CineScope
Marvin Gaye picture

Marvin Gaye

Acting
Known For

44 Years Old

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.

Born

Washington, District of Columbia, USA on 2nd April 1939

Died

1st April 1984

All Credits

Top of the Pops Image
Top of the Pops
Self
The Hollywood Palace Image
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Singer
The Top Ten Revealed Image
The Top Ten Revealed
Self (archive footage)
The Ed Sullivan Show Image
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
Shindig! Image
Shindig!
Self - Singer
Ready Steady Go! Image
Ready Steady Go!
Self
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything Image
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
Self (archive footage)
Hullabaloo Image
Hullabaloo
Self
The Midnight Special Image
The Midnight Special
Self
Forensic Justice Image
Forensic Justice
Self (archive footage)
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years Image
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
Death In Hollywood Image
Death In Hollywood
(archive footage)
Save the Children Image
Save the Children
Self
Whitney Image
Whitney
Self (archive footage)
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart Image
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Self (archive photo)
Chrome and Hot Leather Image
Chrome and Hot Leather
Jim
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Image
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Self
No Image
Malibu U
Self
What's Going On: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye Image
What's Going On: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye
Self (archive footage)
Marvin Gaye - Live In Montreux 1980 Image
Marvin Gaye - Live In Montreux 1980
Himself
The Day the Music Died Image
The Day the Music Died
Self
The T.A.M.I. Show Image
The T.A.M.I. Show
Self
The Ballad of Andy Crocker Image
The Ballad of Andy Crocker
David Owens
No Image
DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd
Self (archive footage)
No Image
Darts Tarts – Welcome to my World
Self (archive footage)
Motown 40: The Music is Forever Image
Motown 40: The Music is Forever
Self (archive footage)
Larry presents: Best of The 80s Image
Larry presents: Best of The 80s
Self
They All Came Out to Montreux Image
They All Came Out to Montreux
Self
Mr. Nelson on the North Side Image
Mr. Nelson on the North Side
Self
Motor City's Burning: Detroit from Motown to the Stooges Image
Motor City's Burning: Detroit from Motown to the Stooges
Self (archive footage)
DTV: Golden Oldies Image
DTV: Golden Oldies
Self
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1977 Image
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1977
Self
Standing Room Only: Diana Ross Image
Standing Room Only: Diana Ross
Self
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On Image
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
Self (archive footage)
Prachtig 80: Volume 2 Image
Prachtig 80: Volume 2
Self
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go! Image
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
Self (archive footage)
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974 Image
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
Self
The Giants of Black Music Image
The Giants of Black Music
Self
Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux Image
Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux
Self
Funky Dance Grooves Image
Funky Dance Grooves
Self
Remember Marvin Gaye Image
Remember Marvin Gaye
Himself
Marvin Gaye - Greatest Hits Live in '76 Image
Marvin Gaye - Greatest Hits Live in '76
Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing - In Performance 1964-1981 Image
Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing - In Performance 1964-1981
Himself
No Image
Live at Amsterdam 1976
Himself
Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on Image
Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on
self