Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye

Born: April 2, 1939
Died: April 1, 1984
in Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. was born on April 2, 1939, the second oldest child of domestic worker Alberta Gay and Pentecostalist minister Marvin Gay Sr. From an early age, Gaye took an ardor for singing; he believed that this vocation helped him through his severely troubled youth. Gaye's sister has stated that Gay Sr. beat Marvin often and into his teens. At 17, Gaye became a high school dropout, enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Disgruntled by the humble labor he had to do, Gaye pretended to have mental illness. The service authorized him a "General Discharge." Gaye returned to the D.C. area and set up a vocal quartet with a friend called The Marquees. Gaye's first vocal recording as a lead singer, "Mama Loocie," was recorded with Harvey and the New Moonglows, which was composed of Harvey Fuqua and members of The Marquees. After the group's dissolution in 1960, Gaye moved to Detroit. Performing at Motown head Berry Gordy's house, Gaye drew Gordy's interest; the ensuing sale of Fuqua's part of Gaye's contract led to Gaye signing with Motown company Tamla. Gaye initially wanted a career as a standards and jazz performer. After numerous album releases and chart successes, in 1971, Gaye saw the release of his concept album What's Going On. It was his first platinum-selling album and earned him much critical praise. His next project would be the score and soundtrack to the 1972 blaxploitation film, Trouble Man. In 1981, advised by music promoter Freddy Cousaert, tax exile Gaye moved into Cousaert's Ostend apartment in Belgium. Staging a personal recovery, Gaye penned the song "Sexual Healing," which would be his greatest hit, eventually doing ten weeks in the top position on the Hot Black Singles chart. The song was the first single from the album Midnight Love, which sold in excess of six million units. Gaye then went out on the Sexual Healing Tour, starting April 18, 1983, which would be his last tour. Around halfway through the year, he ended the tour, suffering paranoia stemming from cocaine use. Gaye then relocated to his parents' residence in L.A. Marvins Sr. and Jr. had growing conflict between them for months. Relatives and friends felt that Marvin Jr. was sometimes suicidally driven. One day, Gaye attempted to follow this urge with a leap from a hurtling sports car. He only received slight bruises. On April 1, 1984, Marvin Sr. yelled at Alberta about a lost insurance policy letter; they'd argued about the form for days. A severe thrashing then ensued between the two Marvins, with Marvin Sr. on the receiving end. Minutes thereafter, Marvin Sr. entered Gaye's bedroom, clutching a .38 pistol that had been bought for him by Gaye, and shot his son once in his heart and once in the shoulder. Marvin Jr.'s body was transported to California Hospital Medical Center, where at about 1 P.M., Gaye was pronounced dead on arrival. Celebrities across the world were shocked by the news of Gaye's untimely passing, from Smokey Robinson to Al Sharpton. Following Gaye's death, his awards and honors have flourished -- a fitting legacy for the man titled Prince of Soul.

Movies for Marvin Gaye...

Mr. Nelson on the North Side
Title: Mr. Nelson on the North Side
Character: Self
Released: September 25, 2021
Type: Movie
Music icons including Chuck D, Orianthi, and Chaka Khan recount never-before-told stories of Prince the performer and Prince the man, and how his unique creativity, in turn, inspired them to do their best work.
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Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
Title: Best of the 60s: The Story of Ready, Steady, Go!
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: June 5, 2021
Type: Movie
Best of the 60s is a documentary and a compilation from across the years of the iconic music series. More More. Best of the 60s is a compilation from across the years of the iconic music series and features performances by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Martha & the Vandellas, Dusty Springfield, The Animals, Otis Redding, The Temptations, The Walker Brothers, Them, Marvin Gaye and more.
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Title: 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: May 21, 2021
Type: TV
An immersive, deep-dive docuseries rich with archival footage and interviews that explores the musicians and soundtracks that shaped the culture and politics of 1971.
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The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Title: The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
Character: Self (archive photo)
Released: October 8, 2020
Type: Movie
The story of the triumphs and hurdles of brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin Gibb, otherwise known as the Bee Gees. The iconic trio, who found early fame in the 1960s, went on to write over 1,000 songs and have 20 No. 1 hits throughout their career, transcending more than five decades of changing tastes and styles.
