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A prince is born -

The legendary singer remembered today as Marvin Gaye was born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. on April 2, 1939, in the outskirts of Washington, D.C.

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The Gay family -

Marvin was born the son of Marvin Gay Sr., a Pentecostal minister, and Alberta Cooper. Marvin was the second oldest of four children (he had two sisters and a brother).

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Marvin in the choir -

It didn't take long for Marvin's father to enroll his son in the church's choir, indeed at the tender age of four. Despite the church's oppressively strict rules and his father's frequent emotional and physical abuse, Marvin's time in the choir sparked his love for music–a love that would continue to burn for the rest of his life.

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Trouble at home -

Home life was dark and often violent for the Gay family. Alberta and all four of her children were subjected to the draconian rules established by Marvin Sr.

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The tyranny of Marvin Gay Sr. -

Marvin, as the oldest son in a religious and patriarchal home, was put under exceptional stress by his father. Whippings and beatings were frequent occurrences in his childhood home, and he once said that if it weren't for his mother, his sisters, and his love of music, he likely would have taken his own life as a young man.

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Marvin on the run -

After more than a decade of persistent trauma at home, 17-year-old Marvin Gay decided to make a run for it. He dropped out of high school and left home in 1956.

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Time in the Air Force -

After escaping his father's abuse, Marvin enlisted in the United States Air Force as a basic airman. He soon realized that military life wasn't for him, and he quickly grew to detest the meaningless tasks and subordination that the Air Force demanded of him. The young airman faked a mental crisis in order to secure a speedy discharge.

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Marvin the young artist -

After returning to civilian life, Marvin started to pursue a career in music. With close friend Reese Palmer, Gay Jr. formed his first vocal quartet, the Marquees.

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The Marquees -

The Marquees found nominal success performing in various venues around D.C., and became acquainted with rock and roll pioneer Bo Diddley. Diddley helped the Marquees land a contract with Okeh Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Records. With Okeh, Marvin and the Marquees released one single, 1957's 'Wyatt Earp,' which was a decided failure in the eyes of the record label. The band was soon dropped, and Marvin and co. relocated to the Midwest.

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The move to Chicago -

The move to Chicago was spurred by Harvey Fuqua, a prominent musician and record executive, hiring the Marquees as his band. Thus, the Marquees became Harvey and the New Moonglows, a group relatively more successful than the Marquees had been in Washington. It was with this new group that Marvin recorded his first lead vocal performance.

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Berry Gordy -

The New Moonglows broke up in 1960, and Marvin moved to Detroit in search of greater success. His career changed dramatically after performing for Berry Gordy, founder of the massively influential Motown Records.

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The legendary Motown Records -

Motown had only been established two years prior, in 1958, but was already making a name for itself as one of the most important independent record labels in black music. The label's position in history was cemented in the 1960s through the success of not only Marvin Gaye, but also the likes of Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, and the Jackson 5.

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Life as a session musician -

Marvin worked as a session musician during his early months with Motown, frequently appearing on records as a drummer, pianist, or backup singer.

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Adding the "e" -

Before releasing his first single with Motown in 1961, Marvin decided to place an "E" at the end of his name, officially becoming Marvin Gaye. It has been speculated that Gaye made this change in order to further separate himself from his father, and in an attempt to quell the frequent questions regarding his sexuality.

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Marvin Gaye's debut -

In May 1961, Marvin Gaye released his first single as a solo artist: 'Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide.' But the single and the album that followed, 'The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye,' were critical failures, once again resigning Gaye to session work.

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Cleaning up his act -

Motown Records was involved in every aspect of their musicians' brands, and frequently trained their artists to sing, dance, and appear more charming on stage. Gaye famously refused to enroll in a local Detroit charm school, and even went so far as to decline dance lessons from Motown's famous choreographer Cholly Atkins.

