Marvin
Gaye
Marvin
Gaye was the epitome of young, gifted and black. Born on
April 2nd, 1939, in Washington, DC, the young Marvin was
rebellious - he was regularly beaten by his reverend
father, and was discharged from the US Air Force, because
he would not conform.
Obviously a free spirit, with a good voice, singing
seemed Gaye's natural vocation. Rather than sing with his
father's choir, he joined a number of vocal groups, most
notably The Marquees, in 1957, which became part of
singer/producer Harvey Fuqua's reformed singing group,
The Moonglows. Fuqua became a massive leg up to Marvin
Gaye's career, especially when Fuqua joined Berry Gordy
at Motown, where Gaye began as a session drummer and
singer.
In 1961, Gaye was dating Gordy's sister, Anna, whom he
later married, and was given a solo recording contract,
plus a name change. Originally Marvin Gay, an 'e' was
added to the surname. Marvin had his first US top 10 hit
in 1962, with 'Stubborn Kind Of Fellow', and a hit the
next year with 'Can I Get A Witness'. As well as singing,
Gaye was also drumming on some Little Stevie Wonder records,
and even co-wrote 'Dancing In The Street' for Martha And
The Vandellas.
Marvin Gaye recorded his first classic, 'How Sweet It Is
(To Be Loved By You)', in 1965. Using Gaye's smooth
persona to good effect, Motown teamed him up with several
leading female singers, including Mary Wells, Kim Weston,
and Tammi Terrell. Marvin and Tammi became close friends,
though not, apparently, lovers, and had hits with several
outstanding songs from 1967 to 1970, including 'Your
Precious Love', 'Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing', and
'The Onion Song'.
The uptempo, but soulful, 'I Heard It Through The
Grapevine', released in 1968, became Gaye's most famous
song, and was a number one in both the US and UK. Gaye
had also given Tamla Motown their biggest-selling record
to date, and the song remains in the top drawer of
popular songs. One of Marvin Gaye's most haunting songs,
'Abraham, Martin, And John', was released in 1969, with
references to Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, and
John F. Kennedy. A beautiful recording, and cautious
signs that Gaye was beginning to use his music to expose
more serious issues.
Though Marvin Gaye's career was going wonderfully well,
the death of Tammi Terrell through a brain tumour in
March, 1970, devastated Marvin to such an extent that he
became a virtual recluse.
The next year saw Gaye change tack and come up with the
truly seminal 'What's Going On' album. Not really to
Motown's liking, because of its lyrical content, it was a
radical album, musically - being a tad experimental - and
content-wise, for bringing social and ecological issues into the music
mainstream. Gaye became one of the most high profile
black artists to speak out aginst racial inequality, and
for basically appealing for simple decency among all
races.
From this musical high, Gaye's career became blighted by
problems for ten years, with drug, tax, and marriage
problems, though he did come up with some gems such as
'Let's Get It On (1973)', 'You Are Everything (1974)',
with Diana Ross, and 'Got To Give
It Up (1977)'. The
'Sexual Healing' single of 1982 saw an international
resurgence in Gaye's career, but drug problems and
depression meant he was unable to capitalise on this new-found
success.
An argument with his volatile father, Marvin Snr., on
April 1st, 1984, resulted in Marvin Gaye being punished
by his father for the final time. Marvin Jr. was shot
dead a day before his 45th birthday.
Though one of the saddest stories in showbusiness, Marvin
Gaye was one of the most influential and talented of all
black artists, and he leaves behind a wonderful legacy of
both music and humanitarian values. As soul legend Smokey Robinson says of Marvin: "He's alive forever."
- Paul Rance, Peace & Freedom Press. |
