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{{Short description|American R&B and soul singer (1939–1984)}}
{{For|the song|Marvin Gaye (song)}}
{{Redirect|Marvin Gay|the singer's father|Marvin Gay Sr.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Marvin Gaye
| image              = Marvin Gaye (1973 publicity photo).jpg
| caption            = Gaye in 1973
| birth_name         = Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr.
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1939|4|2}}
| birth_place        = Washington, D.C.,<!-- DO NOT LINK this, see [[MOS:OVERLINK]]. --> U.S.
| death_date         = {{death date and age|1984|4|1|1939|4|2}}
| death_cause        = [[Killing of Marvin Gaye|Gunshot wounds]]
| death_place        = Los Angeles, California,<!-- DO NOT LINK this, see [[MOS:OVERLINK]]. --> U.S.
| parents            = {{ubl|[[Alberta Gaye]]|[[Marvin Gay&nbsp;Sr.]]}}
| spouse             = {{ubl|{{marriage|[[Anna Gordy Gaye|Anna Gordy]]|1963|1977|end=divorced}} <br/> {{marriage|Janis Hunter|1977|1982|end=divorced}}}}
| children           = 3, including [[Nona Gaye|Nona]]
| occupation         = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|musician|record producer}}
| years_active       = 1957–1984
| module             = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| background         = solo_singer
| label              = {{hlist|[[Motown|Tamla]]|[[Motown|Tamla-Motown]]|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]]}}
| instrument         = {{hlist|Vocals|keyboards|drums}}
| discography        = [[Marvin Gaye discography]]
| genre              = {{hlist|[[Soul music|Soul]]|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]||[[Gospel music|gospel]]|[[funk]]}}
| past_member_of     = {{hlist|[[The Marquees]]|[[The Moonglows]]}}
}}
}}
'''Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr.''' ({{ne|'''Gay'''}}; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984){{sfn|Simmonds|2008|pp=190–192}} was an American [[Rhythm and blues|R&B and soul]] singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He helped shape the sound of [[Motown]] in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of successes, which earned him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|Prince of Soul]]", and is often considered one of the [[Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers of All Time|greatest singers of all time]].

Gaye's Motown hits include "[[How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)]]" (1964), "[[Ain't That Peculiar]]" (1965), and "[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]" (1968). He also recorded duets with [[Mary Wells]], [[Kim Weston]], [[Tammi Terrell]], and [[Diana Ross]]. During the 1970s, Gaye became one of the first Motown artists to break away from the reins of a production company and recorded the landmark albums ''[[What's Going On (album)|What's Going On]]'' (1971) and ''[[Let's Get It On]]'' (1973).

His later recordings influenced several R&B subgenres, such as [[quiet storm]] and [[neo soul]].<ref name="spin">{{cite book |last=Weisbard |first=Eric |author2=Marks, Craig |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide (Ratings 1–10) |edition=1st edi. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=50cEAAAACAAJ&q=spin%27s+alternative+record |publisher=Vintage Books |location=New York |date=October 10, 1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |oclc=32508105 |pages=202–205 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> "[[Sexual Healing]]", released in 1982 on the album ''[[Midnight Love]]'', won him his first two [[Grammy Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/marvin-gaye|title=Marvin Gaye|date=June 4, 2019|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|language=en|access-date=June 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117101544/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/marvin-gaye|archive-date=November 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Gaye's last televised appearances were at the [[1983 NBA All-Star Game]], where he sang "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]", ''[[Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever]]'' in 1983, and on ''[[Soul Train]]''.{{sfn|Batchelor|2005|pp=41–43}}

On April 1, 1984, Gaye intervened during a fight between his parents at their home in [[Western Heights, Los Angeles|Western Heights]], Los Angeles. Gaye's father, [[Marvin Gay&nbsp;Sr.]], subsequently [[Killing of Marvin Gaye|shot and killed Gaye]]; it was the eve of his 45th birthday.<ref name=titans>{{cite news |last1=Wedner |first1=Diane |title=Taking Over From Titans |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-sep-16-re-guide16-story.html |access-date=March 13, 2021 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 16, 2007}}</ref><ref name="murderplace">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oV0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22|title=Dial Them For Murder|via=Los Angeles Magazine|date=January 1998|access-date=September 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705131021/http://books.google.com/books?id=oV0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22|archive-date=July 5, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Gay&nbsp;Sr. later pleaded [[no contest]] to [[voluntary manslaughter]], receiving a six-year suspended sentence and five years of probation. Institutions have posthumously bestowed Gaye with such awards and honors as the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]; a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]; and inductions into the [[Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame]], [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]], and [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/timelines/marvin-gaye/|publisher=The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|title=Marvin Gaye Timeline|access-date=December 23, 2010|date=January 21, 1987|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501045113/http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/timelines/marvin-gaye/|archive-date=May 1, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life==
Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. was born on April 2, 1939, at [[Howard University Hospital|Freedman's Hospital]]<ref name=catlinwithlinks /> in Washington, D.C., to church minister [[Marvin Gay Sr.]] and domestic worker [[Alberta Gay]] (née Cooper). His first home was in a public housing project,<ref name=crockettsong>{{cite news|last=Crockett|first=Stephen A. Jr. |title=Song of the City: In the Name of Marvin Gaye, Neighbors Rescue a Park Near His Old Home|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 24, 2002|page=C1}}</ref> the Fairfax Apartments<ref name=milloysoul>{{cite news|last=Milloy|first=Courtland|title=The War for One Man's Soul: Marvin Gaye|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 8, 1984|page=C1, C2}}</ref> (now demolished) at 1617 1st Street SW in the [[Southwest Waterfront]] neighborhood.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|page=6}} Although one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, with many elegant [[Federal architecture|Federal-style]] homes, most buildings were small, in extensive disrepair, and lacked both electricity and running water. The alleys were full of one- and two-story shacks, and nearly every dwelling was overcrowded.{{sfn|Banks|Banks|2004|page=41}}{{sfn|Gutheim|Lee|2006|pages=266–267}}<ref>{{cite news|last=Bahrampour|first=Tara|title='Old but not cold': Four very longtime friends anticipate turning 100 this year|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 14, 2016|access-date=January 29, 2017|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/old-but-not-cold-four-very-long-time-friends-anticipate-turning-100-this-year/2016/03/14/2c9f1b5e-e723-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202070442/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/old-but-not-cold-four-very-long-time-friends-anticipate-turning-100-this-year/2016/03/14/2c9f1b5e-e723-11e5-b0fd-073d5930a7b7_story.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Gaye and his friends nicknamed the area "Simple City", owing to it being "half-city, half country".{{sfn|Ritz|1991|page=13}}{{sfn|Gaye|2003|p=4}}{{Efn|This area should not be confused with the present-day [[Benning Terrace]] public housing complex in the [[Benning Ridge]] neighborhood, which today is also nicknamed "Simple City".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gillis|first1=Justin|last2=Miller|first2=Bill|title=In D.C.'s Simple City, Complex Rules of Life and Death|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 20, 1997|page=A1|access-date=January 29, 2017|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/daily/april/21/gangs.htm?ref=driverlayer.com/web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202070423/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/daily/april/21/gangs.htm?ref=driverlayer.com%2Fweb|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Gaye was the second oldest of the couple's four children. He had two sisters, Jeanne and Zeola, and one brother, [[Frankie Gaye]]. He also had two half-brothers: Michael Cooper, his mother's son from a previous relationship, and Antwaun Carey Gay,<ref name=gayeplay>{{cite web|url=http://m.detnews.com/entertainment/article?a=2013302160303&f=1216 |title=Gaye's second wife calls play 'completely and utterly exploitative' |date=February 16, 2013 |access-date=February 17, 2013}}{{dead link|date=May 2020|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} [https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthread.php?8014-Janis-Gaye-not-happy-with-Marvin-play Alt URL]</ref> born as a result of one of his father's extramarital affairs.<ref name=gayeplay/>[[File:Cardozo2014.jpg|thumb|Gaye attended [[Cardozo Senior High School|Cardozo High School]] in [[Columbia Heights (Washington, D.C.)|Columbia Heights, Washington D.C.]]|alt=|left]]Gaye started singing in church when he was four years old; his father often accompanied him on piano.{{sfn|Browne|2001|p=316}}{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=14}}{{sfn|Gaye|2003|p=8}} Gaye and his family were part of a conservative church known as the House of God that took its teachings from [[Pentecostalism]], with a strict code of conduct.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=5}}{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=11}} Gaye developed a love of singing at an early age and was encouraged to pursue a professional music career after a performance at a school play at 11 singing [[Mario Lanza]]'s "[[Be My Love]]".{{sfn|Gaye|2003|p=8}} His home life consisted of "[[child abuse|brutal whippings]]" by his father, who struck him for any shortcoming.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=12}} The young Gaye described living in his father's house as similar to "living with a king, a very peculiar, changeable, cruel, and all powerful king".{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=13}} He felt that had his mother not consoled him and encouraged his singing, he would have committed suicide.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=13: "If it wasn't for Mother, who was always there to console me and praise me for my singing, I think I would have been one of those child suicide cases you read about in the papers"}} His sister later explained that Gaye was beaten often, from age seven well into his teenage years.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=12: "From the time he was seven until he became a teenager, Marvin's life at home consisted of a series of brutal whippings"}}

Gaye attended Syphax Elementary School<ref>{{cite news|last=Fleishman|first=Sandra|title=Reading, 'Riting And Redevelopment|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 13, 2000|page=G1}}</ref> and then [[Randall Junior High School]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Bonner|first=Alice|title=The Golden Years: City's Randall Junior High School Celebrates 50th Anniversary|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 1, 1973|page=C1|postscript=none}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Harrington |first=Richard|title=The Fallen Prince: Marvin Gaye & His Songs Full of Soul|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 2, 1984|pages=B1, B8}}</ref> Gaye began to take singing much more seriously in junior high,{{Sfn|Ritz|1991|page=23}} and he joined and became a singing star with the Randall Junior High Glee Club.<ref name=milloysoul />

In 1953<ref name=crockettsong />{{sfn|Gaye|2003|page=197}}{{sfn|MacKenzie|2009|page=153}} or 1954,<ref name=catlinwithlinks>{{cite news|last=Catlin|first=Roger|title=Washington, D.C., sites with links to Marvin Gaye|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=April 27, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2017|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/washington-dc-sites-with-links-to-marvin-gaye/2012/04/26/gIQAClu6lT_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202070432/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/washington-dc-sites-with-links-to-marvin-gaye/2012/04/26/gIQAClu6lT_story.html|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Ritz|1991|page=24}}{{Efn|At least once source claims they did not move in until 1955.<ref name=hopkinsonblues />}} the Gays moved into the East Capitol Dwellings public housing project in D.C.'s [[Capitol View (Washington, D.C.)|Capitol View neighborhood]].<ref name=catlinwithlinks />{{sfn|Evelyn|Dickson|Ackerman|2008|pages=290–291}}{{Efn|MacKenzie and a wide range of sources mischaracterize this neighborhood as [[Deanwood]].{{sfn|MacKenzie|2009|page=153}}}} Their townhouse apartment (Unit 12, 60th Street NE; now demolished) was Marvin's home until 1962.<ref name=hopkinsonblues>{{cite news|last=Hopkinson|first=Natalie|title=House of Blues: Marvin Gaye's Boyhood Home Awaits the Wrecking Ball or a Second Act|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 19, 2003|page=C1}}</ref>{{Efn|Some sources suggest the family first moved to the [[Benning Ridge]] neighborhood after leaving Southwest. According to Zeola Gay<ref name=simmonsmemories /> and ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reporter Roger Catlin,<ref name=catlinwithlinks /> the Gay family moved to the [[Benning Terrace]] public housing project in the early 1950s. This is not possible, as the Benning Terrace apartments did not begin construction until late 1956,<ref>{{cite news|title=NCHA Lets Contract for New Project|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 14, 1956|page=B2}}</ref> a full year after Marvin Gaye had left home for the military.}}

