LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Marvin Gaye
built 630 days ago
Marvin Gaye was born Marvin Pentz Gay (later adding an 'e' to the end of his name as Sam Cooke had done) on April 2, 1939. Gaye grew up the son of an Apostolic preacher, singing in the church choir by age 3, and learning to play the drums and piano. Gaye's musical ambition was put on hold after high school with time in the Air Force. Gaye began his music career as a member of 'The Rainbows' (who later became The Moonglows). The impact of Berry Gordy, Jr. and Motown Records on Gaye became evident by the early 60s when Gordy gave Gaye a solo contract and Gaye married Gordy's sister. Gaye ... worked as a session drummer with Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
Source:
Marvin Gaye (originally Gay) was the second of four children of Alberta and Marvin Gay, Sr., a minister. He grew up in a modest home in a poor, segregated section of the nation's capital. Raised by devout Seventh-Day Adventists, he was the product of a strict and often abusive upbringing. In contrast to Gay's mother, a strong, pious woman who left home each morning at 5 a.m. to work as a maid, his father was an uninspired, effeminate man who drank excessively and even beat his children. His fits of rage were tempered, ironically, by a millenarian religious devotion that prized restraint. Indeed, for much of their childhood, the Gay children were expected to immerse themselves in worship from Friday night until Sunday afternoon, making them the object of ridicule from schoolmates who considered their religion (and their father) peculiar.
Source:
[I]n 1968 Marvin Gaye's cousin died in the Vietnam War. His younger brother did three tours of duty there. Gaye's brother told him about events he participated in and witnessed in the war. Marvin Gaye collected more information about the condition of the Vietnamese people, particularly the children. Eventually, Benson gave his song to Marvin Gaye to refine. The song "What's Going On" began to take shape.
Source:
As Marvin Gaye's career started to form, so did his personal life. Marvin fell in love with Berry Gordy's sister, Anna who was 17 years his senior. They married shortly thereafter. At that point, Marvin's dream was to be the next Nat King Cole, singing smooth, romantic ballads. Though against Berry Gordy's plan, Marvin was given the opportunity to follow his dream. The opportunity ... failed completely.
Source:
PARIS, 5 September 2001 - Marvin Gaye's elegant "What's Going On" has been reissued as a deluxe two-CD box by Motown/Universal on the occasion of its 30th anniversary. With alternate takes and mixes, original single versions and "Live at the Kennedy Center" added, there's close to four times more music than on the original LP, which was, along with the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and just possibly the Steve Miller Band's "Sailor," one of the most musically mature and lyrically successful "theme" or "concept" albums of the rock era.
Source:
Marvin Gaye's life and brilliant career were cut tragically short on April 1, 1984 - one day before his 45th birthday - when he was shot and killed by his own father. Now, for the first time ever,...
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Marvin Gaye