American singer/songwriter and record producer Marvin Gaye was born on April 2nd 1939 as Marvin Pentz Gay Jr in Washington DC and died on April 1st 1984. He was divorced and had three children.
At the age of 4, he started singing in church, often accompanied by his dad on the piano. He showed to be very promising as a singer and was encouraged to take singing professionally, particularly by his mother. After attending elementary school, he continued his studies, particularly focusing on singing, at the Randall Junior High Glee Club and soon became a star.
He then went to two different high schools and joined some doo-wop vocal groups. At the age of 17, Marvin left school and enrolled with the US Air Force, but was discharged after he pretended that he was mentally ill.
Afterwards, Gaye formed a group named the ‘Marquees’ and they began performing in their local city and went on to release their only single ‘Wyatt Earp’ which, however, failed to chart. At that time, Marvin started composing music and continued performing with the group but a few years later it disbanded.
Marvin then worked as a session musician as well as jazz music and standards performer. His debut single ‘Let your conscience be your Guide’ was released in 1961, but was not very successful. The year after, however, his career took a positive turn with the release of the songs ‘Stubborn kind of Fellow’ and ‘Hitch Hike’, followed by the top 10 hit single ‘Pride and Joy’ in 1963. The number 1 hit ‘I heard it through the Grapevine’ was released in 1968.
During the next decade, Gaye continued issuing and composing songs as well as doing concert tours which helped him achieve more success. Then, in 1982, the hit ‘Sexual Healing’ was released, and is considered as his best success ever in his singing career. Additionally, with this hit, Marvin won 2 Grammy Awards as well as an American Music Award.
Marvin died on the eve of his 45th birthday, i.e. 1st April 1984, after he was shot in the chest and shoulder by his own father due to a family argument.
*Image: no infringement intended. Source: Stabroek News