Gaye briefly attended [[Spingarn High School]] before transferring to [[Cardozo Senior High School|Cardozo High School]].<ref name=simmonsmemories>{{cite news|last=Simmons|first=Deborah|title=Memories of Marvin Gaye kept alive by a loving sister|work=The Washington Times|date=April 29, 2012|access-date=January 29, 2017|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/29/simmons-memories-of-marvin-gaye-kept-alive-by-a-lo/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202043928/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/29/simmons-memories-of-marvin-gaye-kept-alive-by-a-lo/|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> At Cardozo, Gaye joined several [[doo-wop]] vocal groups, including the Dippers and the D.C. Tones.{{sfn|Gulla|2008|p=333}} During his teenage years, his father would kick him out of the house often.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=25}} In 1956, 17-year-old Gaye dropped out of high school and enlisted in the [[United States Air Force]] as an [[Airman Basic|airman basic]].{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=34}}{{sfn|Redfern|2007|p=228}} His early disenchantment with the service was similar to most of his peers who were made to perform menial labor, not working on jet airplanes as hoped. Gaye later said he lost his virginity to a local prostitute while in the Air Force. He feigned mental illness and was given a "General Discharge", with an outgoing performance review from his sergeant remarking "Airman Gay cannot adjust to regimentation nor authority".{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=36}}<ref name="Marvin Gaye No Military Hit">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0913051_marvin_gaye_1.html|title=Marvin Gaye No Military Hit|date=September 13, 2005|access-date=December 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826145634/http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0913051_marvin_gaye_1.html|archive-date=August 26, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Career==

===Early career===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Marvin Gaye promotional photo.jpg|thumb|240x240px|A 1959 promotional picture of [[Harvey Fuqua|Harvey]] and the ''New Moonglows''. Gaye is second from the right behind a seated Fuqua.|alt=]] -->
After Gaye left the Air Force, he formed a vocal quartet, [[the Marquees]], with his good friend Reese Palmer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uncamarvy.com/Marquees/marquees.html |title=Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks – MARQUEES |access-date=July 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408055035/http://www.uncamarvy.com/Marquees/marquees.html |archive-date=April 8, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=38}} The group performed in the D.C. area and soon began working with [[Bo Diddley]], who tried to persuade his own label, [[Chess Records|Chess]], to sign them to a record deal. Failing that, he sent them to [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] subsidiary [[OKeh Records]].{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=38}} Diddley co-wrote the group's sole single, "Wyatt Earp"; it failed to chart and the group was soon dropped from the label.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=39}} Gaye began [[Musical composition|composing]] music.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=39}}

[[The Moonglows|Moonglows]] co-founder [[Harvey Fuqua]] later hired the Marquees as employees.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=40}} Under Fuqua's direction, the group changed its name to Harvey and the New Moonglows, and moved to Chicago.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=47}} The group recorded several sides for Chess in 1959, including the song "Mama Loocie", which was Gaye's first lead vocal recording.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} The group found work as [[session singers]] for established acts such as [[Chuck Berry]], singing on the songs "[[Back in the U.S.A.]]" and "[[Almost Grown (song)|Almost Grown]]".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://acerecords.co.uk/features/artist-profiles/etta-james|title=Etta James |publisher=Ace Records |access-date=April 23, 2024}}</ref>

In 1960, the group disbanded. Gaye moved to Detroit with Fuqua, where he signed with Tri-Phi Records as a session musician, playing drums on several Tri-Phi releases. Gaye performed at [[Motown]] president [[Berry Gordy]]'s house during the holiday season in December 1960. Impressed, Gordy sought Fuqua on his contract with Gaye. Fuqua agreed to sell part of his interest in his contract with Gaye.{{sfn|Edmonds|2001a|p=24}} Shortly afterwards, Gaye signed with Motown subsidiary Tamla.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

When Gaye signed with Tamla, he pursued a career as a performer of jazz music and [[standard (song)|standards]], having no desire to become an [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] performer.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=25}} Before the release of his first single, Gaye started spelling his surname with an added "e", in the same way as did [[Sam Cooke]]. Author [[David Ritz]] wrote that Gaye did this to silence rumors of his [[sexual orientation|sexuality]], and to put more distance between himself and his father.{{sfn|Jet|1985b|p=17}}

Gaye released his first single, "[[Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide]]", in May 1961, with the album ''[[The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye]]'', following a month later. Gaye's initial recordings failed commercially and he spent most of 1961 performing session work as a drummer for artists such as [[the Miracles]], [[the Marvelettes]] and blues artist [[Jimmy Reed]] for $5 (US${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5|1961}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}{{inflation-fn|US}}) a week.{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=6}}{{sfn|Des Barres|1996|p=107}} While Gaye took some advice on performing with his eyes open (having been accused of appearing as though he were sleeping) and also got pointers on how to move more gracefully onstage, he refused to attend grooming school courses at the John Robert Powers School for Social Grace in Detroit because of his unwillingness to comply with its orders, something he later regretted.{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=116}}{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=88}}

===Early success===
In 1962, Gaye found success as co-songwriter of the Marvelettes track "[[Beechwood 4-5789]]", on which he also played drums. His first solo hit, "[[Stubborn Kind of Fellow]]", was later released that September, reaching No. 8 on the R&B chart and No. 46 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. That song and his follow-up, "[[Hitch Hike (song)|Hitch Hike]]", a dance song he co-wrote and which became his first top 40 pop single, helped to land him on the very first [[Motortown Revue]] in late 1962.<ref name=pc26>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19781/m1/ |title=Show 26 – The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 5] }}</ref> "[[Pride and Joy (Marvin Gaye song)|Pride and Joy]]" became Gaye's first top ten single after its release in 1963.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://billboard.com/artist/marvin-gaye/chart-history/hsi/ |title=Marvin Gaye - Billboard Chart History (Hot 100) |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=March 19, 2025}}</ref>

Gaye's first chart album was with [[Mary Wells]] on their 1964 collaborative album, ''[[Together (Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells album)|Together]]'', reaching number 42 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and featured the double-A sided single "[[Once Upon a Time (Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells song)|Once Upon a Time]]" / "[[What's the Matter with You Baby]]". Both sides reached the top 20 of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and increased Gaye's popularity. 
[[File:Marvin Gaye 1966 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Gaye in 1966|alt=|219x219px]]

Gaye ceased writing afterwards and began a period mostly singing songs given to him by Motown staff writers, the first of which were the team of [[Holland-Dozier-Holland]], whom he produced the hits "[[Can I Get a Witness]]",  "[[You're a Wonderful One]]" and the top ten single "[[How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)]]" with. In October 1964, he performed in the [[concert film]] ''[[The T.A.M.I. Show]]''. Gaye began collaborating with [[Smokey Robinson]], with which he scored his first career million-selling singles, "[[I'll Be Doggone]]" and "[[Ain't That Peculiar]]", which hit number one on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B charts]] and crossed over to the top ten of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1965. Still, Gaye's aspirations to become a lounge jazz singer remained unabated and Gaye recorded the jazz albums, ''[[When I'm Alone I Cry]]'', ''[[Hello Broadway]]'', ''[[A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole]]'' were all released to little fanfare.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=March 20, 1965|title=Tribute To Nat By Marvin Gaye|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/65/RW-1965-03-20.pdf|journal=Record World|pages=19}}</ref> A 1966 [[live album]], recorded at the [[Copacabana (nightclub)|Copacabana]], set for a 1967 release, was shelved due to Gaye and Gordy fighting over control of the project.

After reaching the top 20 on the pop charts with the hit single, "[[It Takes Two (Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston song)|It Takes Two]]" with [[Kim Weston]] in late 1966, Gaye began working with [[Tammi Terrell]] on a series of hit duets in 1967, mostly composed by [[Ashford & Simpson]], including "[[Ain't No Mountain High Enough]]", "[[Your Precious Love]]", "[[Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing]]" and "[[You're All I Need to Get By]]".{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

<!-- {{Listen|filename=1968-marvin-gaye-grapevine.ogg|title="I Heard It through the Grapevine"|description="I Heard It through the Grapevine" was recorded by Gaye in April 1967, several months before [[Gladys Knight and the Pips]] recorded it. The song features a [[Wurlitzer electric piano|Wurlitzer]] piano, percussion, and horns. Gaye's recording of it paved the way for what later became "[[psychedelic soul]]".}}

 -->In October 1967, Terrell collapsed in Gaye's arms during a performance in [[Farmville, Virginia]].{{sfn|Gaye|2003|p=65}} Terrell was subsequently rushed to Farmville's Southside Community Hospital, where doctors discovered she had a malignant [[brain tumor|tumor in her brain]].{{sfn|Gaye|2003|p=65}} The diagnosis ended Terrell's career as a [[live music|live performer]], though she continued to record music under careful supervision. Despite the presence of successful singles such as "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" and "You're All I Need to Get By", Terrell's illness caused problems with recording, and led to multiple operations to remove the tumor. Gaye was reportedly devastated by Terrell's sickness and became disillusioned with the record business.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

On October 6, 1968, Gaye sang the [[The Star-Spangled Banner|U.S. national anthem]] during Game 4 of the [[1968 World Series]], held at [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]], in [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], between the [[Detroit Tigers]] and the [[St. Louis Cardinals]].<ref>{{cite video |title=1968 WS Gm4: Marvin Gaye performs national anthem |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqtItl6nC7U |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=September 1, 2023}}</ref>

In late 1968, Gaye's recording of "[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]" became his first to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached the top of the charts in other countries, selling over four million copies.{{sfn|Kempton|2005|p=207}} However, Gaye felt the success was something he "didn't deserve" and that he "felt like a puppet – Berry's puppet, [[Anna Gordy Gaye|Anna's]] puppet".{{sfn|Posner|2002|p=225}}{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=126}}{{sfn|Gulla|2008|p=344}} Gaye followed it up with "[[Too Busy Thinking About My Baby]]" and "[[That's the Way Love Is (The Isley Brothers song)|That's the Way Love Is]]", which reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. That year, his album ''[[M.P.G.]]'' became his first No. 1 album on the R&B album charts. During this period, Gaye produced and co-wrote "[[Baby I'm For Real]]" and "[[The Bells (The Originals song)|The Bells]]" for [[The Originals (band)|the Originals]].{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

Tammi Terrell died from [[brain cancer]] on March 16, 1970; Gaye attended her funeral{{sfn|Jet|1970|p=60}} and after a period of depression, Gaye sought out a position on a [[Professional football (gridiron)|professional football]] team, the [[Detroit Lions]], where he later befriended [[Mel Farr]] and [[Lem Barney]].<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Jason Plautz |url=http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/92596 |title=Marvin Gaye, Detroit Lions Wide Receiver? |magazine=Mental Floss |date=June 30, 2011 |access-date=March 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510210102/http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/92596 |archive-date=May 10, 2012 }}</ref> Barney and Farr had gotten gold records for providing backup vocals for the title track of Gaye's ''What's Going On'' album. The Lions played along for the publicity, but ultimately declined an invitation for Gaye to try out, owing to legal liabilities and fears of possible injuries that could have affected his music career.<ref>[http://legendsrevealed.com/entertainment/2009/07/29/music-legends-revealed-16/ Music Urban Legends Revealed #16] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712214807/http://legendsrevealed.com/entertainment/2009/07/29/music-legends-revealed-16/ |date=July 12, 2012 }}. Legendsrevealed.com (July 29, 2009). Retrieved May 14, 2012.</ref>{{sfn|Gates|2004|p=332}}

===''What's Going On'' and subsequent success===
{{Main|What's Going On (album)|Let's Get It On}}
On June 1, 1970, Gaye returned to [[Hitsville U.S.A.]], where he recorded his new composition "[[What's Going On (song)|What's Going On]]", inspired by an idea from [[Renaldo "Obie" Benson]] of the [[Four Tops]] after he witnessed an act of [[police brutality]] at an [[anti-war]] rally in Berkeley.{{sfn|Lynskey|2011|pp=155}} Upon hearing the song, Berry Gordy refused its release due to his feelings of the song being "too political" for radio and feared Gaye would lose his crossover audience.{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=16}} Gaye responded by deciding against releasing any other new material before the label released it.{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=16}} Released in 1971, it reached No. 1 on the R&B charts within a month, staying there for five weeks. It also reached the top spot on [[Cashbox (magazine)|Cashbox]]'s pop chart for a week and reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 and the [[Record World]] chart, selling over two million copies.{{sfn|Vincent|1996|p=129}}{{sfn|Whitburn|2004|p=250}}

