Crate Diggers: Happy Birthday Marvin Gaye

Sunday, April 2, 2017

Happy Birthday Marvin Gaye

“War is not the answer, because only love can conquer hate” - Marvin Gaye
(Marvin Gaye)
Marvin Gaye was born as Marvin Gay Jr. on April 2nd, 1939 in Washington D.C., USA. At 4 years old Gay started to sing in church. His father was very hard on Gay and his siblings being beaten for minor things.
(Gay as a child)
While in high school Gay joined several Doo-Wop groups. In 1956 Gay dropped out of high school and joined the US Air Force. Gay was disappointed in having to perform menial tasks,so he faked mental illness and was discharged shortly afterwards. Returning to Washington D.C., Gay and good friend Reese Palmer formed the vocal quartet The Marquees. The group performed in the D.C. area and soon began working with Bo Diddley. The group signed to Okeh records. After the group was dropped from the label from failing to chart Gay began to compose music. Under a new leader the group changed its name to Harvey and the New Moonglows, and relocated to Chicago.
(Harvey and the Moonglows)
In 1959 Gay lead his first song called “Mama Loocie”. The group also sang backup vocals for Chuck Berry. In 1960 the group disbanded and Gay moved to Detroit, MI. Gay then was signed with Motown’s subsidiary label Tamla records and Gay added an “e” to the end of his last name to look more professional. Gaye originally had no intentions of singing R&B since he wanted to do Jazz. In 1961 Gaye released his 1st single “"Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide".
(Gaye in 1961)
Gaye spent most of 1961 playing drums for artists such as The Miracles and The Marvelettes. In 1962 Gaye found success as co-writer of the Marvelettes hit "Beechwood 4-5789”. His first solo hit, "Stubborn Kinda Fellow", was later released in September, reaching No. 8 on the R&B chart. In 1963 Gaye’s song “Pride and Joy” became his 1st top 10 single. Gaye performed as part of the Motown Revue in 1963. Gaye had two No. 1 R&B singles in 1965 with "I'll Be Doggone" and "Ain't That Peculiar", both songs sold millions of records. Gaye then made hits with Tammi Terrell, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" and You're All I Need to Get By".
(Gaye (Left) with Tammi Terrell (Right))
In 1967 Gaye was performing with Terrell and she collapsed while performing and later found out she had a tumor which ended her performing career. In 1968 Gaye's recording of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” became his first song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gaye followed it up with "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" and "That's the Way Love Is", which reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. In 1969 his album “M.P.G.” became his first No. 1 R&B album. In 1970 Gaye began recording “What’s Going On” but Berry Gordy refused to release it due to his feelings of the song being "too political" for radio. Gaye responded by going on strike from recording until the label released the song. In 1971 the song was released and it reached No. 1 on the R&B charts within a month, staying there for five weeks and sold 2 million copies.
(Gaye in 1971)
He released the whole album later that month. The album became Gaye's first million-selling album. It was one of Motown’s first autonomous works. Gaye received two Grammy Award nominations and several NAACP Image Awards. In 1972 he released “Trouble Man”. In 1973, Gaye released “Let's Get It On”. Its title track became Gaye's second No. 1 single on the Hot 100 chart. Gaye’s final duet album was with Diana Ross and was called “Diana & Marvin”.
(Gaye (Right) with Diana Ross (Left))
Gaye toured from 1974 to 1975. In 1976 Gaye released “I Want You”, the title track became a No. 1 R&B hit. In 1977 his song “Got to Give it Up” hit No. 1 on the R&B charts. In 1978 Gaye released “Here, My Dear”, recorded as an intent for him to remit a portion of its royalties to his ex wife to receive alimony payments, it performed poorly on the charts. Gaye started to contract a cocaine addiction and he had troubles with the IRS. In 1980 Gaye went on a European tour and he feared to come back to the US due to unpaid taxes which was about $4.5 million. In 1981 Gaye left Motown due to several disputes of releasing music without Gaye’s consent. Gaye then moved to Belgium. Gaye recovered from his cocaine addiction while in Belgium. In 1982 Gaye signed with CBS records. In 1982 Gaye released his biggest hit song “Sexual Healing” spending a record ten weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Black Singles chart, becoming the biggest R&B hit of the 1980s according to Billboard stats.
(Gaye performing in 1982)
In the US the album “Midnight Love” sold 3 million records. In 1983 Gaye won his first two Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. On February 13, 1983, Gaye sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the NBA All-Star Game at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
(Gaye performing at the NBA All Star game in 1983)
At the end of Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” tour he went to live with his parents in Los Angeles, CA. On April 1st, 1984 in Los Angeles, California after a dispute with his father Gaye was shot and killed by him. He was 44 years old.
(Gaye’s funeral)
Today is his 78th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Marvin Gaye.

Albums by Marvin Gaye
  • “The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye” (1961)
  • “That Stubborn Kinda Fellow” (1963)
  • “When I'm Alone I Cry” (1964)
  • “Hello Broadway” (1964)
  • “How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You” (1965)
  • “A Tribute to the Great Nat "King" Cole” (1965)
  • “Moods of Marvin Gaye” (1966)
  • “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968)
  • “M.P.G.” (1969)
  • “That's the Way Love Is” (1970)
  • “What's Going On” (1971)
  • “Trouble Man” (1972)
  • “Let's Get It On” (1973)
  • “I Want You” (1976)
  • “Here, My Dear” (1978)
  • “In Our Lifetime” (1981)
  • “Midnight Love” (1982)
Videos of Marvin Gaye

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