MARVIN GAYE Biography - Other artists & entretainers

 
 

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MARVIN GAYE
       

NAME: Marvin Gaye
BORN: 02/04/1939
BIRTH PLACE: Washington DC, USA
DIED: 01/04/1984

       

BIOGRAPHY
Born Marvin Pentz Gay, he added the “e” to imitate Sam Cooke.The son of a minister in the House of God, a conservative Christian sect, Gaye began singing in the church choir, later learning to play the piano and drums.

       

After high school, Gaye joined the Air Force and, after being discharged, joined the Rainbows (later Moonglows), a popular local group in DC. After a concert in Detroit, Gaye was offered a solo contract by Berry Gordy Jr. of Motown Records. Gaye married Gordy’s sister, Anna, in 1961.

       

Gaye released three unsuccessful singles, until ‘Pride and Joy’ became a smash hit, but he felt discontented with Motown’s tight control over his material. By 1965, he had released 39 Top 40 songs for the label.