After giving an ultimatum to record a full album to win creative control from Motown, Gaye spent ten days recording the ''[[What's Going On (album)|What's Going On]]'' album that March.{{sfn|Lynskey|2011|p=157}} Motown issued the album that May after Gaye remixed the album in Hollywood.{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=16}} The album became Gaye's first million-selling album launching two more top ten singles, "[[Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)]]" and "[[Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)|Inner City Blues]]". One of Motown's first autonomous works, its theme and segue flow brought the [[concept album]] format to rhythm and blues and soul music. An [[AllMusic]] writer later cited it as "the most important and passionate record to come out of [[soul music]], delivered by one of its finest voices".<ref name="review_1">John Bush. ''What's Going On'' remains one of the few examples in modern music of critical acclaim and immediate commercial success occurring simultaneously. ''What's Going On'' was the first in a series of Motown albums in which albums overtook singles in commercial importance as well as cultural significance.[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r8079/review|pure_url=yes}} review of ''What's Going On''], by Marvin Gaye, allmusic.com (accessed June 10, 2005)</ref> For the album, Gaye received two [[14th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]] nominations at the 1972 ceremony and several [[NAACP Image Award]]s.{{sfn|Jet|1973|p=60}} The album also topped ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s year-end list as its album of the year. ''Billboard'' magazine named Gaye "Trendsetter of the Year" following the album's success.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

[[File:Marvin Gaye (1973).png|thumb|Gaye in 1973|alt=|190x190px]]

In 1971, Gaye signed a new deal with Motown worth $1&nbsp;million (US${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1000000|1971}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}{{inflation-fn|US}}), making it the most lucrative deal by a black recording artist at the time.{{sfn|MacKenzie|2009|p=156}} Gaye first responded to the new contract with the soundtrack and subsequent [[Sheet music|score]], ''[[Trouble Man (album)|Trouble Man]]'', released in late 1972. Before the release of ''Trouble Man,'' Gaye released a single called "[[You're the Man]]". The [[You're the Man (album)|album of the same name]] was a follow-up to ''What's Going On,'' but Motown refused to promote the single, according to Gaye. According to some biographies,{{which|date=June 2023}} Gordy, who was considered a moderate, feared Gaye's left-leaning political views would alienate Motown's moderately liberal audiences. As a result, Gaye shelved the project and substituted it for ''Trouble Man''. In 2019, [[Universal Music Group]] released the album on what would've been Gaye's 80th birthday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/02/marvin-gaye-youre-the-man-official-release/|title=Marvin Gaye's lost 1972 album You're the Man to receive official release|date=February 7, 2019|access-date=February 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212214103/https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/02/marvin-gaye-youre-the-man-official-release/|archive-date=February 12, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In between the releases of ''What's Going On'' and ''Trouble Man'', Gaye and his family relocated to Los Angeles, making Gaye one of the final Motown artists to move there despite early protests urging him to stay in Detroit.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In August 1973, Gaye released the ''[[Let's Get It On]]'' album. Its [[Let's Get It On (song)|title track]] became Gaye's second No. 1 single on the Hot 100. The album was later hailed as "a record unparalleled in its sheer sensuality and carnal energy".<ref name="review_2">Jason Ankeny, [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r8081|pure_url=yes}} review of ''Let's Get It On''], by Marvin Gaye, allmusic.com (accessed June 10, 2005).</ref> Other singles from the album included "[[Come Get to This]]", which recalled Gaye's early Motown soul sound of the previous decade, while the suggestive "[[You Sure Love to Ball]]" reached modest success on the R&B charts, while also managing to make the pop top 50, its success halted by radio refusing to play the sexually explicit song.{{sfn|Edmonds|2001b|pp=8–9}}

In the 1970s, Gaye's sister-in-law turned her attention to [[Frankie Beverly]], the founder of [[Maze (band)|Maze]]. Gaye took them on his tours, featured them as the opening acts of his concerts, and persuaded Beverly to change the band's name from Raw Soul to Maze.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

Gaye's final duet project, ''[[Diana & Marvin]]'', with [[Diana Ross]], garnered international success despite contrasting artistic styles. Much of the material was crafted especially for the duo by Ashford and Simpson.<ref>"Ross, Diana/Marvin Gaye – Diana & Marvin." ''Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', 4th ed. Ed. Colin Larkin. ''Oxford Music Online''. [[Oxford University Press]]. Web. January 28, 2017.</ref> Responding to demand from fans and Motown, Gaye started his first [[concert tour]] in four years at the [[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]] on January 4, 1974.{{sfn|Edmonds|2001b|p=14}} The performance received critical acclaim and resulted in the release of the live album, ''[[Marvin Gaye Live!]]'' and its single, a live version of "[[Distant Lover]]", an album track from ''Let's Get It On''.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

The tour helped to enhance Gaye's reputation as a live performer.{{sfn|Edmonds|2001b|p=14}} For a time, he was earning $100,000 a night (US${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|100000|1974}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) for performances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.superseventies.com/1973_5singles.html |title=Let's Get It On – Marvin Gaye |work=SuperSeventies.com |access-date=September 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911171256/http://www.superseventies.com/1973_5singles.html |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gaye toured throughout 1974 and 1975. A renewed contract with Motown allowed Gaye to build his own [[Marvin's Room (recording studio)|custom-made recording studio]].{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In October 1975, Gaye gave a performance at a [[UNESCO]] benefit concert at New York's [[Radio City Music Hall]] to support UNESCO's African literacy drive, resulting in him being commended at the United Nations by then-Ambassador to [[Ghana]] [[Shirley Temple Black]] and [[Kurt Waldheim]].{{sfn|Jet|1975|p=19}}{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=208}} Gaye's next studio album, ''[[I Want You (Marvin Gaye album)|I Want You]]'', followed in March 1976 with the title track [[I Want You (Marvin Gaye song)|"I Want You"]] reaching No. 1 on the R&B charts. The album would go on to sell over one million copies. That spring, Gaye embarked on his first European tour in a decade, starting off in Belgium. In early 1977, Gaye released the live album, ''[[Live at the London Palladium]]'', which sold over two million copies thanks to the success of its studio song, "[[Got to Give It Up]]", which charted at No. 1. In September 1977, Gaye opened Radio City Music Hall's New York Pop Arts Festival.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 18, 1977|title=Marvin Gaye's Deliberate Start Builds to a Climactic Bacchanal|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/09/18/archives/marvin-gayes-deliberate-start-builds-to-a-climactic-bacchanal.html|access-date=October 16, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===Last Motown recordings and European exile===
{{Main|Here, My Dear|In Our Lifetime (Marvin Gaye album)}}
In December 1978, Gaye released ''[[Here, My Dear]]'', inspired by the fallout from his first marriage to [[Anna Gordy Gaye|Anna Gordy]]. Recorded with the intention of remitting a portion of its royalties to her as [[alimony]] payments, it performed poorly on the charts.<ref name=snopes>{{cite web |url=http://www.snopes.com/music/hidden/heredear.asp |title=Marvin Gaye Here, My Dear |work=snopes.com |date=September 16, 1994 |access-date=November 28, 2012}}</ref> During that period, Gaye's [[cocaine]] addiction intensified while he was dealing with several financial issues with the [[Internal Revenue Service|IRS]]. These issues led him to move to [[Maui]], where he struggled to record a [[disco]]-influenced album titled ''Love Man'', with a probable release date for February 1980, though he would later shelve the project.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=265}} That year, Gaye went on a European tour, his first in four years.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=267}} By the time the tour stopped, he had relocated to London when he feared [[imprisonment]] for failure to pay [[back taxes]], which had now reached upwards of $4.5&nbsp;million (US${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|4500000|1980}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}}{{inflation-fn|US}}).{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=267}}{{sfn|Gates|2004|p=333}}

Gaye then reworked ''Love Man'' from its original disco concept to another socially-conscious album invoking religion and the possible [[Eschatology|end time]] from a chapter in the [[Book of Revelation]].{{sfn|Ritz|1991|pp=266–267}} Titling the album ''[[In Our Lifetime (Marvin Gaye album)|In Our Lifetime?]]'', Gaye worked on the album for much of 1980 in London studios such as [[AIR Oxford Circus|AIR]] and [[Odyssey Studios]].{{sfn|Ritz|1991|pp=270–275}}

In the fall of that year, a master tape of a rough draft of the album was stolen from one of Gaye's traveling musicians, Frank Blair, and taken to Motown's Hollywood headquarters.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=279}} Motown remixed the album and released it on January 15, 1981.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=280}} When Gaye learned of its release, he accused Motown of editing and remixing the album without his consent, allowing the release of an unfinished production ([[Far Cry (Marvin Gaye song)|"Far Cry"]]), altering the cover art and removing the album title's question mark, muting its irony.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|pp=280–281}} He also accused the label of rush-releasing the album, comparing his unfinished album to an unfinished [[Pablo Picasso]] painting.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|pp=280–281}} Gaye then vowed not to record any more music for Motown.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=281}}

On February 14, 1981, under the advice of music promoter [[Freddy Cousaert]], Gaye relocated to Cousaert's apartment in [[Ostend]], Belgium.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=282}} While there, Gaye shied away from heavy drug use and began exercising and attending a local Ostend church, regaining personal confidence.{{sfn|Gaye|2003|p=320}}{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=283}} In this period, Gaye lived in the home of Belgian musician {{interlanguage link|Charles Dumolin|nl}}. In March 2024, it was revealed that when he moved on, Gaye had given the family a large collection of unreleased recordings made during his stay in the country.<ref name="Connolly">{{cite news |last1=Connolly |first1=Kevin |last2=Crook |first2=Richard |last3=Boelpaep |first3=Bruno |name-list-style=amp |date=March 30, 2024 |title=Marvin Gaye: Never-before heard music resurfaces in Belgium |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68674814 |website=[[BBC News]] |location=London |access-date=March 30, 2024}}</ref>

Following several months of recovery, Gaye sought a comeback onstage, going on the short-lived Heavy Love Affair tour in England and Ostend from June to July 1981.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=284}} Gaye's personal attorney Curtis Shaw would later describe Gaye's Ostend period as "the best thing that ever happened to Marvin". When word got around that Gaye was planning a musical comeback and an exit from Motown, [[Sony Music|CBS Urban]] president Larkin Arnold eventually convinced Gaye to sign with [[Sony Music|CBS Records]]. On March&nbsp;23, 1982, Motown and CBS negotiated Gaye's release from Motown. The details of the contract were not revealed due to a possible negative effect on Gaye's settlement to creditors from the IRS and to stop a possible bidding war by competing labels.{{sfn|Jet|1982|p=59}}

===''Midnight Love''===
{{Main|Midnight Love|Sexual Healing}}
{{Listen|filename=Sexual_Healing.ogg|title="Sexual Healing"|description="Sexual Healing" was written by Gaye alongside Odell Brown and [[David Ritz]]. Ritz said Gaye advised him to write a poem after telling the singer he needed "sexual healing" while living in Europe. The song became an international hit after its release in 1982.}}
Assigned to CBS's [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] subsidiary, Gaye worked on his first post-Motown album titled ''[[Midnight Love]]''. The first single from the album, "[[Sexual Healing]]", which was written and recorded in Ostend in Freddy Cousaert's apartment, was released in October 1982, and became Gaye's biggest career success, spending a record 10 weeks at No. 1 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot Black Singles]] chart, becoming the biggest R&B hit of the 1980s according to ''Billboard'' stats. In January 1983, it successfully crossed over to the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], where it peaked at No. 3, while the record reached international success, reaching the top spot in [[RIANZ|New Zealand]] and [[RPM (magazine)|Canada]] and reaching the top 10 on the United Kingdom's [[Official Charts Company|OCC singles chart]], Australia and Belgium, later selling more than two million copies in the U.S. alone, becoming Gaye's most successful single to date. The video for the song was shot at Ostend's Casino-Kursaal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.ramada-ostend.com/ostendblog/ |title=What's on in Ostend |access-date=November 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204093349/http://blog.ramada-ostend.com/ostendblog/ |archive-date=December 4, 2010 }}</ref>

"Sexual Healing" won Gaye his first two [[Grammy Award]]s including [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]], in February 1983, and also won Gaye an [[American Music Award]] in the [[rhythm and blues|R&B]]-soul category. ''[[People (magazine)|People]]'' magazine called it "America's hottest musical turn-on since [[Olivia Newton-John]] demanded we get '[[Physical (Olivia Newton-John song)|Physical]]{{'"}}. ''Midnight Love'' was released to stores less than a month after the single's release, and was equally successful, peaking at the top 10 of the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] and becoming Gaye's eighth No. 1 album on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|Top Black Albums]] chart, eventually selling three million alone in the U.S.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

{{blockquote|I don't make records for pleasure. I did when I was a younger artist, but I don't today. I record so that I can feed people what they need, what they feel. Hopefully, I record so that I can help someone overcome a bad time.|''[[NME]]'', December 1982<ref name="NME Rock 'N' Roll Years">{{cite book | first= John | last= Tobler | year= 1992 | title= NME Rock 'N' Roll Years | edition= 1st | publisher=Reed International Books Ltd | location= London | page= 373
| id= CN 5585}}</ref>}}

On February 13, 1983, Gaye sang "[[The Star-Spangled Banner]]" at the [[1983 NBA All-Star Game|NBA All-Star Game]] at [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]] in [[Inglewood, California]]—accompanied by [[Gordon Banks (musician)|Gordon Banks]], who played the studio tape from the stands.{{sfn|Batchelor|2005|pp=41–43}} The following month, Gaye performed at the ''[[Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever]]'' special. This and a May appearance on ''[[Soul Train]]'' (his third appearance on the show) became Gaye's final television performances. Gaye embarked on his final concert tour, titled the [[Sexual Healing Tour]], on April 18, 1983, at The El Cortez Hotel Concerts by the Bay in San Diego.{{sfn|Ebony|1985|p=102}} The tour, which had 51 dates in total and included a then-record six sold-out shows at [[Radio City Music Hall]] in New York City, ended on August 14, 1983, at the [[Pacific Amphitheatre]] in [[Costa Mesa, California]], but was plagued by cocaine-triggered [[paranoia]] and illness. Following the concert's end, he moved into his parents' house in Los Angeles. In early 1984, ''Midnight Love'' was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category, his 12th and final nomination.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

==Personal life==
{{main|Personal life of Marvin Gaye}}
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2024}}
In June 1963, Gaye married [[Anna Gordy]], sister of [[Berry Gordy]]. The couple separated in 1973, and Gordy filed for divorce in November 1975. The couple officially divorced in 1977. Gaye later married Janis Hunter in October 1977. The couple separated in 1979 and officially divorced in November 1982.

