Some considered him a sex symbol while others said he was a tormented soul. One thing’s for sure, Marvin Gaye was a musical genius. Raised in Washington,D.C., Marvin grew up singing in the church where his father preached. He later pursued a musical career and ended up recording for Berry Gordy’s “House of Hits”, Motown Records from the 1960s to 1970s. From there Marvin became an international star, writing and recording hits for many of Motown’s stars as well as spawning his own successful albums. During his lifetime he had eight Top Ten albums, including the ground-breaking What’s Going On (1971) and the seductive Let’s Get It On (1973).
Marvin Gaye’s music spanned the eras of music from doo-wop to modern soul, as he perfected innovations in songwriting and production that have influenced many artists, past and present. A violent, untimely death took Marvin Gaye away in 1984 but his musical and creativity legacy live on in spirit.
Some of the Best of Marvin Gaye
“Distant Lover” (sampled by Kanye West for his song ”Spaceship”)
“I Want You”
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (with longtime collaborator and friend, Tammi Terrell)
