (1996). The
lyrics of this song sum up his relationship with his father; the first stanza of the song says,
Father stop criticizing your son, mother please leave your daughters alone, dont you see
thats whats wrong with the world today, everyone wants somebody to be their own
piece of clay.44
This phrase tells his father to stop criticizing him, his decisions, and his actions. With the phrase
piece of clay, Gaye is providing a representation of how his father wanted to mold him into a
man that Gaye wasnt and was practically taking out his jealousy for not having the same fame
and fortune that Marvin Gaye had. Listening to the intro of the song and the wailing of the
electric guitar, with the organ backing up the guitar, Gaye is again showing his gospel roots and
the influence this had on him.
These three Pentecostal artists underwent many obstacles that would break down any
human being. Death, being one of the obstacles that is bound to happen at any moment in time,
probably had the biggest impact on all three artists. Not only were they in a position where they
44 Piece of Clay Lyrics, Metro Lyrics, http://www.metrolyrics.com/piece-of-claylyrics-marvin-gaye.html.

Zalazar 17

could do nothing to bring their loved ones back to life, but they were also in a position where the
people that brought them joy and gave them meaning to life were gone forever. Many other
obstacles that these artists faced all had a central role in defining them as musicians and molding
them into the artists in which they became. By creating a sound which was borderline gospel and
jazz, Sam Cooke was able to appeal to both the black and white masses and occasionally gain
access to segregated bars and event; however, this perk lead to loss in revenue and his ultimate
death. Aretha Franklin acquired a substantial amount of freedom as a teenager, due to her
mothers death and her fathers busy schedule, however, she learned the hard way the reality of
show business; this freedom even led to pregnancy at age 14. Last but not least, Marvin Gaye,
who always dealt with a cocktail of problems, suffered abuse from his father; which not only
created deep psychological pain, but probably drove him away from his religion. The overall
message is pretty simple: the myriad of obstacles that life brings at any given moment influenced
these three artists to transition into secular music. Although they kept their Pentecostal roots
alive in the majority of their albums, whether political or sexual, their physical and emotional
pain catalyzed a transition into the secular realm of music. Not only did secular music provide
these artists the foundation to capitalize off a talent acquired from church, but with a generally
broader fan base and a larger amount of available mediums for distribution, these artists were
able to spread their message on topics like Civil Rights more easily. If anything, this
popularization made it easier for the general public to learn the impact these obstacles were
creating for both the rich and the poor, the celebrity and the working class individual. Despite
their faith not always outshining through their responses to these obstacles, they were only being
human; this emotional rollercoaster was only showing how strong their relationship with God
truly was since they continually came back to their roots. Overall, these three young artists came

Zalazar 18

to fame through their faith, and it was this very faith that inadvertently helped them overcome
the many struggles of life.

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