Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. was born on April 2, 1939, the second oldest child of domestic worker Alberta Gay and Pentecostalist minister Marvin Gay Sr. From an early age, Gaye took an ardor for singing; he believed that this vocation helped him through his severely troubled youth. Gaye's sister has stated that Gay Sr. beat Marvin often and into his teens. At 17, Gaye became a high school dropout, enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Disgruntled by the humble labor he had to do, Gaye pretended to have mental illness. The service authorized him a "General Discharge." Gaye returned to the D.C. area and set up a vocal quartet with a friend called The Marquees. Gaye's first vocal recording as a lead singer, "Mama Loocie," was recorded with Harvey and the New Moonglows, which was composed of Harvey Fuqua and members of The Marquees. After the group's dissolution in 1960, Gaye moved to Detroit. Performing at Motown head Berry Gordy's house, Gaye drew Gordy's interest; the ensuing sale of Fuqua's part of Gaye's contract led to Gaye signing with Motown company Tamla. Gaye initially wanted a career as a standards and jazz performer. After numerous album releases and chart successes, in 1971, Gaye saw the release of his concept album What's Going On. It was his first platinum-selling album and earned him much critical praise. His next project would be the score and soundtrack to the 1972 blaxploitation film, Trouble Man. In 1981, advised by music promoter Freddy Cousaert, tax exile Gaye moved into Cousaert's Ostend apartment in Belgium. Staging a personal recovery, Gaye penned the song "Sexual Healing," which would be his greatest hit, eventually doing ten weeks in the top position on the Hot Black Singles chart. The song was the first single from the album Midnight Love, which sold in excess of six million units. Gaye then went out on the Sexual Healing Tour, starting April 18, 1983, which would be his last tour. Around halfway through the year, he ended the tour, suffering paranoia stemming from cocaine use. Gaye then relocated to his parents' residence in L.A. Marvins Sr. and Jr. had growing conflict between them for months. Relatives and friends felt that Marvin Jr. was sometimes suicidally driven. One day, Gaye attempted to follow this urge with a leap from a hurtling sports car. He only received slight bruises. On April 1, 1984, Marvin Sr. yelled at Alberta about a lost insurance policy letter; they'd argued about the form for days. A severe thrashing then ensued between the two Marvins, with Marvin Sr. on the receiving end. Minutes thereafter, Marvin Sr. entered Gaye's bedroom, clutching a .38 pistol that had been bought for him by Gaye, and shot his son once in his heart and once in the shoulder. Marvin Jr.'s body was transported to California Hospital Medical Center, where at about 1 P.M., Gaye was pronounced dead on arrival. Celebrities across the world were shocked by the news of Gaye's untimely passing, from Smokey Robinson to Al Sharpton. Following Gaye's death, his awards and honors have flourished -- a fitting legacy for the man titled Prince of Soul.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 7.634 |
Birthday | 1939-04-02 |
Place of Birth | Washington, District of Columbia, USA |
Also Known As | Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., |
1964
The T.A.M.I. Show
8/17
Hailed by one music reviewer as "the grooviest, wildest, slickest hit ever to pound the screen," "The T.A.M.I. Show" is an unrelenting rock spectacula...
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The T.A.M.I. Show
2009
DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd
6.6/4
DJ Cinema is mixing up blends with artists like Biggie, Nas, Jay-Z, AZ, Rick Ross, Fabolous, 50 Cent and Jadakiss.
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DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd
1973
Save the Children
0/0
A concert film highlighted by performances from Marvin Gaye, Jerry Butler, and Roberta Flack.
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Save the Children
2008
Motor City's Burning: Detroit from Motown to the Stooges
0/0
Documentary looking at how Detroit became home to a musical revolution that captured the sound of a nation in upheaval. In the early 60s, Motown tran...
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Motor City's Burning: Detroit from Motown to the Stooges
2003
Marvin Gaye - Live In Montreux 1980
5.2/3
Marvin Gaye: Live in Montreux 1980 is a taped performance of singer Marvin Gaye's performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival, recorded on July 17, 1980...
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Marvin Gaye - Live In Montreux 1980
1984
DTV: Golden Oldies
0/0
Compilation of DTV music videos from on The Disney Channel, combining tunes from the 1940s through the 1960s with footage of Disney animation.
