Marvin Gaye Birthday & Fun Facts

Marvin Gaye Birthday Highlights

Birth Name

Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.

Place Of Birth

Washington D.C., USA

Age

84 years old

Birth Date

April 2 1939

Marvin Gaye Facts

Child Star?

no

Occupation

Singer, Songwriter

Education & Qualifications

Cardozo High School

Net Worth

$9,000,000

Children

Marvin Gaye III, Nona Gaye, Frankie Gaye

Parents

Marvin Gay Sr., Alberta Gay

Siblings

Jeanne, Zeola, Frankie, Michael Cooper, Antwaun Carey Gay

Marvin Gaye is a singer, songwriter, and musician from Washington.

Marvin Gaye broke away from the tried-and-true Motown formula. He opened the door for other Motown artists like Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to break out later in their careers.

Marvin Gaye was the guy who gave Motown Records a distinct form. The way soul music was produced in the '70s was revolutionized by him, earning him the title 'Prince Of Motown'. The talented vocalist was admired for his voice and song lyrics. He had a deep love for music from a young age. Along with playing the piano and drums, he also learned to sing.

Marvin Gaye is also acknowledged for fusing the soulful directness of gospel music, the softness of soft-soul and pop, and the vocal artistry of a jazz singer in his work. Gaye's legacy has grown since his death, and his music has become a permanent fixture in the American mainstream.

Gaye was a singer who used urban soul music to communicate social and personal problems and was held as a vocalist of exquisite sensitivity and romantic elegance. Marvin Gaye was dubbed a 'musical genius' by some. The hitmaker was also called 'Prince Of Soul' and 'Prince Of Motown' for his role in shaping the sound of Motown music.

What was Marvin Gaye’s net worth?

Marvin Gaye was a singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer from America. He had an estimated net worth of $9 million. He earned most of his net worth through the albums that he released.

How tall was Marvin Gaye?

Marvin Gaye was 6 ft (183 cm) tall.

How old was Marvin Gaye?

Marvin Gaye was 44 years old when he passed away. He was born on April 2, 1939. Gaye died on April 1, 1984, in Los Angeles, California.

Marvin Gaye was born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. in Washington D.C. His father was a church priest, while his mother worked as a housekeeper.

From an early age, Gaye was drawn to music and sought refuge in singing and playing musical instruments.

Gaye went to Randall Junior High School after Syphax Elementary School. In junior high, Gaye started to take singing more seriously. He joined the Randall Junior High Glee Club and became a star.

Marvin Gaye attended Cardozo High School and began playing with several local bands. Marvin's father's conduct toward him deteriorated as he grew older. He couldn't handle it any longer, so he fled home and dropped out of school.

Who was Marvin Gaye's family?

Marvin Gaye was born to his parents, Marvin Gay, Sr. and Alberta Gay.

Marvin was the couple's second-oldest child. Jeanne and Zeola were his sisters, while Frankie Gaye was his brother. Michael Cooper and Antwaun Carey Gay were his two half-brothers.

Who was Marvin Gaye’s partner?

Marvin Gaye was married to his wife, Anna Gordy. They first met in 1960 and married in 1963. They adopted a newborn boy as a couple.

In 1977, the singer married Janis Hunter, and they had two children together named Nona Gaye and Frankie Gaye.

Best Known For…

Marvin Gaye aspired to be a pilot and enlisted in the United States Air Force when he was 17 years old. When he was only given menial duties to complete, he was dissatisfied. He pretended to be unwell to be released from the force.

Marvin Gaye founded the vocal quartet, The Marquees with a buddy, Reese Palmer. The Marquees were eventually employed as workers by Moonglows co-founder, Harvey Fuqua. The group renamed itself Harvey and the New Moonglows and started making music. They worked as session vocalists for other artists such as Chuck Berry.

The group dissolved in 1960. Gaye moved to Detroit with Fuqua and signed as a session musician with Tri-Phi Records.

Marvin Gaye joined Motown Records in the early '60s. He is credited with helping to define the label's signature sound.

Gaye eventually debuted as a solo artist in 1961. He released his debut single 'Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide'. He then released the album 'The Soulful Moods Of Marvin Gaye' a few weeks later.

In 1962, Marvin Gaye had his first solo success with the song 'Stubborn Kind Of Fellow'. The song peaked at number eight on the R&B charts. His first top ten hit, 'Pride And Joy', came the next year.

Marvin Gaye's solo career was thriving. He began performing duets with female artists like Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross. His collaboration with Tammi was a huge smash. Songs like 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' and 'You're All I Need To Get By' were well received.

In 1973, Marvin Gaye released the album 'Let's Get It On'. The album was his first foray into the funk and romance genres. He proceeded on a tour to promote the record, buoyed by its popularity.

His album 'What's Going On' became a critical and economic success. The songs 'What's Going On', 'Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)', and 'Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)' were among the album's chart-topping hits.

Other big performers, like Stevie Wonder, followed Gaye's example and produced their own projects. Gaye composed the music for the film 'Trouble Man' in 1972. The songs reflected his own insecurities.

Giving live performances boosted his popularity and made him a sought-after performer. Between 1974 and 1975, he went on tour. Marvin was going through a tumultuous divorce in the late '70s. He created the album 'Here, My Dear,' which was devoted to his broken marriage to Anna. This was his last album for Motown Records.

Marvin Gaye's last four studio albums all charted in the top ten on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums list. The song 'I Want You' reached number four on the Billboard 200 chart in 1976.

Marvin Gaye's 17th and last studio album was titled 'Midnight Love'. Following his departure from Motown, he joined Columbia Records in March 1982. It was his last album, which he released 17 months before his death.

What awards did Marvin Gaye win?

In 1983, Marvin Gaye received two Grammy Awards. He received the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. He also won a Grammy Award For Best R&B Instrumental Performance. Gaye also earned an American Music Award in the R&B-soul category.

For his creative and musical contributions to the world of music, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1996.

Marvin Gaye got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990. He was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame in 1988. Marvin was also inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015.

• Marvin Gaye was traveling, collaborating, and producing during the mid-'70s. He didn't release a solo record until 1976 when he was working with Diana Ross and The Miracles.
• Watts Branch Park in Washington, D.C. was renamed Marvin Gaye Park in 2006.
• As part of their Music Icons series, the United States Postal Service produced a stamp featuring Marvin's portrait in 2019.

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