Marvin Gay" redirects here. For the song, see Marvin Gaye (song).

For his father, see Marvin Gay

Sr.

Marvin Gaye

Gaye in 1973

Background information

Birth name Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.

Born April 2, 1939

Washington, D.C., U.S.

Died April 1, 1984 (aged 44)

Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Soul
Genres
R&B

psychedelic soul

pop

funk

jazz

Occupation(s) Singer

songwriter

record producer
 Instruments Vocals

piano

keyboards

synthesizer

drums

mellotron

Years active 1957–1984

Labels Tamla

Tamla-Motown

Columbia

Associated acts Harvey Fuqua

Mary Wells

Kim Weston

Tammi Terrell

Diana Ross

Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) [1] was an American singer,
songwriter, and record producer. He helped to 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 hits, earning him the nicknames
"Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".
Gaye's Motown hits include "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", and "I
Heard It Through the Grapevine"; he also recorded duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Diana Ross,
and Tammi Terrell. During the 1970s, he recorded the albums What's Going On and Let's Get It
On and became one of the first artists in Motown to break away from the reins of a production
company. His later recordings influenced several contemporary R&B subgenres, such as quiet
storm and neo soul.[2] He was a tax exile in Europe in the early 1980s, then he released the 1982 hit
"Sexual Healing" which won him his first two Grammy Awards on the album Midnight Love.[3] 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; and Soul Train.[4]
On April 1, 1984, the day before his 45th birthday, Gaye was fatally shot by his father, Marvin Gay
Sr., at their house in the West Adams district of Los Angeles.[5][6] Many institutions have posthumously
bestowed Gaye with awards and other honors including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award,
and inductions into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[7]

Contents

 1Early life
 2Career
o 2.1Early career
o 2.2Initial success
 o 2.3What's Going On and subsequent success
o 2.4Last Motown recordings and European exile
o 2.5Midnight Love
 3Death
 4Personal life
 5Musicianship
o 5.1Equipment
o 5.2Influences
o 5.3Vocal style
o 5.4Social commentary and concept albums
 6Legacy
 7Awards and honors
 8In popular culture
 9Earnings
 10Attempted biopics
o 10.1Tributes
 11Acting
 12Discography
 13Filmography
 14Videography
 15See also
 16Notes
 17References
 18Further reading
 19External links

Early life[edit]
Gaye was born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. on April 2, 1939, at Freedman's Hospital[8] in Washington, D.C.,
to church minister Marvin Gay Sr., and domestic worker Alberta Gay (née Cooper). His first home
was in a public housing project, [9] the Fairfax Apartments[10] (now demolished) at 1617 1st Street SW
in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood.[11] Although one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, with
many elegant Federal-style homes, Southwest was primarily a vast slum. Most buildings were small,
in extensive disrepair, and lacked both electricity and running water. The alleys were full of one- and
two-story shacks, and nearly every dwelling was overcrowded. [12][13][14] Gaye and his friends nicknamed
the area "Simple City", owing to its being "half-city, half country". [15][16][a]
Gaye was the second oldest of the couple's four children. He had two sisters, Jeanne and Zeola,
and one brother, Frankie Gaye. He also had two half-brothers: Michael Cooper, his mother's son
from a previous relationship, and Antwaun Carey Gay,[18] born as a result of his father's extramarital
affairs.[18]
Marvin Gaye attended Cardozo High School in Washington, D.C.'s Columbia Heights neighborhood.

Gaye started singing in church when he was four years old; his father often accompanied him on
piano.[19][20][21] Gaye and his family were part of a Pentecostal church known as the House of God. The
House of God took its teachings from Hebrew Pentecostalism, advocated strict conduct, and
adhered to both the Old and New Testaments.[22][23] Gaye developed a love of singing at an early age
and was encouraged to pursue a professional music career after a performance at a school play at
11 singing Mario Lanza's "Be My Love".[21] His home life consisted of "brutal whippings" by his father,
who struck him for any shortcoming.[24] The young Gaye described living in his father's house as
similar to "...living with a king, a very peculiar, changeable, cruel, and all powerful king." [15] He felt that
had his mother not consoled him and encouraged his singing, he would have killed himself. [25] His
sister later explained that Gaye was beaten often, from age seven well into his teenage years. [26]
Gaye attended Syphax Elementary School[27] and then Randall Junior High School.[28] Gaye began to
take singing much more seriously in junior high, [29] and he joined and became a singing star with the
Randall Junior High Glee Club.[10]
In 1953[9][30][31] or 1954,[8][32][b] the Gays moved into the East Capitol Dwellings public housing project in
D.C.'s Capitol View neighborhood.[8][34][c] Their townhouse apartment (Unit 12, 60th Street NE; now
demolished) was Marvin's home until 1962.[33][d]
Gaye briefly attended Spingarn High School before transferring to Cardozo High School.[35] At
Cardozo, Gaye joined several doo-wop vocal groups, including the Dippers and the D.C. Tones.
[37]
 Gaye's relationship with his father worsened during his teenage years, as his father would kick
him out of the house often.[38] In 1956, 17-year-old Gaye dropped out of high school and enlisted in
the United States Air Force as a basic airman.[39][40] Disappointed in having to perform menial tasks,
he faked mental illness and was discharged shortly afterwards. [41] Gaye's sergeant stated that he
refused to follow orders.[41][42] Gaye was issued a "General Discharge" from the service. [41][42]