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Whitney
Title: Whitney
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: July 5, 2018
Type: Movie
Examines the life and career of singer Whitney Houston. Features never-before-seen archival footage, exclusive recordings, rare performances and interviews with the people who knew her best.
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Title: The Top Ten Revealed
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: February 11, 2018
Type: TV
Spotlighting the most influential songs, bands, and musicians in the history of rock n' roll with a rotating panel of music icons and experts for an insightful discussion examining the music that has left an indelible mark on the rock n' roll scene.
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DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd
Title: DJ Cinema Presents: Masterpiece Theater Blend Dvd
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 19, 2009
Type: Movie
DJ Cinema is mixing up blends with artists like Biggie, Nas, Jay-Z, AZ, Rick Ross, Fabolous, 50 Cent and Jadakiss.
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Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
Title: Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: May 7, 2008
Type: Movie
When Marvin Gaye died in 1984, he left behind one of the great legacies in American music. More than a superb vocalist and subtle composer, he was a visionary who expressed the tenor of his times. Both radical and romantic, a self-taught singer with a flair for autobiographical revelation, he thrived on confession and loved candor.
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Darts Tarts – Welcome to my World
Title: Darts Tarts – Welcome to my World
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: October 5, 2006
Type: Movie
Jacques Peretti sets out to find out what happened to the game that obsessed him as a kid. In this documentary, he presents an eye-opening account of the sport's heady popularity in the 1970s and 1980s.
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Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing - In Performance 1964-1981
Title: Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing - In Performance 1964-1981
Character: Himself
Released: April 4, 2006
Type: Movie
The definitive DVD collection of one of America's greatest stars. Issued with the full cooperation of the Marvin Gaye estate, this is the first official DVD anthology of classic archival television performances by a Motown artist. Features Marvin Gaye performing his biggest Motown hits, from "Hitch Hike" to "Let's Get It On" and more, in original classic clips from television and film.
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Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on
Title: Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on
Character: self
Released: January 2, 2006
Type: Movie
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Funky Dance Grooves
Title: Funky Dance Grooves
Released: June 30, 2004
Type: Movie
Video compilation of funk, dance and soul tracks.
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Larry presents: Best of The 80s
Title: Larry presents: Best of The 80s
Character: Self
Released: January 16, 2004
Type: Movie
01 Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go - Wham 02 Girls Just Want To Have Fun - Cindy Lauper 03 Wishing Well - Terence Trent D´Arby 04 Let´s Groove - Earth, Wind&Fire 05 Through The Barricades - Spandau Ballet 06 Total Eclipse Of The Heart - Bonnie Tyler 07 My Favourite Waste Of Time - Owen Paul 08 (Feel Like) Heaven - Fiction Factory 09 Oh Julie - Shakin´ Stevens 10 Eternal Flame - Bangles 11 Africa - Toto 12 It´s Raining Men - The Weather Girls 13 99 Luftballons - Nena 14 Precious Little Diamond - Fox The Fox 16 Tribute (Right On) - The Pasadenas 17 You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) - Dead Or Alive 18 The Promise You Made - Cook Robin 19 All Cried Out - Alison Moyet 20 Hold On - Santana 21 The Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush 22 Something´s Jumpin´ In Your Shirt - Malcolm McLaren&The Bootzilla Orchestra (feat. Bootsy Collins&Introducing Lisa Marie) 23 Take Me Home Tonight - Eddy Money 24 Love Of The Common People - Paul Young 25 etc...
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TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Title: TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: January 1, 2004
Type: Movie
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the medium's first half-century. Actors, writers and historians discuss the image of black America on television from Amos and Andy to the present day. The interviews accompany clips from groundbreaking shows and performances by entertainment pioneers that create a timeline of the portrayal of African Americans throughout TV history.
