I remember Marvin Gaye well. I was a teenager when he made his huge comeback hit, “Sexual Healing”. I even remember his song being ranked as #1 for the year on a New York radio station in 1983. I also remember the moment I heard the news of his tragic death. What I did not know was that in the midst of his popularity and success, is that he was a tortured soul.
Marvin Gaye was born at Freedman’s Hospital in Washington D.C. to Rev. Marvin Pentz Gay Sr. and Alberta Cooper. His mother was a teacher and maid and supported the family financially. He, his two sisters and his brother were raised in a segregated neighborhood in northeastern DC. Marvin’s father was a minister of the SDA Church’s House of God and he began singing and playing instruments in the choir at a young age. He dropped out of high school and joined the Air Force but was discharged for not following orders.
He began his music career in 1957 with doo-wop groups. He was in the Marquees and, The Moonglows where he recorded his first single. Marvin Gaye met Barry Gordy and worked as a session drummer for several large acts including Little Stevie Wonder and Martha and the Vandellas. This was around the time that he added the ‘e’ to his last name to separate himself from his father and to quell rumors about his sexuality. He was one of Motown’s biggest stars. It was during this time that Marvin Gaye met Tammy Terrell with whom he recorded several hit duets. Marvin and Tammy had great success together convincing many that they were lovers with from their great relationship and performances. He was actually married to Barry Gordon’s sister Anna who was 17 years older than he was. When Terrell fell sick with a brain tumor in 1968, Gaye went through a serious depression. He even felt he was undeserving of his number one hit, a remake “I Heard it Through the Grapevine”. His depression worsened after her death in 1970.
One of Gaye’s biggest hits “What’s Going On” became a huge success in spite of a battle with Berry Gordy who did not like the song. Similar hits followed as well as the recording of movie soundtracks, and a duet album with Diana Ross. His music during these time spoke to the social issues of the times. He ended his relationship with Motown after a nasty divorce with Gordy’s sister and his complaints that Motown edited and remixing his In Our Lifetime album. During this time, he was battling tax problems, drug addictions, and bankruptcy. When signed to perform in London in front of Princess Margaret, he did not show up until after everyone had left.
It seemed Marvin had cleaned up his act when he released Midnight Love featuring the single Sexual Healing in 1982. The song two Grammy awards and his comeback led to many public performances. His 1983 US tour ended early due to depression and other health problems. Marvin Gaye then moved into his parent’s house where he would argue with his father and make several suicide threats. During one argument with his father, Marvin Gay Sr. murdered Marvin Gaye on April 1, 1984.
After murdering his son, Marvin Gay Sr. went outside, and waited for the police. He was arrested and while waiting for his trial, a walnut sized tumor in his pituitary gland. It is believed that the tumor affected his behavior. He was ruled incompetent to stand trial, and later pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to five years probation and lived the rest of his years in a retirement home where he died in October 1998. Marvin’s mother divorced her husband while he awaited trial and moved in with her daughter. She died three years after her son’s death.