Gaye was the father of three children: Marvin III, by adoption; [[Nona Gaye|Nona]]; and Frankie. Marvin III was the biological son of Anna's niece, [[Denise Gordy]], who was 16 at the time of the birth. Nona and Frankie were born to Gaye's second wife, Janis. At the time of his death, Gaye was survived by his three children, mother, father, and five siblings.

Gaye was a cousin of [[Wu-Tang Clan]] member [[Masta Killa]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ivey |first=Justin |date=June 11, 2020 |title=Masta Killa Discusses Being Marvin Gaye's Cousin, Loss Of Popa Wu & RZA's Verzuz Battle |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.56313/title.masta-killa-discusses-being-marvin-gayes-cousin-loss-of-popa-wu-rzas-verzuz-battle |access-date=September 14, 2024 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}</ref>

==Death==
{{main|Killing of Marvin Gaye}}
[[File:Marvin gaye death cert.jpg|thumb|Gaye's death certificate]]
In the early afternoon of April 1, 1984, Gaye intervened in a fight between his parents in the family house in the West Adams neighborhood of [[Western Heights, Los Angeles|Western Heights]]<ref name=titans /> in Los Angeles. He became involved in a physical altercation with his father, [[Marvin Gay Sr.]],{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=333}} who shot Gaye twice, once in the chest, piercing his heart, and then into his shoulder.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=333}} The shooting took place in Gaye's bedroom at 12:38&nbsp;p.m. Gaye was pronounced dead at 1:01&nbsp;p.m. after his body arrived at [[California Hospital Medical Center]].{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=333}}{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=334}}

After Gaye's funeral, his body was [[Cremation|cremated]] at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park–Hollywood Hills]], and his ashes were scattered into the [[Pacific Ocean]].{{sfn|Ritz|1991|pp = 335–336}}<ref>{{cite web |date=April 23, 1984 |title=Jet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bbQDAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+cremated&pg=PA59 |access-date=January 16, 2024 |publisher=[[Johnson Publishing Company]] |via=Google Books}}</ref> Gay Sr. was initially charged with first-degree murder, but the charges were reduced to [[voluntary manslaughter]] following a diagnosis of a brain tumor.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/21/us/around-the-nation-no-contest-plea-in-death-of-marvin-gaye.html?scp=1&sq=death%20of%20marvin%20gaye&st=cse | work=The New York Times | title=Around the Nation – No-Contest Plea in Death of Marvin Gaye | date=September 21, 1984 | access-date=February 11, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704032249/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/21/us/around-the-nation-no-contest-plea-in-death-of-marvin-gaye.html?scp=1&sq=death%20of%20marvin%20gaye&st=cse | archive-date=July 4, 2017 | url-status=live }}</ref> He was given a suspended six-year sentence and probation. He died at a nursing home in 1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/200833.stm|title=Marvin Gaye's father and killer dies|date=October 25, 1998|publisher=BBC|access-date=December 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027112909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/200833.stm|archive-date=October 27, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Musicianship==
===Equipment===
Starting off his musicianship as a drummer doing session work during his tenure with Harvey Fuqua, and his early Motown years, Gaye's musicianship evolved to include piano, keyboards, synthesizers, and organ. Gaye also used percussion instruments, such as [[bell]]s, [[finger cymbals]], [[box drum]]s, [[glockenspiel]]s, [[vibraphone]]s, [[bongos]], [[congas]], and [[cabasa]]s. This became evident when he was given creative control in his later years with Motown, to produce his own albums. In addition to his talent as a drummer, Gaye also embraced the [[TR-808]], a [[drum machine]] that became prominent in the early '80s, making use of its sounds for production of his ''[[Midnight Love]]'' album. The piano was his primary instrument when performing on stage, with occasional drumming.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/10/the-man-was-a-genius-tales-from-making-marvin-gayes-final-album/263028/|title='The Man Was a Genius': Tales From Making Marvin Gaye's Final Album|first=Chris|last=Williams|date=October 1, 2012|website=The Atlantic|access-date=March 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401081735/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/10/the-man-was-a-genius-tales-from-making-marvin-gayes-final-album/263028/|archive-date=April 1, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Influences===
As a child, Gaye's main influence was his minister father, something he later acknowledged to biographer [[David Ritz]], and also in interviews, often mentioning that his father's sermons greatly impressed him. His first major musical influences were [[doo-wop]] groups such as [[The Moonglows]] and [[The Capris (Philadelphia group)|The Capris]]. Gaye's [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]] page lists the Capris' song, "[[God Only Knows (1954 song)|God Only Knows]]" as "critical to his musical awakening".<ref name="Marvin Gaye Biography">{{cite web |url=http://rockhall.com/inductees/marvin-gaye/bio/ |title=Marvin Gaye Biography |work=The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum |access-date=July 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713180002/http://rockhall.com/inductees/marvin-gaye/bio/ |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Of the Capris' song, Gaye said, "It fell from the heavens and hit me between the eyes. So much soul, so much hurt. I related to the story, to the way that no one except the Lord really can read the heart of lonely kids in love."{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=27}} Gaye's main musical influences were Rudy West of [[The Five Keys]], [[Clyde McPhatter]], [[Ray Charles]] and [[Little Willie John]].{{sfnm|Bowman|2006|1p=5|Ritz|1991|2p=29}} Gaye considered [[Frank Sinatra]] a major influence in what he wanted to be.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=29}} He also was influenced by the vocal styles of [[Billy Eckstine]] and [[Nat King Cole]].{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=30}}

As his Motown career developed, Gaye took inspiration from fellow label mates such as [[David Ruffin]] of [[The Temptations]] and [[Levi Stubbs]] of the [[Four Tops]], whose grittier voices led to Gaye and his producer seeking a similar sound in recordings such as "[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]" and "[[That's the Way Love Is (The Isley Brothers song)|That's the Way Love Is]]". Later in his life, Gaye reflected on the influence of Ruffin and Stubbs, stating: "I had heard something in their voices something my own voice lacked."{{sfnm|Bowman|2006|1p=14|Ritz|1991|2p=100}} He further explained, "the [[The Temptations|Tempts]] and [[Four Tops|Tops]]' music made me remember that when a lot of women listen to music, they want to feel the power of a real man."{{sfnm|Bowman|2006|1p=14|Ritz|1991|2p=100}}

===Vocal style===
Gaye had a four-octave [[vocal range]].{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=82}} From his earlier recordings as member of the Marquees and Harvey and the New Moonglows, and in his first several recordings with Motown, Gaye recorded mainly in the [[baritone]] and [[tenor]] ranges. He changed his tone to a rasp for his gospel-inspired early hits such as "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" and "Hitch Hike". As writer [[Eddie Holland]] explained, "He was the only singer I have ever heard known to take a song of that nature, that was so far removed from his natural voice where he liked singing, and do whatever it took to sell that song."{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=8}}

In songs such as "Pride and Joy", Gaye used three different vocal ranges—singing in his baritone range at the beginning, bringing a lighter tenor in the verses before reaching a gospel mode in the chorus. Holland further stated of Gaye's voice that it was "one of the sweetest and prettiest voices you ever wanted to hear".{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=9}} And while he noted that ballads and jazz was "his basic soul", he stated Gaye "had the ability to take a roughhouse, rock and roll, blues, R&B, any kind of song and make it his own", later saying that Gaye was the most versatile vocalist he had ever worked with.{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=9}}

Gaye changed his vocal style in the late 1960s, when he was advised to use a sharper, raspy voice—especially in Norman Whitfield's recordings. Gaye initially disliked the new style, considering it out of his range, but said he was "into being produce-able".{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=14}} After listening to David Ruffin and Levi Stubbs, Gaye said he started to develop what he called his "tough man voice"—saying, "I developed a growl."{{sfnm|Bowman|2006|1p=14|Ritz|1991|2p=100}} In the liner notes of his DVD set, ''Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing in Performance 1964–1981'', Rob Bowman said that by the early 1970s, Gaye had developed "three distinct voices: his smooth, sweet tenor; a growling rasp; and an unreal [[falsetto]]."{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=15}} Bowman further wrote that the recording of the ''What's Going On'' single was "...{{nbsp}}the first single to use all three as Marvin developed a radical approach to constructing his recordings by layering a series of contrapuntal background vocal lines on different tracks, each one conceived and sung in isolation by Marvin himself."{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=15}} Bowman found that Gaye's multi-tracking of his tenor voice and other vocal styles "summon[ed] up what might be termed the ancient art of weaving".{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=15}}

===Social commentary and concept albums===
Prior to recording the ''[[What's Going On (Marvin Gaye album)|What's Going On]]'' album, Gaye recorded a cover of the song, "[[Abraham, Martin & John]]", which became a UK hit in 1970. Despite some political music and socially conscious material recorded by [[The Temptations]], Motown artists were often told to not delve into political and social commentary, for fear of alienating pop audiences. Early in his career, Gaye was affected by social events including the 1965 [[Watts riots]] and once asked himself: "with the world exploding around me, how am I supposed to keep singing love songs?"{{sfn|Lynskey|2011|p=156}} When Gaye called Gordy in the Bahamas about wanting to do [[protest music]], Gordy told him: "Marvin, don't be ridiculous. That's taking things too far."{{sfn|Lynskey|2011|p=157}}

Gaye was inspired by the [[Black Panther Party]] and supported the efforts they put forth such as giving free meals to poor families door to door. However, he did not support the violent tactics the Panthers used to fight oppression, as Gaye's messages in many of his political songs were [[nonviolent]]. The lyrics and music of ''What's Going On'' discuss and illustrate issues during the 1960s/1970s such as racism, police brutality, drug abuse, environmental issues, anti-war, and black power issues.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Party Music : The Inside Story of the Black Panthers' Band and How Black Power Transformed Soul Music|last = Vincet|first = Rickey|publisher = Lawrence Hill Books|year = 2013|pages = 288–289}}</ref> Gaye was inspired to make this album because of events such as the [[Vietnam War]], the [[1967 Detroit riot|1967 race riots in Detroit]], and the [[Kent State shootings]], as well as the assassinations of [[Martin Luther King Jr.]] and [[Robert F. Kennedy]].<ref name="Charnock-2015">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.united-academics.org/journal/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Biography_Marvin-Gaye_Ruth-Charnock.pdf |title='Things ain't what they used to be': Marvin Gaye and the making of What's Going On |last=Charnock |first=Ruth |year=2015 |journal=United Academics Journal of Social Sciences |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120111436/http://www.united-academics.org/journal/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Biography_Marvin-Gaye_Ruth-Charnock.pdf |archive-date=November 20, 2015 }}</ref>

