Marvin Gaye is a popular American performer, arranger, songwriter and record producer. The singer stands at the origins of modern rhythm and blues.
At the stage of his creative career, Marvin was given the nickname "Prince of Motown". The musician grew from light Motown rhythm and blues to the exquisite soul of the collections What's Going On and Let's Get It On.
It was a great transformation! These albums are still popular and are considered real musical masterpieces.
Gay Marvin did the impossible. The musician turned rhythm and blues from a light genre into a way of artistic expression. Thanks to music, the American singer revealed a wide variety of topics, from love ballads to politics.
The path of Gay Marvin was short, but bright. He died the day before his 45th birthday, April 1, 1984. When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was created, the artist's name was immortalized in it.
Childhood and youth Marvin Gaye
Gay was born on April 2, 1939 in the family of a clergyman. The singer reluctantly recalled his childhood. He was raised in a very strict family. His father often beat him to supposedly instill the right moral values.
After graduating from high school, Gay served in the United States Air Force. After the guy paid his debt to his homeland, he performed with various bands, including The Rainbows. For some time, the mentioned team performed with Bo Diddley.
While touring in Detroit, this group (which changed its name to The Moonglows) caught the attention of aspiring producer Berry Gordy in the early 1960s.
The producer noticed Marvin and invited him to sign a contract with the Motown recording studio. Of course, Gay agreed to such an offer, because he understood that it was much more difficult to “sail” alone.
At the end of 1961, the musician married a girl, Anna. She was 17 years older than Gay, besides, she was the sister of the producer. Marvin soon began playing percussion instruments. The musician was present at the recordings of Motown Vice President Smokey Robinson.
Gay Marvin collaboration with Motown
Marvin's musical piggy bank began to fill with the first songs. The debut compositions did not foretell to critics and music lovers that Gay would become an international star.
The singer dreamed of performing lyrical ballads and saw himself no lower than the famous Sinatra. But his colleagues in the workshop were confident that Gay would achieve some success in dance compositions. In 1963, dance recordings were at the bottom of the charts, but only Pride and Joy reached the top 10.
While working at the Motown recording studio, the musician recorded about 50 songs. Interestingly, 39 of them were included in the top 40 best tracks in the United States of America. Some compositions Gay Marvin wrote and arranged independently.
According to the results of the mid-1960s, the musician became one of the most successful Motown singers. Must-listen songs:
- Ain't That Peculiar;
- I'll Be Doggone;
- How Sweet It Is.
The track I Heard It Through the Grapevine is still considered the pinnacle of the Motown sound. For more than two weeks, the composition held a leading position in the Billboard 100. Today, the track is included in the repertoire of Elton John and Amy Winehouse.
Marvin Gaye managed to realize himself not only as a solo artist, but also as a master of romantic duets. In the mid-1960s, the label commissioned him to record a record of duets with Mary Wells.
A few years later, he recorded a song with popular singer Tammy Terrell. Fans especially remembered the songs Ain't No Mountain High Enough, You're All I Need to Get By.
What's Going On Album Presentation
During the years of active black rights struggle, which has been joined by performers and musicians, Motown members are ordered to avoid any social topics.
Marvin Gaye took this attitude negatively. He considered the commercial rhythm and blues offered to him frankly unworthy of his talent. During this period of time, the singer had conflicts with his wife and producer. As a result of this, Marvin stopped recording songs and appearing on stage for a while.
But in the early 1970s, Gay Marvin decided to break his silence. He presented the album What's Going On. The musician independently produced and arranged the songs of the disc. The work on the album was influenced by the stories of the demobilized brother about the Vietnam War.
Album What's Going On is a stage in the development of rhythm and blues. This is the first collection of the artist, which revealed the true creative urge and talent of the American singer.
Gay Marvin focused on percussion instruments. The sound of musical compositions is enriched with motives of jazz and classical music. Gordy refused to spin the record and create a release. The producer kept Gaye on the sidelines until the title track hit No. 2 on the pop charts.
On the wave of popularity, Marvin expanded his discography with several more albums. The records were called Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues.
Presentation of the album Let's Get It On
In subsequent works, Gay Marvin tried to move away from the active social position, which was marked by his most personal collection. Soon the artist's discography was replenished with the disc Let's Get It On. This event took place in 1973. The record twisted Marvin's soul.
Some music critics agreed that Let's Get It On is a sexual revolution in rhythm and blues. The title song took the top of the music chart and eventually turned into the singer's calling card.
In the same year, the singer released another collection of duets, this time with Motown diva Diana Ross. Three years later, he expanded his discography with the compilation I Want You. In later years, fans were content to listen to old re-released Marvin tracks.
The last years of Gay Marvin's life
The last years of Marvin's life, alas, cannot be called happy. The singer was saddled with divorce proceedings. They were also accompanied by the fact that Gay did not pay child support on time.
To take his mind off the lawsuits, Marvin moved to Hawaii. However, even there he cannot rest. He began to struggle with drug addiction.
In the early 1980s, Gay began work on the In Our Lifetime project. Interestingly, according to the artist, the project was remixed and put on sale by the label without his consent.
Marvin Gaye left the label he started his career with. He soon released the independent album Midnight Love. The musical composition Sexual Healing, which was included in the new collection, conquered the music charts around the world.
The singer died at the age of 44. It happened during a family quarrel. His father, during an argument with Marvin, drew a firearm and shot his son twice. Gay died at the scene.