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'Stubborn Kind of Fellow' -

Gaye's second record, 'Stubborn King of Fellow,' was released in 1963. Two singles from this album, the ever-popular 'Hitch Hike' and 'Pride and Joy,' were Gaye's first charting tracks, reaching no. 30 and no. 2, respectively.

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Gaye finally finds fame -

Marvin Gaye's fame skyrocketed after the success of 'Stubborn Kind of Fellow.' Gaye joined the Chitlin' Circuit shortly after, and performed at the legendary Apollo Theater in New York City.

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Marvin and Tammi -

By 1966, Gaye had formed a close artistic partnership with singer Tammi Terrell. The pair recorded some of Gaye's most famous and influential duets, including 1966's 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' and 1968's 'Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing.'

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The first no. 1 hit -

Marvin Gaye topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first time in 1968, with what arguably remains his most popular song to this day: 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine.' Over four million copies of the single were sold, quickly making it Motown-s most successful release at the time.

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The death of Tammi -

It was discovered in 1967 that Tammi Terrell had a malignant tumor in her brain, which made performing and recording exceedingly difficult. Terrell's condition deeply affected Gaye as well, and when Terrell died in 1970, he sank into a months-long depression that prevented him from recording new music.

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Marvin Gaye: Football star? -

In a surprising turn of events, shortly after Terrell's death, Gaye attempted to try out for the Detroit Lions football team. To his dismay, Gaye wasn't allowed to try out due to concerns that a career in football would not only distract him from music, but could lead to injuries that would make singing impossible.

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'What's Going On' -

Back in the studio, changed by his duet partner's death, Gaye found himself in a new era of artistry. Gaye's 1970 single 'What's Going On' was far more poignant, socially conscious, and politically charged than any song he had written or recorded before. The track was inspired by the police brutality against African Americans that Gaye had witnessed at anti-war rallies in Berkeley, California.

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Gaye's ultimatum -

By 1970, Gaye had both the success and the confidence to demand total creative autonomy from Motown, a luxury that very few Motown artists had. Gaye gave the label an ultimatum, and subsequently recorded his next album, also titled 'What's Going On,' in 10 days flat.

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The album that changed R&B -

'What's Going On' was released in May 1971, to instant and overwhelming commercial and critical acclaim. Gaye's masterwork became his very first album to sell one million copies. As one of Motown's first albums written and developed entirely by an artist, it made immense waves through the music industry. The impressively ambitious record introduced the concept album format and an impactful style of politically charged songwriting that changed the way soul and R&B musicians wrote records.

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Marvin on top -

Marvin Gaye was officially the Prince of Soul, and one of the most important American artists of the 20th century. Gaye's new contract with Motown, signed in 1971, promised the singer-songwriter US$1 million, making him the highest-paid black recording artist in the country.

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Break from Motown -

Despite the impressive paycheck, Gaye's days at Motown were numbered. While on tour in Europe, a thief presumably working for Motown stole the master recording of Gaye's forthcoming album 'In Our Lifetime' and delivered it to Motown executives. The album was summarily mixed and released without Gaye's knowledge or consent. The soul legend compared his unfinished work to a Picasso painting left incomplete, and swore to never work with Motown records again.

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The death of Marvin Gaye -

Gaye continued to tour and release albums to consistent success, including his most successful single, 1982's 'Sexual Healing,' which earned Gaye his first two Grammy Awards. However, his worsening problems with drug dependency and thoughts of mortal self-destruction forced Gaye to move in with his mother and father in Los Angeles. This decision led directly to his death.

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The death of Marvin Gaye -

Nothing had changed between Gaye and his father over the decades. Marvin Gay Sr., although now an old man, still abused his wife, Gaye's mother, relentlessly. On April 1, 1984, just one day before his 45th birthday, Gaye confronted his father for accosting his mother in the house. In a fit of rage, Gay Sr. shot his son twice, once directly through the heart and once in the shoulder. By the time Gaye had been transported to the hospital, he was pronounced dead.

Sources: (Factinate) (Britannica) (Idolator)

See also: Musicians who died tragically young

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