Once Gaye presented Gordy with the ''What's Going On'' album, Gordy feared Gaye was risking the ruination of his image as a sex symbol.{{sfn|Bowman|2006|p=16}} Following the album's success, Gaye tried a follow-up album, ''[[You're the Man (album)|You're the Man]]''. The [[You're the Man|title track]] only produced modest success, however, and Gaye and Motown shelved the album. Several of Gaye's unreleased songs of social commentary, including "[[The World Is Rated X]]", would be issued on posthumous compilation albums. ''What's Going On'' would later be described by an [[AllMusic]] writer as an album that "not only redefined soul music as a creative force but also expanded its impact as an agent for social change".<ref>{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p4344/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Allmusic (Marvin Gaye – Overview)|access-date=January 9, 2009}}</ref> ''You're the Man'' was finally released on March 29, 2019, through [[Motown]], [[Universal Music Enterprises]], and [[Universal Music Group]].<ref name="CoS">{{cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/02/marvin-gaye-youre-the-man-official-release/|title=Marvin Gaye's lost 1972 album You're the Man to receive official release|work=[[Consequence of Sound]]|last=Roffman|first=Michael|date=February 8, 2019|access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124247/https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/02/marvin-gaye-youre-the-man-official-release/|archive-date=February 9, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ''What's Going On'' album also provided another first in both Motown and R&B music: Gaye and his engineers had composed the album in a [[song cycle]], segueing previous songs into other songs giving the album a more cohesive feel as opposed to R&B albums that traditionally included [[filler (music)|filler tracks]] to complete the album. This style of music would influence recordings by artists such as [[Stevie Wonder]] and [[Barry White]] making the concept album format a part of 1970s R&B music. Concept albums are usually based on either one theme or a series of themes in connection to the original thesis of the album's concept. ''Let's Get It On'' repeated the suite-form arrangement of ''What's Going On'', as would Gaye's later albums such as ''I Want You'', ''Here, My Dear'' and ''In Our Lifetime''.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} Although Gaye was not politically active outside of his music, he became a public figure for social change and inspired/educated many people through his work.<ref name="Charnock-2015" />

==Legacy==
Gaye has been called "the number-one purveyor of soul music".{{sfn|Browne|2001|p=316}} In his book ''Mercy Mercy Me: The Art, Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye'', [[Michael Eric Dyson]] described Gaye as someone "who transcended the boundaries of [[rhythm and blues]] as no other performer had done before".{{sfn|Dyson|2004|p=3}} Following his [[death of Marvin Gaye|death]], ''[[The New York Times]]'' described Gaye as someone who "blended the soul music of the urban scene with the beat of the old-time gospel singer and became an influential force in pop music".<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/02/us/marvin-gaye-is-shot-and-killed-pop-singer-s-father-faces-charge.html |title=Marvin Gaye Is Shot And Killed; Pop Singer's Father Faces Charge |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 1, 1984 |access-date=March 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403100807/http://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/02/us/marvin-gaye-is-shot-and-killed-pop-singer-s-father-faces-charge.html |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Further in the article, Gaye was also credited with combining "the soulful directness of gospel music, the sweetness of soft-soul and pop, and the vocal musicianship of a jazz singer".<ref name="NYTimes"/> His recordings for Motown in the 1960s and 1970s shaped that label's signature sound. His work with Motown gave him the titles ''Prince of Soul'' and ''Prince of Motown.''{{sfn|Edmonds|2001a|p=12}}{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=ix}} Critics stated that Gaye's music "signified the development of black music from raw rhythm and blues, through sophisticated soul to the political awareness of the 1970s and increased concentration on personal and sexual politics thereafter".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.classicbands.com/gaye.html |title=Marvin Gaye |work=Classic Bands |access-date=August 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821013620/http://www.classicbands.com/gaye.html |archive-date=August 21, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a Motown artist, Gaye was among the first to break from the reins of its production system, paving the way for [[Stevie Wonder]].{{sfn|Browne|2001|p=316}}{{sfn|Edmonds|2001a|p=10}}{{sfn|Gilmore|1998|p=220}}<ref name="superseventies">{{cite web |url=http://www.superseventies.com/spgayemarvin2.html |title=Marvin Gaye – What's Going On |work=SuperSeventies.com |access-date=September 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921233239/http://www.superseventies.com/spgayemarvin2.html |archive-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gaye's late 1970s and early 1980s recordings influenced forms of R&B predating the subgenres [[quiet storm]] and [[neo-soul]].<ref name=spin/>

[[Barry White]], [[Stevie Wonder]], [[Frankie Beverly]] and many others have said they were influenced by Gaye's music. For his Oscar-nominated role as James "Thunder" Ealy in the film ''[[Dreamgirls (film)|Dreamgirls]]'', [[Eddie Murphy]] replicated Gaye's 1970s clothing style.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

David Ritz wrote in a 1991 revision of [[Divided Soul|his biography of Gaye]], "since 1983, Marvin's name has been mentioned—in reverential tones—on no less than seven top-ten hit records."{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=ix}} Gaye's name has been used in the title of several hits, including [[Big Sean]]'s "[[Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay]]" and [[Charlie Puth]]'s debut hit, "[[Marvin Gaye (Charlie Puth song)|Marvin Gaye]]", a duet with [[Meghan Trainor]]. The 1983 Spandau Ballet hit "[[True (Spandau Ballet song)|True]]" mentions "Listening to Marvin all night long...".{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

==Awards and honors==
{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by Marvin Gaye}}

The [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] inducted him in 1987, declaring that Gaye "made a huge contribution to soul music in general and the Motown Sound in particular". The page stated that Gaye "possessed a classic [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] voice that was edged with grit yet tempered with sweetness". The page further states that Gaye "projected an air of soulful authority driven by fervid conviction and heartbroken vulnerability".<ref name="Marvin Gaye Biography"/> A year after his death, then-mayor of D.C., [[Marion Barry]] declared April 2 as "Marvin Gaye Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund Day" in the city.{{sfn|Jet|1985a|p=56}} Since then, a non-profit organization has helped to organize annual Marvin Gaye Day Celebrations in the city of Washington.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marvingayeday.com|title=Home Page|access-date=September 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613210713/http://marvingayeday.com/|archive-date=June 13, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

A year later, Gaye's mother founded the Marvin P. Gaye Jr. Memorial Foundation in dedication to her son to help those suffering from [[drug abuse]] and alcoholism; however she died a day before the memorial was set to open in 1987.{{sfn|Jet|1987|p=57}} Gaye's sister Jeanne once served as the foundation's chairperson.{{sfn|Brooks-Bertram|2009|p=40}} In 1988, a year after his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, Gaye was inducted posthumously to the [[NAACP Image Award - Hall of Fame Award|NAACP Hall of Fame]]. In 1990, Gaye received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].{{sfn|Jet|1990a|p=17}}{{sfn|Jet|1990b|pp=37}} In 1996, Gaye posthumously received the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame listed three Gaye recordings, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "What's Going On" and "Sexual Healing", among its list of the ''500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rockhall.com/exhibits/one-hit-wonders-songs-that-shaped-rock-and-roll/ |title=Experience the Music: One-Hit Wonders and the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll |work=The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum |access-date=July 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215161041/http://rockhall.com/exhibits/one-hit-wonders-songs-that-shaped-rock-and-roll/ |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> American music magazine ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked Gaye No. 18 on their [[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time|list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time"]],<ref name="immortals">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty/|title=Rolling Stone: The Immortals, The first 50|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=December 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229032405/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231|archive-date=February 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> sixth on their list of "100 Greatest Singers of All Time"<ref name="singers">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/6|title=Rolling Stone: 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|page=6|access-date=December 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429075451/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/24161972/page/6|archive-date=April 29, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> and number 82 on their list of [[Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time|the "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time"]].<ref name="songwriters">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/interactive/lists-100-greatest-songwriters/#marvin-gaye |title=The 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=October 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014091735/https://www.rollingstone.com/interactive/lists-100-greatest-songwriters/#marvin-gaye |archive-date=October 14, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' magazine ranked Gaye sixth on their list of the "100 Greatest Singers".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm|title=Rocklist.net...Q Magazine Lists..|access-date=March 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313132941/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm|archive-date=March 13, 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Three of Gaye's albums – ''[[What's Going On (Marvin Gaye album)|What's Going On]]'' (1971), ''[[Let's Get It On]]'' (1973), and ''[[Here, My Dear]]'' (1978) – were ranked by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' on their list of the [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 Greatest Albums of All Time]]. ''What's Going On'' remains his largest-ranked album, reaching No. 6 on the ''Rolling Stone'' list and topped the ''[[NME]]'' list of the ''Top 100 Albums of All Time'' in 1985<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_writers.htm#100_85|title=NME Writers Top 100 Albums of All Time|access-date=March 10, 2013|magazine=[[NME]]|date=November 30, 1985|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006212012/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_writers.htm#100_85|archive-date=October 6, 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref> and was later chosen in 2003 for inclusion by the [[Library of Congress]] to its [[National Recording Registry]].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/registry/nrpb-2003reg.html|title=The National Recording Registry 2003: National Recording Preservation Board (Library of Congress)|publisher=[[Library of Congress]]|access-date=March 10, 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141104172116/http://www.loc.gov/rr/record/nrpb/registry/nrpb-2003reg.html|archive-date=November 4, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In a revised 2020 ''Rolling Stone'' list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, ''What's Going On'' was listed as the greatest album of all time. In addition, four of his songs – "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "What's Going On", "Let's Get It On" and "Sexual Healing" – made it on the ''Rolling Stone'' list of the ''[[500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]''.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} In 2005, Gaye was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com/mrrl-hall-of-fame/84-marvin-gaye |publisher= Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame |title= Marvin Gaye| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161115091220/http://www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com/mrrl-hall-of-fame/84-marvin-gaye |archive-date= November 15, 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Marvin Gaye post office dedication.jpg|thumb|[[Karen Bass]] and Gaye's family at the dedication of the Marvin Gaye Post Office in Los Angeles in 2019]]
In 2006, Watts Branch Park, a park in Washington that Gaye frequented as a teenager, was renamed Marvin Gaye Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonparks.net/marvin_gaye_park |title=Washington Parks and People: Marvin Gaye Park |access-date= September 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120717045640/http://washingtonparks.net/marvin_gaye_park |archive-date=July 17, 2012 }}</ref> Three years later, the 5200 block of Foote Street NE in [[Deanwood]], Washington, D.C., was renamed Marvin Gaye Way.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.washingtonparks.net/marvin_gaye_park |title="Marvin Gaye Way" Coming to Deanwood – Housing Complex |date=April 1, 2009 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120717045640/http://washingtonparks.net/marvin_gaye_park |archive-date=July 17, 2012 }}</ref> In August 2014, Gaye was inducted to the official [[Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame]] in its second class.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/08/rb_hall_of_fame_sets_big_weeke.html|title=R&B Music Hall of Fame sets big weekend to induct sophomore class featuring Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Marvin Gaye, Norm N. Nite and more|date=August 19, 2014|work=The Plain Dealer|access-date=September 4, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140910215727/http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/08/rb_hall_of_fame_sets_big_weeke.html|archive-date=September 10, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2015, the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] announced Gaye as a nominee for induction to the Hall's 2016 class after posthumous nominations were included.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2015/10/05/george-harrison-madonna-among-those-nominated-for-songwriters-hall-of-fame.html |title=George Harrison, Madonna among those nominated for Songwriters Hall of Fame |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=October 5, 2015 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151006151822/http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2015/10/05/george-harrison-madonna-among-those-nominated-for-songwriters-hall-of-fame.html |archive-date=October 6, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://songhall.org/news/entry/songwriters_hall_of_fame_2016_nominees_for_induction_announced |title=Songwriters Hall of Fame 2016 Nominees For Induction Announced |publisher=[[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] |date=October 5, 2015 |access-date=October 6, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151009010458/http://www.songhall.org/news/entry/songwriters_hall_of_fame_2016_nominees_for_induction_announced |archive-date=October 9, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gaye was named as a posthumous inductee to that hall on March 2, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6897278/songwriters-hall-of-fame-2016-tom-petty-marvin-gaye-elvis-costello |title=Songwriters Hall of Fame to Induct Tom Petty, Marvin Gaye, Elvis Costello |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=March 2, 2016 |access-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303092734/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6897278/songwriters-hall-of-fame-2016-tom-petty-marvin-gaye-elvis-costello |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/songwriters-hall-of-fame-marvin-gaye-elvis-costello-tom-petty/ |title=Songwriters Hall of Fame to Honor Marvin Gaye, Elvis Costello and Tom Petty |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 2, 2016 |access-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073638/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/songwriters-hall-of-fame-marvin-gaye-elvis-costello-tom-petty/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gaye was subsequently inducted to the Songwriters Hall on June 9, 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/costello-gaye-petty-inducted-songwriters-hall-fame-39745529 |title=Costello, Gaye, Petty Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=June 10, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160611012728/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/costello-gaye-petty-inducted-songwriters-hall-fame-39745529 |archive-date=June 11, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2018, a bill by California politician [[Karen Bass]] to rename a post office in [[South Los Angeles]] after Gaye was signed into law by President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lawattstimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5064:bill-to-name-post-office-for-marvin-gaye-signed-into-law&catid=27:arts-culture&Itemid=117 |title=Bill to Name Post Office for Marvin Gaye Signed Into Law |work=L.A. Watts Times |date=July 26, 2018 |access-date=July 27, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180727181213/http://www.lawattstimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5064:bill-to-name-post-office-for-marvin-gaye-signed-into-law&catid=27:arts-culture&Itemid=117 |archive-date=July 27, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gaye was ranked number 20 on ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s "The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time" published in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 1, 2023 |title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/ |access-date=January 5, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
His [[1983 NBA All-Star Game|1983 NBA All-Star performance]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=985241 |title=Marvin Gaye's 'National Anthem' |newspaper=NPR.org |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=February 7, 2003 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110430205613/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=985241 |archive-date= April 30, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> of the national anthem was used in a [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] commercial featuring the 2008 U.S. Olympic basketball team. Also, on [[NBA on CBS|CBS Sports]]' final NBA telecast to date (before the contract moved to [[NBA on NBC|NBC]]) at the conclusion of Game 5 of the [[1990 NBA Finals|1990 Finals]], they used Gaye's 1983 All-Star Game performance over the closing credits. When [[VH1]] launched on January 1, 1985, Gaye's 1983 rendition of the national anthem was the first video they aired. In 2010, it was used in the intro to [[Ken Burns]]' ''[[The Tenth Inning|Tenth Inning]]'' documentary on the game of baseball.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} The 1985 [[Commodores]] song "[[Nightshift (song)|Nightshift]]" was a tribute to Gaye and [[Jackie Wilson]], who both died in 1984. One verse mentions Gaye's song "What's Going On".{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was played in a [[Levi's]] television advertisement in 1985.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XDUOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA73|title=Fashion Marketing|first1=Janet|last1=Bohdanowicz|first2=Liz|last2=Clamp|page=73|publisher=Routledge|year=1994|isbn=978-0-41505-939-8|access-date=September 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426031310/https://books.google.com/books?id=XDUOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA73|archive-date=April 26, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Robinson>{{cite book|url=http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Modules/MC30820/launderette.html |title=The Sunday Times 100 Greatest TV Ads |pages=119–121 |first=Mark |last=Robinson |publisher=HarperCollins |date=March 1, 2001 |access-date=September 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706032759/http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Modules/MC30820/launderette.html |archive-date=July 6, 2012 }}</ref> The result of the commercial's success led to the original song finding renewed success in Europe after [[Motown Records|Tamla-Motown]] re-released it in the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands.<ref name=Robinson/> In 1986, the song was covered by [[Buddy Miles]] as part of a [[California Raisins]] ad campaign.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VxMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60|title=Buddy Miles, 60|magazine=Billboard|page=60|author=Kristina Tunzi|date=March 15, 2008|access-date=September 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501063241/https://books.google.com/books?id=VxMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60|archive-date=May 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The song was later used for [[chewing gum]] commercials in Finland and to promote a brand of [[Lucky Strike]] cigarettes in Germany.{{sfn|Billboard|1994|p=70}}{{sfn|Billboard|1994|p=80}}

