Marvin Gaye was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of hits, including "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Gaye's final album, Midnight Love, was released in 1982.
Gaye was born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. on April 2, 1939, in Washington, D.C., to church minister Marvin Gay Sr. and domestic worker Alberta Gay. His first home was in a public housing project, the Fairfax Apartments at 1617 1st Street SW in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood. Although Gaye started out singing in doo-wop and rhythm and blues groups he became a central figure in the Motown sound of the 1960s. He achieved his first major hit with "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" (1962) before his career was interrupted by a two-year stint in the US Army.
After being discharged from the army, Gaye recorded the song "Hitch Hike" which turned into a minor hit. He followed that with chart success among other Motown artists like The Miracles, The Temptations, and Martha & The Vandellas. His duet recordings with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, and Tammi Terrell turned into some of his most successful work. "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "Your Precious Love", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", and "You're All I Need to Get By" were all number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1971, Gaye released What's Going On, an album that is widely considered one of the greatest ever recorded. The concept album was a song cycle about life, love, and social issues facing African Americans at the time. It included the title track, which was a hit single, as well as "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)". What's Going On was ranked number six on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
Gaye's album I Want You (1976) was an important work in his post-What's Going On period and is noted for its sexual themes. The title track, which has a disco influence, became one of Gaye's biggest hits. "Got to Give It Up" (1977) was another big hit from the album, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1982, Gaye released Midnight Love, which features the song "Sexual Healing", one of his most successful singles. The album received three Grammy Awards, including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Sexual Healing".
Gaye's final album, You're the Man, was released in March 2019, on the 40th anniversary of his death. The album was intended to be Gaye's follow-up to What's Going On and was recorded in 1972–1973. It features the song "You're the Man", which was supposed to be the lead single for the album but was never released.
Gaye died on April 1, 1984, at the age of 44, from a gunshot wound to the chest inflicted by his father. His death was ruled a homicide, and his father pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Gaye's funeral was held at Washington National Cathedral on April 10, 1984. He was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Gaye is remembered as one of the greatest soul musicians of all time. He was posthumously inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Gaye at number 18 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
