Marvin Gaye and His Greatest Hits!

Marvin Gaye

Washington D.C spit out a songwriter and singer by the name of Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. in 1939.  Born to Marvin Sr. and Alberta.  Marvin Gaye sang in his father's choir and played the organ.  If you remember the D.C. Tones, Marvin played the piano in that doo-wop group. Joining the United States Air Force after dropping out of school, Gaye was discharged in 1957.  Marvin Gaye began supporting himself by working as a dishwasher at a whites-only drug store.  Could you imagine what that was like in the late 50's, still dealing with white-only businesses?  All the while he formed a group called the Marquees and recorded "Hey, Little School Girl" and they were hired by Harvey Fuqua.  Then known as Harvey and the Moonglows and moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1959 for the Chess Record label.  However, a year later Marvin Gaye and Harvey Fuqua moved to Detroit to potentially sing with Berry Gordy Jr. with Motown Records.  Marvin was performing as a drummer until 1961 when Gordy agreed to feature Marvin Gaye as a singer.  What do you know about the song "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" or "Hitch Hike?"  Anna Gordy became Marvin Gaye Juniors wife in 1963 and then adopted a son.  Marvin Pentz Gaye the third.

The 60's were a successful time for Marvin Gaye.  He had hits like "Ain't that Peculiar," It Takes Two," "ain't No Mountain High Enough," and "Your Precious Love."  How about the songs in the 70's such as "I Heard It Trough The Grapevine" or "What's Going On?"   Some of these songs fit the theme of those days, Urban poverty and Police brutality. In 1971, Marvin Gaye had been awarded for the songs "What's Going on," "Mercy Mercy Me," and "Inner City Blues."  After moving to Los Angeles, California in 1973 Gaye came out with "Let's Get It On."  Topping the charts and selling over five million copies!  Even to this day, his songs are popular.  Soon after, Marvin Gaye and his wife separated and divorced in 1977.  Janis Hunter was his new lady.  However, she was 16!  I do not know about you, but the age difference was unacceptable.  Before they married 1977, Janis birthed two of Marvin's kids. 

Marvin Gaye had gone on tours and opened a recording studio.  Most of his proceeds were going to his first wife.  Cocaine became a habit.  His debt became very large and he never recovered.  Forced to sell his house and many of his possessions in 1980 and lived in a van on a beach in Maui, Hawaii.  He and his son remained in London after his Europe tour.  Signing a contract with CBS Records gave him another hit, "Sexual Healing."  He was able to return to the United States but moved into his parents home in Crenshaw, California.  He won another award.  Although his cocaine addiction became worse.  In 1984, Marvin Gaye's father shot him.