Gaye's music has also been used in numerous [[film soundtracks]] including ''[[Four Brothers (film)|Four Brothers]]'' and ''[[Captain America: The Winter Soldier]]'', both of which featured Gaye's music from his ''Trouble Man'' soundtrack. "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was used in the opening credits of the film, ''[[The Big Chill (film)|The Big Chill]]''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/popularmusicfilm00iani|url-access=registration|title=Popular Music and Film|page=[https://archive.org/details/popularmusicfilm00iani/page/168 168]|author=Ian Inglis|publisher=Wallflower Press|year=2003|isbn=978-1-90336-471-0|access-date=September 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=37maxOYnf_kC&pg=PA44|title=The Multi-Protagonist Film|page=168|author=María del Mar Azcona|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|date=July 11, 2011|access-date=September 17, 2012|isbn=9781444351903|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515194426/https://books.google.com/books?id=37maxOYnf_kC&pg=PA44|archive-date=May 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vbzPd4uegeUC&pg=PA115|title=The Sound of Pictures|page=115|author=Andrew Ford|publisher=Schwartz Publishing|year=2011|isbn=978-1-45876-294-8|access-date=September 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426134852/https://books.google.com/books?id=vbzPd4uegeUC&pg=PA115|archive-date=April 26, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007, his song "A Funky Space Reincarnation" was used in the [[Charlize Theron]]–starred ad for [[Dior]] J'Adore perfume. A documentary about Gaye—''What's Going On: The Marvin Gaye Story''—was a UK/[[PBS]] co-production, directed by [[Jeremy Marre]] and was first broadcast in 2006. Two years later, the special re-aired with a different production and newer interviews after it was re-broadcast as an ''[[American Masters]]'' special. Another documentary, focusing on his 1981 documentary, ''Transit Ostend'', titled ''Remember Marvin'', aired in 2006.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

==Earnings==
In 2008, Gaye's estate earned $3.5 million (US${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|3500000|2008}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}). As a result, Gaye placed 13th in ''[[Forbes|Forbes Magazine's]]'' "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/29/dead.celebrities/index.html |title=Elvis, Marvin Gaye shake money makers in afterlife |publisher=CNN |date=October 29, 2008 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012053329/http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/10/29/dead.celebrities/index.html |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 11, 2015, Gaye's family was awarded $7.4&nbsp;million in damages following a decision by an eight-member jury in Los Angeles that [[Robin Thicke]] and [[Pharrell Williams]] had breached copyright by incorporating part of Gaye's song "Got to Give It Up" into their hit "[[Blurred Lines]]"; U.S. District Judge John Kronstadt reduced the sum to $5.3&nbsp;million, while adding royalties.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31825059|work=BBC News|title=Blurred Lines jury awards Marvin Gaye family $7m|date=March 11, 2015|access-date=June 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404130912/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31825059|archive-date=April 4, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2016, the Gaye family requested that a California judge award an additional $2.66&nbsp;million in attorneys' fees and $777,000 in legal expenses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-docket-marvin-gaye-family-854928 |title=My Favorite Things, Part II |last=Gardner |first=Eriq |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=January 12, 2016 |access-date=July 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812174542/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hollywood-docket-marvin-gaye-family-854928 |archive-date=August 12, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 2018, Gaye's estate was managed by Geffen Management Group and his legacy is protected through Creative Rights Group. Both are founded by talent manager [[Jeremy Geffen]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stutz |first=Colin |date=August 23, 2018 |title=Jeremy Geffen, Artist Manager & Creative Rights Group Founder, Dies at 40 |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/jeremy-geffen-artist-manager-creative-rights-group-dead-40/ |access-date=May 15, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Attempted biopics==
There have been several attempts to adapt Gaye's life story into a feature film. In February 2006, it was reported that [[Jesse L. Martin]] was to portray Gaye in a biopic titled ''Sexual Healing'', named after Gaye's [[Sexual Healing|1982 song of the same name]]. The film was to have been directed by Lauren Goodman and produced by [[James Gandolfini]] and Alexandra Ryan. The film was to depict the final three years of Gaye's life.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Chris|title='Sexual Healing' Biopic Focuses on Marvin Gaye's Last Days|date=February 6, 2006|publisher=[[MTV News]]|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1523789/sexual-healing-biopic-focuses-on-marvin-gayes-last-days/|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506103849/http://www.mtv.com/news/1523789/sexual-healing-biopic-focuses-on-marvin-gayes-last-days/|archive-date=May 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Marvin Gaye Biopic Moving Forward|date=February 6, 2006|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59783/marvin-gaye-biopic-moving-forward|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925140110/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59783/marvin-gaye-biopic-moving-forward|archive-date=September 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Jessie L. Martin To Portray Marvin Gaye in Film Biopic|date=February 27, 2006|magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a70DAAAAMBAJ&q=lauren+goodman+marvin+gaye&pg=PA56|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002202455/https://books.google.com/books?id=a70DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=lauren+goodman+marvin+gaye&source=bl&ots=NoqCbv6dWx&sig=kRzliJxm6vWCvkLdqGqgiyZ85nY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CFUQ6AEwCWoVChMIrKT4-OqsxwIVjU6SCh1gzwEw#v=onepage&q=lauren%20goodman%20marvin%20gaye&f=false|archive-date=October 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hernandez|first=Ernio|title=Gandolfini Joins Martin for Marvin Gaye Film "Sexual Healing"|date=February 1, 2008|work=[[Playbill]]|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/gandolfini-joins-martin-for-marvin-gaye-film-sexual-healing-147346|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924194851/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/gandolfini-joins-martin-for-marvin-gaye-film-sexual-healing-147346|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=James Gandolfini joins Marvin Gaye biopic|date=February 3, 2008|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2008/02/03/james-gandolfini-joins-marvin-gaye-biopic|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924064959/http://www.ew.com/article/2008/02/03/james-gandolfini-joins-marvin-gaye-biopic|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Years later, other producers such as Jean-Luc Van Damme, Frederick Bestall and Jimmy De Brabant, came aboard and Goodman was replaced by [[Julien Temple]]. [[Lenny Kravitz]] was almost slated to play Gaye. The script was to be written by Matthew Broughton. The film was to have been distributed by [[Focus Features]] and released on April 1, 2014, the thirtieth anniversary of Gaye's death.<ref>{{cite web|last=Child|first=Ben|title=Julien Temple to direct Marvin Gaye biopic|date=February 14, 2011|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/feb/14/julien-temple-marvin-gaye-biopic|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215014755/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/feb/14/julien-temple-marvin-gaye-biopic|archive-date=February 15, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Patten|first=Dominic|title=Lenny Kravitz To Play Marvin Gaye in Julien Temple Film|date=November 26, 2012|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|url=https://deadline.com/2012/11/lenny-kravitz-to-play-marvin-gaye-in-julien-temple-film-376953/|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151024022232/http://deadline.com/2012/11/lenny-kravitz-to-play-marvin-gaye-in-julien-temple-film-376953/|archive-date=October 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|title=Focus Adds Marvin Gaye Project To Cannes Slate|date=April 26, 2013|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/focus-rounds-out-cannes-slate-1200418554/|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413075455/http://variety.com/2013/film/news/focus-rounds-out-cannes-slate-1200418554/|archive-date=April 13, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=McClintock|first1=Pamela|title=Cannes: Focus Picks Up Marvin Gaye Biopic|date=April 26, 2013|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-focus-picks-up-marvin-447273|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172327/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-focus-picks-up-marvin-447273|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marvin Gaye Biopic, 'Sexual Healing' Teaser Clip Surfaces Online (VIDEO)|date=September 18, 2013|work=[[HuffPost]]|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/18/marvin-gayes-biopic-sexual-healing-teaser-clip-_n_3950355.html|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924191758/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/18/marvin-gayes-biopic-sexual-healing-teaser-clip-_n_3950355.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Haglund|first=David|title=Will the Marvin Gaye Movie Be Any Good?|date=September 19, 2013|work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/09/19/marvin_gaye_movie_watch_jesse_martin_play_the_singer_in_scenes_from_forthcoming.html|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150818063158/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/09/19/marvin_gaye_movie_watch_jesse_martin_play_the_singer_in_scenes_from_forthcoming.html|archive-date=August 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sacks|first=Ethan|title='Sexual Healing' teaser trailer released: Jesse L. Martin channels legendary R&B singer Marvin Gaye for biopic|date=September 19, 2013|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/jesse-martin-channels-marvin-gaye-biopic-article-1.1461675|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924063649/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/jesse-martin-channels-marvin-gaye-biopic-article-1.1461675|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> This never came to fruition and it was announced that Focus Features no longer has involvement with the Gaye biopic as of June 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mcnab|first=Geoffrey|title=Temple's Marvin Gaye film stalls|date=June 13, 2013|url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/temples-marvin-gaye-film-stalls/5057289.article|access-date=August 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924141918/http://www.screendaily.com/news/temples-marvin-gaye-film-stalls/5057289.article|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Sacks|first=Ethan|title='Sexual Healing' teaser trailer released: Jesse L. Martin channels legendary R&B singer Marvin Gaye for biopic|date=September 19, 2013|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/jesse-martin-channels-marvin-gaye-biopic-article-1.1461675|access-date=August 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924063649/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/jesse-martin-channels-marvin-gaye-biopic-article-1.1461675|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2008, it was announced that [[F. Gary Gray]] was going to direct a biopic titled ''Marvin''. The script was to be written by C. Gaby Mitchell and the film was to be produced by David Foster and Duncan McGillivray and co-produced by Ryan Heppe. According to Gray, the film would cover Gaye's entire life, from his emergence at Motown through his defiance of Berry Gordy to record ''[[What's Going On (Marvin Gaye album)|What's Going On]]'' and on up to his death.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Michael|title=F. Gary Gray to direct 'Marvin' movie|date=June 5, 2008|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/f-gary-gray-to-direct-marvin-movie-1117986983/|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826061226/http://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/f-gary-gray-to-direct-marvin-movie-1117986983/|archive-date=August 26, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Campbell|first=Christopher|title=F. Gary Gray Helming Other Marvin Gaye Biopic|date=June 8, 2008|publisher=[[Moviefone]]|url=http://news.moviefone.com/2008/06/08/f-gary-gray-helming-other-marvin-gaye-biopic/|access-date=August 16, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[Cameron Crowe]] had also been working on a biopic titled ''My Name Is Marvin''. The film was to have been a [[Sony Pictures Entertainment|Sony]] presentation with [[Scott Rudin]] as producer. Both [[Will Smith]] and [[Terrence Howard]] were considered for the role of Gaye. Crowe later confirmed in August 2011 that he abandoned the project: "We were working on the Marvin Gaye movie which is called ''My Name is Marvin'', but the time just wasn't right for that movie."<ref>{{cite web|last=Chagollan|first=Steve|title=Music biopics struggle to make it to bigscreen|date=April 1, 2010|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/music-biopics-struggle-to-make-it-to-bigscreen-1118017182/|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822003112/http://variety.com/2010/film/news/music-biopics-struggle-to-make-it-to-bigscreen-1118017182/|archive-date=August 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Adler|first=Tim|title=CANNES: Terrence Howard In Talks To Play Cameron Crowe's Marvin Gaye|date=May 16, 2010|website=Deadline Hollywood|url=https://deadline.com/2010/05/cannes-terrence-howard-in-talks-to-play-cameron-crowes-marvin-gaye-41609/|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907194714/http://deadline.com/2010/05/cannes-terrence-howard-in-talks-to-play-cameron-crowes-marvin-gaye-41609/|archive-date=September 7, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Marvin Gaye: Mixed messages heard on the grapevine|date=April 5, 2011|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/marvin-gaye-mixed-messages-heard-on-the-grapevine-2262381.html|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924194837/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/marvin-gaye-mixed-messages-heard-on-the-grapevine-2262381.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Singer|first=Matt|title=Fall Preview: Cameron Crowe Talks "We Bought a Zoo", Buying Into Matt Damon and Why Animals Make Great Characters|date=August 26, 2011|publisher=[[Ifc.com]]|url=http://www.ifc.com/fix/2011/08/cameron-crowe-we-bought-a-zoo-interview|access-date=August 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805071352/http://www.ifc.com/fix/2011/08/cameron-crowe-we-bought-a-zoo-interview|archive-date=August 5, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Suskind|first=Alex|title=Cameron Crowe Once Fired Ashton Kutcher; Was Planning Marvin Gaye Biopic With Will Smith|date=November 22, 2011|publisher=[[Moviefone]]|url=http://news.moviefone.com/2011/11/22/cameron-crowe-fired-ashton-kutcher/|access-date=August 16, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Members of Gaye's family, such as his ex-wife Janis and his son Marvin III, have expressed opposition to a biopic.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Lenny Kravitz Drops Out of Marvin Gaye Biopic|date=March 5, 2013|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lenny-kravitz-drops-out-of-marvin-gaye-biopic-20130305|access-date=August 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924202651/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lenny-kravitz-drops-out-of-marvin-gaye-biopic-20130305|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Marvin Gaye Biopic 'Sexual Healing' Has Singer's Ex-Wife, Janis Gaye, 'Disappointed'|date=March 11, 2014|work=[[HuffPost]]|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/11/marvin-gaye-biopic-sexual-healing-janis-gaye_n_2855295.html|access-date=August 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924180216/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/11/marvin-gaye-biopic-sexual-healing-janis-gaye_n_2855295.html|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2016, it was announced that a feature film documentary on Gaye would be released the following year delving into his life and the making of his 1971 album ''[[What's Going On (Marvin Gaye album)|What's Going On]]''. The film would be developed by Noah Media Group and Greenlight and is quoted to be "the defining portrait of this visionary artist and his impeccable album" by the film's producers Gabriel Clarke and Torquil Jones.<ref name=WhatsGoingOnFilm>{{cite news |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7438906/marvin-gaye-documentary-whats-going-on |title=Marvin Gaye's Family on Board for 'What's Going On?' Documentary |date=July 14, 2016 |first=Adelle |last=Platon |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715143508/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7438906/marvin-gaye-documentary-whats-going-on |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The film will include "unseen footage" of Gaye.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/new-doc-delves-into-marvin-gayes-whats-going-on-20160712 |title=New Marvin Gaye Doc Features Unseen Footage |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |first=Jon|last=Blistein|date=July 12, 2016 |access-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715073628/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/new-doc-delves-into-marvin-gayes-whats-going-on-20160712 |archive-date=July 15, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gaye's family approved of the documentary.<ref name=WhatsGoingOnFilm/> In November 2016, it was announced that the actor [[Jamie Foxx]] was billed to produce a limited biopic series on Gaye's life.<ref name=MarvinGayeBioSeries>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jamie-foxx-producing-limited-series-marvin-gaye-951138 |title=Jamie Foxx Producing Limited Series About Marvin Gaye (Exclusive) – Hollywood Reporter |first=Rebecca |last=Sun |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=November 30, 2016 |access-date=December 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201105113/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jamie-foxx-producing-limited-series-marvin-gaye-951138 |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The series was approved by Gaye's family, including son Marvin III, who was to serve as executive producer, and [[Berry Gordy, Jr.]]<ref name=MarvinGayeBioSeries/>

