Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. was born on April 2, 1939, to Alberta Gay, a domestic worker, and Marvin Gay Sr., a Pentecostalist minister. As a young child, Gaye developed a passion for singing, which he believed helped him cope with his troubled youth. His sister later revealed that Gay Sr. frequently beat Marvin, a practice that continued into his teenage years.
At 17, Gaye dropped out of high school and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, but he grew disillusioned with the menial tasks he was assigned and pretended to have mental health issues, resulting in his honorable discharge. He returned to the D.C. area and formed a vocal quartet called The Marquees with a friend.
Gaye's first recording as a lead singer was "Mama Loocie," which was recorded with Harvey and the New Moonglows. After the group disbanded in 1960, Gaye moved to Detroit, where he began performing at Motown head Berry Gordy's house, eventually signing with Tamla Records.
Initially, Gaye aspired to a career as a standards and jazz performer, but he achieved significant success with his concept album What's Going On in 1971, which earned him critical acclaim and went platinum. His next project was the score and soundtrack to the 1972 film Trouble Man.
In 1981, Gaye moved to Ostend, Belgium, where he staged a personal recovery and penned the hit song "Sexual Healing," which became his greatest hit and topped the charts for ten weeks. The song was part of his album Midnight Love, which sold over six million units.
Gaye embarked on the Sexual Healing Tour in 1983, but he ended it halfway through the year due to paranoia stemming from cocaine use. He relocated to his parents' residence in Los Angeles, where he struggled with personal demons and began to exhibit suicidal tendencies.
On April 1, 1984, Gaye's father, Marvin Sr., shot and killed him in his bedroom after a violent argument over a lost insurance policy. Gaye's body was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The news of Gaye's passing shocked the world, with celebrities such as Smokey Robinson and Al Sharpton expressing their grief. In the years following his death, Gaye's awards and honors have continued to accumulate, solidifying his legacy as the "Prince of Soul."
