Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was an American R&B singer and songwriter. He was born on April 2, 1939 in Washington, D.C as Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. He added the "e" onto his last name after he became grown. As an artist, Gaye sang about love and relationships as well as social and political issues of his time. He is best known for his hit songs, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", and "What's Going On".http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/gaye_marvin/bio.jhtml

Gaye's father was a devout and conservative Christian who was a minister in the House of God faith. Marvin learned to play and sing music in his father's church, taking up piano and drums. Despite the family's religious background, Marvin was abused regularly by his father.http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/gaye_marvin/bio.jhtml

Throughout his career, Gaye had several hit records under the Motown Records label founded by Berry Gordy. His career extended over three decades, with Gaye releasing his last record in 1982. As his success grew, so did his personal problems, including a growing addiction to cocaine which he struggled with through his life.http://www.biography.com/articles/Marvin-Gaye-9307988?part=1 In an attempt to rebuild his life, Marvin moved back in with his parents. But the situation became volatile and, after an argument, Marvin was shot and killed by his father, Marvin, Sr., on April 1, 1984. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/gaye_marvin/bio.jhtml

Marvin Gaye got his start in music in the family's church, but he began singing professionally in the 1950s. In 19958, he joined his first musical group called The Marquees. He met Berry Gordy and later married Gordy's sister, Anna Gordy and became an artist at Motown Records, which Gordy had founded.

During his time at Motown, Gaye was popular as a solo artist and as a duet partner with Tammi Terrell. He and Terrell recorded several hit songs for Motown, including How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)". Terrell died suddenly of a brain tumor in 1967 and Gaye was hit hard by her death, refusing to perform for five years.http://rockhall.com/inductees/marvin-gaye/bio/

Gaye returned as a solo artist and wrote several more hit songs, including socially conscious melodies such as "Mercy Mercy Me" and "Inner City Blues". His music also became more erotic with songs such as "Let's Get It On" and "I Want You".http://rockhall.com/inductees/marvin-gaye/bio/ After his divorce, his addiction to cocaine became worse and he took an extended break from recording.http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/gaye_marvin/bio.jhtml

He staged a comeback with the song "Sexual Healing in 1982 which earned Gaye his first Grammy Award.http://www.biography.com/articles/Marvin-Gaye-9307988?part=1 In Rolling Stone magazine, Marvin Gaye was ranked as number 6 on the list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.http://classic.motown.com/artist.aspx?ob=ros&src=lb&aid=1