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                      Marvin Gaye

  "What's going on?" The delicately sung lyrics still echo throughout the land, today. What is going on?

Do you think April 2, 1939 realized how special the day was, as Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. was born? Did his parents realize how important to music thier son would become?

Growing up in Washington, DC Marvin was teased quite often about his surname. Eventually he'd add an "e" to the end, as a means of preventing further teasing. Marvin got his start as a singer in his father's church choir. This is also where Marvin would learn to play the piano and drums to escape his father's physcial abuse.

After being let out of the Air Force, Mr. Gaye would join numerous Doo-Wop groups in the DC area settling with the Marquees. In 1958 with Bo Diddley, the Marquees would release the single "Wyatt Earp" on the Okeh Records label. Noted funk producer Harvey Fuqua would recruit the group and turn them into The Moonglows. After performing a concert in Detroit, Gaye was recruited by Berry Gordy of Motown Records...and the rest as they say is history...

Marvin started out at Motown as a session drummer and part-time song writer working with The Miracles, The Contours, and Martha & The Vandellas. His drumming is featured on The Marvelletes' single, "Please Mr. Postman" and Little Stevie Wonder's "Fingertips pt. 2."  His co-writing credits include Martha & The Vandellas' "Dancing in the Streets" and The Marvelettes,' "Beachwood 4-5789."

Marvin would also marry Berry Gordy's sister Anna in 1964.

Gaye's own recording career as an artist on the label started off with 3 singles, none of which ever became hits. Eventually, he would blow up, record and tour with Tammi Terrell.

After Tammi's death, Gaye went into a seclusion of sorts. Around that time he attempted a short-lived career with the Detroit Lions football team, as a spirit lifting exercise. The pain of her daeth and his failure at dealing with it lead him into the studio to write and record songs such as "What's going on?," "God is Love" and "Sad Tomorrows" (early version of Flying High). These recordings lead to Gordy's request for more songs like them...which would become his best known and passionate album, "What's Going On?"

He went on to release several more hit albums, deal with drug addictions, tax problems (moving to Belgium to cure this problem), failed marriages, etc. He eventually moved back into his parents home and threatened suicide many times. April 1, 1984 during a highly heated argument Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father.  Some relatives even say Gaye pushed his father over the edge, so Gaye wouldn't have to commit suicide. 

Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr is survived by three children: son Marvin Pentz III, daughter Nona Marvisa, and son Frankie Christian.