On June 18, 2018, it was reported that American rapper [[Dr. Dre]] was in talks to produce a biopic about Gaye.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nevins |first1=Jake |title=Dr Dre to make Marvin Gaye biopic with rights to singer's catalogue |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/18/dr-dre-marvin-gaye-biopic-rights |date=June 18, 2018|access-date=March 19, 2019 |newspaper=The Guardian |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327070901/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jun/18/dr-dre-marvin-gaye-biopic-rights |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> In June 2021, it was announced that the film Dre would be producing was greenlighted by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]] and would be directed by [[Hughes brothers|Allen Hughes]] for a projected 2023 release.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/marvin-gaye-movie-allen-hughes-dr-dre-jimmy-iovine-warner-bros-1234776648/ | title=Warner Bros. Lands Allen Hughes-Directed Marvin Gaye Film, Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine to Produce | work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming | date=June 17, 2021 | access-date=June 22, 2021}}</ref>

In April 2025, [[Terrence Howard]] revealed that he once turned down a role portraying Gaye in a biopic as he was worried he would have to kiss another man. In an interview, Howard told [[Bill Maher]], "That would fuck me. I would cut my lips off. If I kissed some man, I would cut my lips off."<ref name="dead-gaye-kiss">{{cite web |last1=Oganesyan |first1=Natalie |title=Terrence Howard Turned Down A Lee Daniels-Directed Marvin Gaye Biopic Because He "Could Not" Kiss A Man: "I Would Cut My Lips Off" |date=April 29, 2025 |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/terrence-howard-marvin-gaye-biopic-lee-daniels-gay-1236379579/ |publisher=Deadline |access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref>

==Acting==
Gaye acted in two movies, featuring as a [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] veteran in both roles. His first performance was in the 1969 [[George McCowan]] film ''[[The Ballad of Andy Crocker]]'', which starred [[Lee Majors]]. The film was about a war veteran returning to find that his expectations have not been met and he feels betrayed. Gaye had a prominent role in the film as David Owens.<ref>''Encyclopedia of the Veteran in America'' by William A. Pencak [https://books.google.com/books?id=yyvmcMsNnB4C&dq=The+Ballad+of+Andy+Crocker+Marvin+Gaye&pg=PA167 Page 167, ''Film and Veterans''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029093210/https://books.google.com/books?id=yyvmcMsNnB4C&pg=PA167&dq=The+Ballad+of+Andy+Crocker+Marvin+Gaye&hl=ko&sa=X&ved=0CFcQ6AEwCGoVChMI0tHyoePNxwIVReemCh1RSQl_#v=onepage&q=The%20Ballad%20of%20Andy%20Crocker%20Marvin%20Gaye&f=false |date=October 29, 2015 }}</ref> His other performance was in 1971. He had a role in the [[Lee Frost (director)|Lee Frost]]-directed biker-exploitation film ''[[Chrome and Hot Leather]]'', about a group of Vietnam veterans taking on a bike gang. The film starred [[William Smith (actor)|William Smith]]; Gaye played the part of Jim, one of the veterans.<ref>TV Guide [https://www.tvguide.com/movies/chrome-and-hot-leather/cast/110884/ Chrome And Hot Leather] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117031359/http://www.tvguide.com/movies/chrome-and-hot-leather/cast/110884/ |date=November 17, 2015 }}</ref><ref>Cool Ass Cinema Tuesday, February 17, 2009 [http://www.coolasscinema.com/2009/02/chrome-hot-leather-1971-review.html Chrome & Hot Leather (1971) review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117024609/http://www.coolasscinema.com/2009/02/chrome-hot-leather-1971-review.html |date=November 17, 2015 }}</ref>

Gaye did have acting aspirations and had signed with the [[William Morris Agency]] but that only lasted a year as Gaye was not satisfied with the support he was getting from the agency. In his interview with David Ritz, Gaye admitted being interested in show business particularly when he was hired to compose the soundtrack for ''Trouble Man''. "No doubt I could have been a movie star, but it was something my subconscious rejected. Not that I didn't want it, I most certainly did. I just didn't have the fortitude to play the Hollywood game: to put myself out there, knowing they would eat my rear end like a piece of meat."<ref>''Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye: The Life of Marvin Gaye'' by David Ritz [https://books.google.com/books?id=LDDxPD2pejMC&dq=Chrome+and+Hot+Leather+Marvin+Gaye&pg=PT236 Chapter 17 Hollywood Hustles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018174742/https://books.google.com/books?id=LDDxPD2pejMC&pg=PT236&dq=Chrome+and+Hot+Leather+Marvin+Gaye&hl=ko&sa=X&ved=0CBwQ6AEwAGoVChMIsuz_qefNxwIVQ32mCh1jOQNv#v=onepage&q=Chrome%20and%20Hot%20Leather%20Marvin%20Gaye&f=false |date=October 18, 2015 }}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Marvin Gaye discography}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''Solo studio albums'''
* ''[[The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye]]'' (1961)
* ''[[That Stubborn Kinda Fellow]]'' (1963)
* ''[[When I'm Alone I Cry]]'' (1964)
* ''[[Hello Broadway]]'' (1964)
* ''[[How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You]]'' (1965)
* ''[[A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole]]'' (1965)
* ''[[Moods of Marvin Gaye]]'' (1966)
* ''[[In the Groove (Marvin Gaye album)|In the Groove]]'' (1968)
* ''[[M.P.G.]]'' (1969)
* ''[[That's the Way Love Is (album)|That's the Way Love Is]]'' (1970)
* ''[[What's Going On (album)|What's Going On]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Trouble Man (album)|Trouble Man]]'' (1972)
* ''[[Let's Get It On]]'' (1973)
* ''[[I Want You (Marvin Gaye album)|I Want You]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Here, My Dear]]'' (1978)
* ''[[In Our Lifetime (Marvin Gaye album)|In Our Lifetime]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Midnight Love]]'' (1982)
{{col-2}}
'''Collaborative albums'''
* ''[[Together (Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells album)|Together]]'' <small>(with [[Mary Wells]])</small> (1964)
* ''[[Take Two (Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston album)|Take Two]]'' <small>(with [[Kim Weston]])</small> (1966)
* ''[[United (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell album)|United]]'' <small>(with [[Tammi Terrell]])</small> (1967)
* ''[[You're All I Need]]'' <small>(with [[Tammi Terrell]])</small> (1968)
* ''[[Easy (Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell album)|Easy]]'' <small>(with [[Tammi Terrell]])</small> (1969)
* ''[[Diana & Marvin]]'' <small>(with [[Diana Ross]])</small> (1973)

