UBX – Marvin Gaye (Segment 01)
Motown. Hard to believe that an independent, African-American owned record company could have such a profound impact on pop culture; its name would not only define an era, but also come to symbolize the sound of popular black music. Started in 1959 by Berry Gordy, the enterprising songwriter wanted to break the negative stereotype associated with black music, by creating a clean-cut, sophisticated image, that would be accepted by the mainstream audience of the 60’s. From Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, to Diana Ross and The Supremes, Motown, as its slogan said, literally became “The Sound of Young America” (clips).
But seasons change, and as Motown’s fresh sound became a hit-making cookie-cutter formula, one man single-handedly ushered in a new movement that would bring social, political and self-awareness to the forefront of popular black music (mos def clip). Marvin Gaye was born in Washington D.C on April 2nd 1939, a date that would later prove to be eerily symbolic. The second of four children, his mother Alberta was a hard-working maid and his father, Marvin Sr., was a minister whose strict and abusive relationship with his family greatly shaped Marvin’s life. Marvin started his musical career singing and playing drums in his father’s church choir. In his later years he would add an “E” to the end of the “G-A-Y” as a nod to his idol Sam Cooke (clip). After an honourable discharge from the army, Marvin would pursue a career in music, his first love. His role in the Doo Wop group The Marquees caught the eye of Harvey Fuqua, who enlisted him as a drummer in his group The Moonglows. This stint would lead him to Motown records and Berry Gordy, who saw the potential in Marvin to be a great romantic solo-singer in the likes of Jackie Wilson (clip).
In 1960 Marvin signed to Berry Gordy’s Motown Records and began his career as a session drummer and songwriter. He also ended up marrying Gordy’s sister Anna, who was 18 years his senior, a relationship that would later end on a very sour note. Before picking up a microphone, Marvin played drums on hits for Smokey Robinson and a then Little Stevie Wonder, and wrote timeless songs like “Dancin’ in the Streets” (clip). Now, as a solo singer, Marvin started with some moderate success (clip), but it would be his duets that would turn him into a full-fledged heartthrob. Motown paired him with Kim Weston and his collaboration with Mary Wells earned him his first charting album, but neither project held a candle to the chemistry he would have with Philly-born singer, Tammi Terrell (clips). With songs penned by Ashford & Simpson, Marvin and Tammi had a chemistry on record that at the time was unrivalled. But with all the success the duo was having, tragedy was about to change everything. While performing in Virginia, Tammi collapsed in Marvin’s arms and was later diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. She died in 1970, at the age of 24. Her death was a hard blow to Marvin who had developed a special bond with the singer.
This, coupled with his crumbling marriage sent Marvin into a deep depression. His world was falling apart and he was so depressed that he barely acknowledged his first #1 Pop hit, and one of the biggest selling singles in Motown’s history, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (change beat). Now, “Grapevine” had been big for Gladys Knight and The Pips the year before, but Marvin actually recorded his version first. Berry Gordy however, thought the song lacked pop-appeal, that is, until he saw how well it did for Gladys Knight. That being said, Marvin’s version of Grapevine eclipsed the original release by becoming the biggest selling Motown record of the 60’s. It also made “Grapevine” the only song recorded by separate artists, to top the charts at the beginning, and the end of the same year. Berry’s inadvertent second-guessing of Marvin’s songs would be a recurring theme during the singer’s time with the label, and even though Marvin had his first number one pop hit, it didn’t cure his depression. His bittersweet success tormented him, and the whirlwind of emotions would later inspire him to record a song that would totally change the path of mainstream rhythm and blues. You’re inside the Unauthorized Biography of Marvin Gaye. From his album “In The Groove”, here’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”.
UBX – Marvin Gaye (Segment 02)
With the loss of Tammi Terrell in 1970 and the deterioration of his marriage, Marvin Gaye was suffering from a deep depression, and to make things worse, he used drugs and alcohol to self-medicate, instead of getting professional help. Also, he and Berry Gordy would often lock horns on creative issues, and sadly, Marvin would spend the darkest time in his life alone. In comparison to Marvin’s harsh realities, the success of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” meant nothing. The Civil Rights movement had just lost 2 of their leaders in Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, the US was in the midst of the ugly Vietnam War, and his views on the love songs that had made him famous were drastically changing, as was the world around him.
During this time he tried repeatedly to pull himself out of his depression - he even attempted a pro-football career. Finally, Marvin found himself in the studio working on a song with writer Al Cleveland and Four Tops member Obie Benson. Marvin was hoping to produce the song for Motown act, The Originals, but as fate would have it, Marvin was persuaded to sing the song himself, and the wheels began turning on one of the pivotal moments in R&B history. On June 1st 1970, Marvin Gaye recorded “What’s Going On”. The song reinvigorated Marvin and he took the song, along with the self-penned “God Is Love” to Berry Gordy as a double single he intended to release. Again Gordy doubted the songs commercial viability and thought the lyrics were too politically charged for the mainstream audience. Marvin, in another key moment, stood his ground and refused to record anymore music until Berry gave in. Berry finally relinquished and the song was released on January 21st 1971. It was the number one single for five weeks in a row on the R&B charts and became the fastest selling single for Berry and the Motown label.