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Prachtig 80: Volume 2
Title: Prachtig 80: Volume 2
Character: Self
Released: December 1, 2003
Type: Movie
20 Videoclips from the 80's.
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Marvin Gaye - Live In Montreux 1980
Title: Marvin Gaye - Live In Montreux 1980
Character: Himself
Released: May 20, 2003
Type: Movie
Marvin Gaye: Live in Montreux 1980 is a taped performance of singer Marvin Gaye's performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival, recorded on July 17, 1980. Gaye included this performance as part of a European tour. Gaye performs a majority of his hits from his recent disco-funk hits "Got to Give It Up" and "A Funky Space Reincarnation", to his duet hits with Tammi Terrell including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", in which Gaye re-interpolated the songs as a somber tribute to Terrell, who died over a decade before, to sixties Motown classics such as "I'll Be Doggone", "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" and "I Heard It through the Grapevine", to seventies standards such as "What's Going On", "Trouble Man" and "Let's Get It On". The Montreux set was later released as a CD/DVD in 2003.
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The Giants of Black Music
Title: The Giants of Black Music
Character: Self
Released: March 24, 2003
Type: Movie
Mother Popcorn - James Brown What's The Use Of Breaking Up - Jerry Butler MacArthur Park - Della Reese Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday - Stevie Wonder Nowhere To Run - Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Nothing But Heartaches - The Supremes Ain't That Peculiar - Marvin Gaye Goin' To A Go-Go - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Don't Mess With Bill - The Marvelettes Something About You - The Four Tops River Deep, Mountain High - Mary Wilson It's a Man's Man's Man's World - James Brown Everyday People - Sly & Family Stone
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Remember Marvin Gaye
Title: Remember Marvin Gaye
Character: Himself
Released: January 1, 2002
Type: Movie
Documentary on Marvin Gaye made during his stay in Belgium, Ostende
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Motown 40: The Music is Forever
Title: Motown 40: The Music is Forever
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: February 15, 1998
Type: Movie
Archival music performances and contemporary interviews cover some of the history of Motown Records and Productions.
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DTV: Golden Oldies
Title: DTV: Golden Oldies
Character: Himself
Released: September 1, 1984
Type: Movie
Compilation of DTV music videos from on The Disney Channel, combining tunes from the 1940s through the 1960s with footage of Disney animation.
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Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Title: Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Character: Self
Released: May 16, 1983
Type: Movie
Television special taped before a live studio audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983, and broadcast on NBC on May 16. Highlights include Michael Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean", a Temptations/Four Tops "battle of the bands", Marvin Gaye's inspired speech about black music history and his memorable performance of "What's Going On", and a Jackson 5 reunion.
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Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux
Title: Marvin Gaye: Live at Montreux
Character: Self
Released: July 17, 1980
Type: Movie
This highly energetic concert reinforces Marvin Gaye as the undisputed prince of Motown. Where it resulted in thundering appreciation and applause from his audience. Among one of the most gifted talents to come up through the ranks of the Motown label, Gaye paved the way for the unrelenting progression of popular black tracks.
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Standing Room Only: Diana Ross
Title: Standing Room Only: Diana Ross
Character: Self
Released: January 13, 1980
Type: Movie
If ever there’s a moment that brilliantly and perfectly illustrates the star-power possessed by Diana Ross, it is the opening of her 1978-1979 stage show, captured on tape for this Home Box Office television special. Beginning with the star’s face projected on a large screen, mouthing the words to her #1 hit “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” the scene cuts to Miss Ross (draped in furs and jewels, of course) sauntering down a white, almost surreal staircase. At the bottom of the stairs – during the joyous, climactic crescendo of the song – she suddenly bursts from the screen and onto the stage, greeted by the screams and cheers of an overwhelmed audience. Those lucky enough to be at these shows literally watched a superstar come to life before their eyes; incredibly, the impact is equally great when watched on a television screen decades later.
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The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1977
Title: The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1977
Character: Self
Released: May 18, 1977
Type: Movie
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The program's theme song, a traditional folk song called "Midnight Special", was performed by Johnny Rivers.
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The Day the Music Died
Title: The Day the Music Died
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 1977
Type: Movie
This documentary film is mostly about the New York Pop Festival, which began on July 17, 1970 at Randall's Island, NY, and lasted for three days
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Marvin Gaye - Greatest Hits Live in '76
Title: Marvin Gaye - Greatest Hits Live in '76
Released: October 9, 1976
Type: Movie
Recorded live on Marvin Gaye's first European tour in 1976, at the Edenhalle Concert Hall, in Amsterdam, Holland.