'''Posthumous albums'''
* ''[[Dream of a Lifetime]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Romantically Yours]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Vulnerable (Marvin Gaye album)|Vulnerable]]'' (1997)
* ''[[You're the Man (album)|You're the Man]]'' (2019)
* ''Funky Nation: The Detroit Instrumentals'' (2021)
{{col-end}}

==Filmography==
* 1965: ''[[T.A.M.I. Show]]'' (documentary)
* 1969: ''[[The Ballad of Andy Crocker]]'' (television movie)
* 1971: ''[[Chrome and Hot Leather]]'' (television movie)
* 1973: ''[[Save the Children (film)|Save the Children]]'' (documentary)

==Videography==
* ''[[Marvin Gaye: Live in Montreux 1980]]'' (2003)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Marvin-Gaye-Live-Montreux-1980/dp/B000094J89 |title=Marvin Gaye – Live in Montreux 1980: Marvin Gaye: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date=May 20, 2003 |access-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524030619/http://www.amazon.com/Marvin-Gaye-Live-Montreux-1980/dp/B000094J89 |archive-date=May 24, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''[[The Real Thing: In Performance (1964–1981)]]'' (2006)

== See also ==
* ''[[Pharrell Williams v. Bridgeport Music]]''
* [[List of tributes to Marvin Gaye]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== Citations ==
{{Reflist}}

== General and cited sources ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last1=Banks |first1=James G. |last2=Banks |first2=Peter S. |title=The Unintended Consequences: Family and Community, the Victims of Isolated Poverty |location=Lanham, Md. |publisher=[[University Press of America]] |date=2004 |isbn=9780761828563}}
* {{cite book |last=Batchelor |first=Bob |title=Basketball in America: From the Playgrounds to Jordan's Game and Beyond |publisher=Haworth Press |year=2005 |isbn=0-7890-1613-3}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lrEDAAAAMBAJ&q=Marvin+Gaye+Inner+City+Musical+Poet+1973&pg=PA58 |author=Berry, William Earl |title=Marvin Gaye: Inner City Musical Poet |magazine=[[Jet (magazine)|Jet]] |date=February 1, 1973 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1973}}}}
* {{Cite AV media notes |title=Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing |title-link=The Real Thing: In Performance (1964–1981) |last=Bowman |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Bowman (music writer) |date=April 2006}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HKZO4ysEzOEC&q=Brooks-Bertram/Nevergold+2009+Jeanne+Gaye&pg=PA40 |last=Brooks-Bertram |first=Peggy |title=Uncrowned Queens: African American Women Community Builders of Western New York, Volume 2 (Google eBook) |publisher=SUNY Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-97229-771-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Browne |first1=Ray B. |title=The Guide to United States Popular Culture |publisher=Popular Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-87972-821-2}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9LMDAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+jet+1984&pg=PA16 |title=Marvin Gaye: His Tragic Death and Troubled Life |author=Collier, Aldore |magazine=Jet |date=April 16, 1984 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1984a}}}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4bADAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+jet+1984&pg=PA60 |title=Marvin Gaye's White Live-In Mate Suffers Miscarriage |author=Collier, Aldore |magazine=Jet |date=June 25, 1984 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1984b}}}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8rADAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+day+jet+1985&pg=PA14 |title=A Year Later: What Happened to Marvin Gaye's Family, Fortune? |author=Collier, Aldore |magazine=Jet |date=April 8, 1985 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1985a}}}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLADAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+jet+1985&pg=PA16 |title=Book Reveals Marvin Gaye Feared He Would Turn Gay |author=Collier, Aldore |magazine=Jet |date=May 6, 1985 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1985b}}}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nbQDAAAAMBAJ&q=alberta+gay+1987+jet&pg=PA57 |title=Marvin Gaye's Mother Dies on Eve of Opening Drug Center She Founded As His Memorial |author=Collier, Aldore |magazine=Jet |date=May 25, 1987 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1987}}}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1LsDAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+jet+1990&pg=PA14 |title=Gala Celebration Marks Marvin Gaye's Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame |author=Collier, Aldore |magazine=Jet |date=October 15, 1990 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1990a}}}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4a8DAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+jet+1990&pg=PA36 |title=Murphy Requests Walk of Fame Star For Marvin Gaye |author=Collier, Aldore |magazine=Jet |date=April 23, 1990 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1990b}}}}
* Davis, Sharon (1991). ''Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through The Grapevine''. Croydon, Surrey: Book marque Ltd. {{ISBN|1-84018-320-9}}.
* {{cite book |last=Des Barres |first=Pamela |title=Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon |publisher=Macmillan |year=1996 |isbn=0-312-14853-4}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EL5_I4Dkx7IC&q=marvin+gaye+janis&pg=RA1-PA164 |last=Dyson |first=Eric Michael |title=Mercy Mercy Me: The Art, Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye |publisher=New York/Philadelphia: Basic Civitas |year=2004 |isbn=0-465-01769-X}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
* {{cite book |last=Edmonds |first=Ben |title=What's Going On?: Marvin Gaye and the Last Days of the Motown Sound |publisher=Canongate U.S. |year=2001a |isbn=1-84195-314-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Edmonds |first=Ben |title=Let's Get It On |year=2001b |publisher=Motown Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. MOTD 4757 |edition=Deluxe}}
* {{cite book |last1=Evelyn |first1=Douglas |last2=Dickson |first2=Paul |last3=Ackerman |first3=S.J. |title=On This Spot: Pinpointing the Past in Washington, D.C. |location=Sterling, Va. |publisher=Capital Books |date=2008 |isbn=9781933102702 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y2DspYRi7G4C}}
* Gambaccini, Paul (1987). ''The Top 100 Rock 'n' Roll Albums of All Time''. New York: Harmony Books.
* {{cite book |author=Garofalo, Reebee |title=Rockin' Out: Popular Music in the USA |publisher=Allyn & Bacon |year=1997 |isbn=0-205-13703-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/rockinoutpopular00garo_0}}
* {{cite book |last=Gates |first=Henry Louis |title=African American Lives |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-19516-024-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/africanamericanl00gate}}
* {{cite book |last=Gaye |first=Frankie |title=Marvin Gaye, My Brother |publisher=Backbeat Books |year=2003 |isbn=0-87930-742-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/marvingayemybrot00fran}}
* {{cite book |last=Gilmore |first=Mikal |title=Night beat: a shadow history of rock & roll |publisher=Doubleday |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-38548-435-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/nightbeatshadowh00gilm}}
* {{cite book |last=Gulla |first=Bob |title=Icons of R&B and Soul: An Encyclopedia of the Artists Who Revolutionized Rhythm |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-313-34044-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Gutheim |first1=Frederick A. |last2=Lee |first2=Antoinette J. |title=Worthy of the Nation: Washington, D.C., From L'Enfant to the National Capital Planning Commission |location=Baltimore, Md. |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] |date=2006 |isbn=9780801883286 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vz8xV7NVw-8C}}
* Heron, W. Kim (April 8, 1984). ''Marvin Gaye: A Life Marked by Complexity''. Detroit Free Press.
* {{cite magazine |magazine=Jet |title=Thousands Attend Last Rites For Tammi Terrell |date=April 9, 1970 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1970}} |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_jcDAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+jet+1970&pg=PA60}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1kIDAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+jet+1975&pg=PA19 |magazine=Jet |title=For Reading: Marvin Gaye receives special plaque from Ms. Shirley Temple Black |date=November 13, 1975 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1975}} }}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TUEDAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+jet+1982&pg=PA59 |magazine=Jet |title=Landing Marvin Gaye Was a Task For CBS Records |date=March 29, 1982 |ref={{harvid|Jet|1982}} }}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0yUEAAAAMBAJ&q=michael+jackson+vibe+2001 |title=Unbreakable: Michael Jackson |author=Jones, Regina |magazine=[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]] |date=March 2002 |ref={{harvid|Vibe|2002}}}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
* {{cite book |last=Kempton |first=Arthur |title=Boogaloo: The Quintessence of American Popular Music |publisher=[[University of Michigan Press]] |year=2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSfZ81yJtiMC&q=I+Heard+It+Through+the+Grapevine+sold+four+million+copies&pg=PA207 |isbn=978-0-47203-087-3}}
* {{cite book |last=Lynskey |first=Dorian |title=33 Revolutions per Minute: A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day |title-link=33 Revolutions per Minute (book) |publisher=HarperCollins |date=April 5, 2011 |isbn=978-0-06167-015-2 |url=}}
* {{cite book |last=MacKenzie |first=Alex |title=The Life and Times of the Motown Stars |publisher=Right Recordings |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-84226-014-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Marx |first=Eve |title=101 Things You Didn't Know About Sex (Google eBook) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cVn0xVD9h3QC&q=lady+edith+foxwell+marvin+gaye&pg=PA154 |publisher=Adams Media |date=September 18, 2009 |isbn=978-1-44050-428-0}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
* {{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnXQSqTx2h0C&q=marvin+gaye+otfinoski&pg=PT87 |last=Otfinoski |first=Steven |title=African Americans in the Performing Arts |publisher=Infobase Publishing |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-43812-855-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Posner |first=Gerald |title=Motown: Music, Money, Sex, and Power |location=New York |publisher=Random House |year=2002 |isbn=0-375-50062-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Redfern |first=Nick |title=Celebrity Secrets: Official Government Files on the Rich and Famous |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nvwubK87jEIC&q=marvin+gaye+redfern&pg=PA228 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |date=February 20, 2007 |isbn=978-1-41652-866-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Ritz |first=David |title=Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye |publisher=Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press |year=1991 |isbn=0-306-81191-X}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FtkDAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+ebony+1985&pg=PA96 |author=Ritz, David |title=The Last Days of Marvin Gaye |magazine=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]] |date=July 1985 |ref={{harvid|Ebony|1985}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Simmonds |first=Jeremy |title=The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars: Heroin, Handguns, and Ham Sandwiches |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMBf3TYZigQC&pg=PA190 |publisher=Chicago Review Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-55652-754-8}}
* Turner, Steve (1998). ''Trouble Man: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye''. London: Michael Joseph. {{ISBN|0-7181-4112-1}}.
* {{cite book |last=Vincent |first=Rickey |title=Funk: The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of the One |publisher=Macmillan |year=1996 |isbn=0-312-13499-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/funkmusicpeopler00vinc}}
* {{cite book |author=Ward, Ed, Geoffrey Stokes and Ken Tucker |title=Rock of Ages: The ''Rolling Stone'' History of Rock and Roll |publisher=Rolling Stone Press |year=1986 |isbn=0-671-54438-1}}
* {{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YwgEAAAAMBAJ&q=marvin+gaye+billboard+1994&pg=PA68 |title=Jobete: Publishing Is The Highly Polished Jewel In The Gordy Co.'s Crown |author=Weinger, Harry |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=November 5, 1994 |ref={{harvid|Billboard|1994}}}}
* {{cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |title=The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits: Complete Chart Information About America's Most Popular Songs and Artists, 1955–2003 |publisher=Billboard Books |year=2004 |isbn=0-8230-7499-4}}
* White, Adam (1985). ''The Motown Story''. London: Orbis. {{ISBN|0-85613-626-3}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Marvin Gaye|wikt=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|n=no|d=Q189758}}
* {{AllMusic|artist|mn0000316834}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IMDb name|0310848}}
* {{Pop Chronicles|26|3}}
* [http://marvin-gaye.guidechart.com/marvin-gaye-biography.php Marvin Gaye Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128140306/https://marvin-gaye.guidechart.com/marvin-gaye-biography.php |date=November 28, 2022 }}
* [https://vault.fbi.gov/Marvin%20Gaye%20 FBI Records: The Vault - Marvin Gaye] at vault.fbi.gov
* [http://www.marvingayepage.net/ Additional archives]

{{Marvin Gaye}}
{{Marvin Gaye singles}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Marvin Gaye|Awards for Marvin Gaye]]
|list =
{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Song}}
{{Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award}}
{{1987 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Gordy family}}

{{Portal bar|Music|1960s|1970s|1980s|United States}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaye, Marvin}}
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[[Category:Motown artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Northern soul musicians]]
[[Category:People murdered in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Entertainers from Topanga, California]]
[[Category:People from Southwest (Washington, D.C.)]]
[[Category:Progressive soul musicians]]
[[Category:Psychedelic soul musicians]]
[[Category:Record producers from California]]
[[Category:Rhythm and blues drummers]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from California]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Michigan]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Singers from Detroit]]
[[Category:Singers with a four-octave vocal range]]
[[Category:Soul drummers]]
[[Category:The Funk Brothers members]]
[[Category:United States Air Force airmen]]