The success of “What’s Going On” naturally prompted Berry to request an entire album with a similar theme, but Marvin was hesitant, and this is where the artist/label relationship gets complicated, because if Marvin Gaye hadn’t stood his ground, we wouldn’t have “What’s Goin On”, the single, but, if Berry Gordy hadn’t stood his ground, we wouldn’t have “What’s Going On”, the album (clips). Recorded in 10 days and released in May of 1971, the album “What’s Going On” truly revolutionized R&B. It was a “concept album”, something that at the time was unheard of in rhythm and blues. See, most albums of the day were usually a collection of un-related songs with themes based around the many nuances of love; a concept album on the other hand, has a more specific and common theme that is explored throughout the entire album. Influenced by his brother who was a soldier in Vietnam, “What’s Goin On” was a commentary on the futility of war and society’s lack of respect for the environment it thrived on, and would open the creative door for the visions of Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway and Michael Jackson. Even contemporary albums like R.Kelly’s “Trapped In The Closet” take their lineage from “What’s Going On’s” groundbreaking blueprint. You’re inside the Unauthorized Biography of Marvin Gaye. From the album of the same name, here’s the song that inspired a soul revolution, “What’s Goin On”.
UBX – Marvin Gaye (Segment 03)
After taking a huge chance with “What’s Going On” in ‘71, the album’s critical and commercial success gave Marvin more freedom to express himself musically. He was a tormented soul, dealing with a deep depression and his albums had become a therapeutic way to work out his personal demons. A year after “What’s Going On”, Marvin was enlisted to do the soundtrack for a movie called “Trouble Man”. In the likes of great soundtrack composers like Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield, Marvin put together a masterpiece (clip). The musical therapy continued. In ‘73, Marvin put out his follow-up album to “What’s Going On”. Feeling the pressure to live up to the incredible standard he set with “What’s Going On”, Marvin was desperately looking for inspiration. The song was called “Let’s Get It On”, and was originally based on political themes – but that would soon change.
See, Marvin was in love with 17-year-old Janis Hunter, and when she came into the studio to watch him sing, he scrapped the political themes, and re-wrote the lyrics on the spot, turning “Let’s Get It On” into one of music’s most sexually charged and passionate recordings (clip). From the sensuality of “Let’s Get it On”, to the deeper “I Want You”, to the #1 smash “Got To Give It Up” Pt. 1”, to “Here My Dear”, which was made to cover alimony expenses owed to his then ex-wife Ana, Marvin’s music was always a direct reflection of his personal state of mind. The album “Here My Dear” was so personal in fact, that Ana was ready to sue Marvin for invasion of privacy (clip). The albums may have been therapeutic but they did little to alleviate his drug dependency, and after remarrying to Janis Hunter, Marvin ran into financial problems with the IRS and fled to Hawaii. He later relocated to Belgium where he recorded ‘81’s “In Our Lifetime”, another concept album, but Motown altered the album and its artwork without Marvin’s consent and this would prove to be his final straw.
In ‘82, after two decades with Motown, Marvin Gaye severed ties with Berry Gordy and signed to Columbia records. He released the album “Midnite Love”, that same year and the lead-off single, “Sexual Healing” was unlike any other song released at the time. With an infectious rhythm that perfectly fit the tone and suggestiveness of the track, “Sexual Healing” went to #1 on the R&B charts and became the longest running #1 R&B single of the ‘80’s by holding the top spot for 10 straight weeks; and after 11 previous nominations, the song also earned Marvin his first 2 Grammies (clip). With new competition from rising stars like Prince, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, Marvin Gaye proved he was still relevant as a singer. He performed on the Motown 25th Anniversary special, a memorable night where he showed the world he was back after his publicized problems, and where he also made up with Berry Gordy and the Motown family. This night of course will also always be remembered as the night where Michael Jackson performed the Moonwalk for the first time (clip).
“Midnite Love” would be Marvin’s last album. He was having premonitions that someone was going to kill him, and developed a severe paranoia. So severe in fact, that he would even wear a bulletproof vest on stage. In an attempt to isolate himself, he moved back home with his parents, but sadly, on April 1st, 1984, one day before his 45th birthday, he was shot and killed by his father. He had always had a turbulent and often violent relationship with his dad, and although his father did pull the trigger, the darkest theory surrounding the shooting is that Marvin, who had vocally contemplated killing himself several times, provoked his father enough to do it, as a form of suicide (shot).
Marvin Gaye has had such a profound impact on modern-day R&B that it is almost impossible to completely appreciate. His importance to the evolution of the soul singer from a simple sex symbol to a socially conscious complicated ARTIST with something to say, is only comparable in scale to the tragedy that was his own personal life. Marvin opened the door for popular artists to express their personal struggles through song. Nowadays we take for granted the sincerity and realness of a lot of our music and while many artists do have a story to tell, they often cross the border of cliché into the realm of the irresponsible - so to remember Marvin is to remember why speaking from the soul should always be a cherished virtue. You’ve been listening to the Unauthorized Biography of Marvin Gaye, taken from an earlier recording of the album “What’s Goin On” here’s a special version of “God is Love”.
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