Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr.) (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was a pop, soul, Rock&Roll and R&B singer, arranger, musician, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He gained international fame during the 1960s and 1970s as an artist on the Motown label. His best records are still extremely highly regarded, and he is often cited as one of the finest singers of his era.

Gaye began his career in Motown in 1960, and soon became Motown’s top solo male artist. He scored numerous hits during the 1960s, among them “Stubborn Kind of Fellow”, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, and several hit duets with Tammi Terrell, including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “You’re All I Need to Get By”, before moving on to his own form of musical self-expression.

Along with Stevie Wonder, Gaye is notable for fighting the hit-making—but ... read more »