Marvin Gaye
Date of birth: 1939-04-02
Place of birth: Washington, D.C., USA
Known for: Acting
Also known as: Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.
Biography
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. was born on April 2, 1939, the second oldest child of domestic worker Alberta Gay and Pentecostalist minister Marvin Gay Sr. From an early age, Gaye took an ardor for singing; he believed that this vocation helped him through his severely troubled youth. Gaye's sister has stated that Gay Sr. beat Marvin often and into his teens. At 17, Gaye became a high school dropout, enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Disgruntled by the humble labor he had to do, Gaye pretended to have mental illness. The service authorized him a "General Discharge." Gaye returned to the D.C. area and set up a vocal quartet with a friend called The Marquees. Gaye's first vocal recording as a lead singer, "Mama Loocie," was recorded with Harvey and the New Moonglows, which was composed of Harvey Fuqua and members of The Marquees. After the group's dissolution in 1960, Gaye moved to Detroit. Performing at Motown head Berry Gordy's house, Gaye drew Gordy's interest; the ensuing sale of Fuqua's part of Gaye's contract led to Gaye signing with Motown company Tamla. Gaye initially wanted a career as a standards and jazz performer. After numerous album releases and chart successes, in 1971, Gaye saw the release of his concept album What's Going On. It was his first platinum-selling album and earned him much critical praise. His next project would be the score and soundtrack to the 1972 blaxploitation film, Trouble Man. In 1981, advised by music promoter Freddy Cousaert, tax exile Gaye moved into Cousaert's Ostend apartment in Belgium. Staging a personal recovery, Gaye penned the song "Sexual Healing," which would be his greatest hit, eventually doing ten weeks in the top position on the Hot Black Singles chart. The song was the first single from the album Midnight Love, which sold in excess of six million units. Gaye then went out on the Sexual Healing Tour, starting April 18, 1983, which would be his last tour. Around halfway through the year, he ended the tour, suffering paranoia stemming from cocaine use. Gaye then relocated to his parents' residence in L.A. Marvins Sr. and Jr. had growing conflict between them for months. Relatives and friends felt that Marvin Jr. was sometimes suicidally driven. One day, Gaye attempted to follow this urge with a leap from a hurtling sports car. He only received slight bruises. On April 1, 1984, Marvin Sr. yelled at Alberta about a lost insurance policy letter; they'd argued about the form for days. A severe thrashing then ensued between the two Marvins, with Marvin Sr. on the receiving end. Minutes thereafter, Marvin Sr. entered Gaye's bedroom, clutching a .38 pistol that had been bought for him by Gaye, and shot his son once in his heart and once in the shoulder. Marvin Jr.'s body was transported to California Hospital Medical Center, where at about 1 P.M., Gaye was pronounced dead on arrival. Celebrities across the world were shocked by the news of Gaye's untimely passing, from Smokey Robinson to Al Sharpton. Following Gaye's death, his awards and honors have flourished -- a fitting legacy for the man titled Prince of Soul.
Movie Credits
Motown 40: The Music is Forever
1998-02-15
Archival music performances and contemporary interviews cover some of the history of Motown Records
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
2021-06-05
Best of the 60s is a documentary and a compilation from across the years of the iconic music series.
The Day the Music Died
1977-01-01
This documentary film is mostly about the New York Pop Festival, which began on July 17, 1970 at Ran
Larry presents: Best of The 80s
2004-01-16
01 Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham 02 Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cindy Lauper 03 Wishing Well
Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux
1980-07-17
This highly energetic concert reinforces Marvin Gaye as the undisputed prince of Motown. Where it re
Mr. Nelson on the North Side
2021-09-25
Music icons including Chuck D, Orianthi, and Chaka Khan recount never-before-told stories of Prince
Marvin Gaye - Live In Montreux 1980
2003-05-20
Marvin Gaye: Live in Montreux 1980 is a taped performance of singer Marvin Gaye's performance at the
Funky Dance Grooves
2004-06-30
Video compilation of funk, dance and soul tracks.
Darts Tarts – Welcome to my World
2006-10-05
Jacques Peretti sets out to find out what happened to the game that obsessed him as a kid. In this d
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
2020-10-08
The story of the triumphs and hurdles of brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb, otherwise known as
Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on
2006-01-02
Prachtig 80: Volume 2
2003-12-01
20 Videoclips from the 80's.
The Giants of Black Music
2003-03-24
Mother Popcorn - James Brown What's The Use Of Breaking Up - Jerry Butler MacArthur Park - Della R
They All Came Out to Montreux
2023-06-16
Utilizing a wealth of archival footage featuring Prince, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis and more, They
DTV: Golden Oldies
1984-09-01
Compilation of DTV music videos from on The Disney Channel, combining tunes from the 1940s through t
Live at Amsterdam 1976
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
1983-05-16
Television special taped before a live studio audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena,
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
1974-12-22
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1
The T.A.M.I. Show
1964-11-14
Hailed by one music reviewer as "the grooviest, wildest, slickest hit ever to pound the screen," "Th
Save the Children
1973-05-13
A concert film highlighted by performances from Marvin Gaye, Jerry Butler, and Roberta Flack.
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
2008-05-07
When Marvin Gaye died in 1984, he left behind one of the great legacies in American music. More than
Motor City's Burning: Detroit from Motown to the Stooges
2008-03-07
Documentary looking at how Detroit became home to a musical revolution that captured the sound of a
Chrome and Hot Leather
1971-09-29
A Green Beret returns home from the Vietnam war to find that a gang of murderous bikers has killed h
The Ballad of Andy Crocker
1969-11-18
Returning Vietnam veteran Andy Crocker arrives in his small hometown to discover his best friend and
DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd
2009-03-19
DJ Cinema is mixing up blends with artists like Biggie, Nas, Jay-Z, AZ, Rick Ross, Fabolous, 50 Cent
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004-01-01
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the m
Whitney
2018-07-05
Examines the life and career of singer Whitney Houston. Features never-before-seen archival footage,
Standing Room Only: Diana Ross
1980-01-13
If ever there’s a moment that brilliantly and perfectly illustrates the star-power possessed by Dian
Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing - In Performance 1964-1981
2006-04-04
The definitive DVD collection of one of America's greatest stars. Issued with the full cooperation o
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1977
1977-05-18
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1
Remember Marvin Gaye
2002-01-01
Documentary on Marvin Gaye made during his stay in Belgium, Ostende
Marvin Gaye - Greatest Hits Live in '76
1976-10-09
Recorded live on Marvin Gaye's first European tour in 1976, at the Edenhalle Concert Hall, in Amster
What's Going On: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye
2008-03-07
The story of Marvin Gaye, one of the great and enduring figures of soul music whose life was one of
Marvin Gaye Live In Belgium 1981
2006-04-04
Marvin Gaye Live Consert in Belgium 1981