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DTV: Golden Oldies
Live at Amsterdam 1976
0/0
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Live at Amsterdam 1976
1983
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
8.2/6
Television special taped before a live studio audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983, and broadcast on NB...
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Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
1974
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
0/0
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt...
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The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
1971
Chrome and Hot Leather
5.8/6
A Green Beret returns home from the Vietnam war to find that a gang of murderous bikers has killed his fiancee. He calls on several of his Green Beret...
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Chrome and Hot Leather
1969
The Ballad of Andy Crocker
4/2
Returning Vietnam veteran Andy Crocker arrives in his small hometown to discover his best friend and business partner has mismanaged their business in...
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The Ballad of Andy Crocker
2008
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
0/0
When Marvin Gaye died in 1984, he left behind one of the great legacies in American music. More than a superb vocalist and subtle composer, he was a v...
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Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
2004
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
4/1
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the medium's first half-century. Actors, writers and hi...
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TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2018
Whitney
7.4/181
Examines the life and career of singer Whitney Houston. Features never-before-seen archival footage, exclusive recordings, rare performances and inter...
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Whitney
1980
Standing Room Only: Diana Ross
0/0
If ever there’s a moment that brilliantly and perfectly illustrates the star-power possessed by Diana Ross, it is the opening of her 1978-1979 stage s...
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Standing Room Only: Diana Ross
2006
Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing - In Performance 1964-1981
0/0
The definitive DVD collection of one of America's greatest stars. Issued with the full cooperation of the Marvin Gaye estate, this is the first offici...
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Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing - In Performance 1964-1981
1977
The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1977
0/0
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt...
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The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1977
2002
Remember Marvin Gaye
0/0
Documentary on Marvin Gaye made during his stay in Belgium, Ostende
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Remember Marvin Gaye
1976
Marvin Gaye - Greatest Hits Live in '76
6.3/3
Recorded live on Marvin Gaye's first European tour in 1976, at the Edenhalle Concert Hall, in Amsterdam, Holland.
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Marvin Gaye - Greatest Hits Live in '76
2021
Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
0/0
Best of the 60s is a documentary and a compilation from across the years of the iconic music series. More More. Best of the 60s is a compilation from...
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Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
1977
The Day the Music Died
0/0
This documentary film is mostly about the New York Pop Festival, which began on July 17, 1970 at Randall's Island, NY, and lasted for three days
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The Day the Music Died
2021
Mr. Nelson on the North Side
6/1
Music icons including Chuck D, Orianthi, and Chaka Khan recount never-before-told stories of Prince the performer and Prince the man, and how his uniq...
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Mr. Nelson on the North Side
2006
Darts Tarts – Welcome to my World
0/0
Jacques Peretti sets out to find out what happened to the game that obsessed him as a kid. In this documentary, he presents an eye-opening account of...
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Darts Tarts – Welcome to my World
2006
Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on
0/0
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Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on
2003
Prachtig 80: Volume 2
0/0
20 Videoclips from the 80's.
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Prachtig 80: Volume 2
2003
The Giants of Black Music
0/0
Mother Popcorn - James Brown What's The Use Of Breaking Up - Jerry Butler MacArthur Park - Della Reese Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday - Stevie Wo...
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The Giants of Black Music
1998
Motown 40: The Music is Forever
0/0
Archival music performances and contemporary interviews cover some of the history of Motown Records and Productions.
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Motown 40: The Music is Forever
2004
Larry presents: Best of The 80s
0/0
01 Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham 02 Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cindy Lauper 03 Wishing Well - Terence Trent D´Arby 04 Let´s Groove - Earth, Wi...
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Larry presents: Best of The 80s
1980
Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux
7/1
This highly energetic concert reinforces Marvin Gaye as the undisputed prince of Motown. Where it resulted in thundering appreciation and applause fro...
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Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux
2004
Funky Dance Grooves
0/0
Video compilation of funk, dance and soul tracks.
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Funky Dance Grooves
2020
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
7.686/59
The story of the triumphs and hurdles of brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb, otherwise known as the Bee Gees. The iconic trio, who found early fa...
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The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
2023
They All Came Out to Montreux
9/1
Utilizing a wealth of archival footage featuring Prince, Aretha Franklin, Miles Davis and more, They All Came Out to Montreux is an affectionate story...
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