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The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
Title: The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1974
Character: Self
Released: December 22, 1974
Type: Movie
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The program's theme song, a traditional folk song called "Midnight Special", was performed by Johnny Rivers.
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Save the Children
Title: Save the Children
Character: Self
Released: May 13, 1973
Type: Movie
A concert film highlighted by performances from Marvin Gaye, Jerry Butler, and Roberta Flack.
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Title: The Midnight Special
Character: Self
Released: August 19, 1972
Type: TV
The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The series also occasionally aired vintage footage of older acts. As the program neared the end of its run in the early 1980s, it began to frequently use lip-synched performances rather than live. The program also featured occasional comedic performances such as Richard Pryor and Andy Kaufman.
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Chrome and Hot Leather
Title: Chrome and Hot Leather
Character: Jim
Released: September 29, 1971
Type: Movie
A Green Beret returns home from the Vietnam war to find that a gang of murderous bikers has killed his fiancee. He calls on several of his Green Beret buddies to come and help him take revenge on the gang.
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The Ballad of Andy Crocker
Title: The Ballad of Andy Crocker
Character: David Owens
Released: November 18, 1969
Type: Movie
Returning Vietnam veteran Andy Crocker arrives in his small hometown to discover his best friend and business partner has mismanaged their business into bankruptcy and his high school sweetheart has married another man. It is evident his small town has little to offer him except the hard-working life of his father, while the broader world has limited opportunities for a man who left school after the third grade.
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Title: Malibu U
Character: Self
Released: July 21, 1967
Type: TV
Malibu U is an American variety show that aired in the summer of 1967 on ABC. The series stars Ricky Nelson.
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Title: Hullabaloo
Character: Self
Released: January 12, 1965
Type: TV
Hullabaloo is an American musical variety series that ran on NBC from January 12, 1965 through August 29, 1966. Similar to Shindig! it ran in prime time in contrast to ABC's American Bandstand.
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The T.A.M.I. Show
Title: The T.A.M.I. Show
Character: Self
Released: December 29, 1964
Type: Movie
Hailed by one music reviewer as "the grooviest, wildest, slickest hit ever to pound the screen," "The T.A.M.I. Show" is an unrelenting rock spectacular starring some of the greatest pop performers of the 60s. These top recording idols – representing the musical moods of London, Liverpool, Hollywood and Detroit – packed the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium with 2,600 screaming fans and virtually brought down the house. This is the cinematic record of that electrifying event.
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Title: Shindig!
Character: Self - Singer
Released: September 16, 1964
Type: TV
Shindig! is an American musical variety series which aired on ABC from September 16, 1964 to January 8, 1966. The show was hosted by Jimmy O'Neill, a disc jockey in Los Angeles at the time who also created the show along with his wife Sharon Sheeley and production executive Art Stolnitz. The original pilot was rejected by ABC and David Sontag, then Executive Producer of ABC, redeveloped and completely redesigned the show. A new pilot with a new cast of artists was shot starring Sam Cooke. That pilot aired as the premiere episode.
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Title: The Hollywood Palace
Character: Self - Singer
Released: January 4, 1964
Type: TV
The Hollywood Palace is an hour-long American television variety show that was broadcast weekly on ABC from January 4, 1964 to February 7, 1970. Originally titled The Saturday Night Hollywood Palace, it began as a mid-season replacement for The Jerry Lewis Show, another variety show which had lasted only three months. It was staged in Hollywood at the former Hollywood Playhouse on Vine Street, which was renamed The Hollywood Palace during the show's duration and is today known as Avalon Hollywood. A little-known starlet named Raquel Welch was cast during the first season as the "Billboard Girl", who placed the names of the acts on a placard.
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Title: Ready Steady Go!
Character: Self
Released: August 9, 1963
Type: TV
Ready Steady Go! is one of the UK's first rock/pop music television programmes and was a forerunner of MTV-type programming. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan was assisted by record producer/talent manager Vicki Wickham, who became the show's producer, and Michael Lindsay-Hogg who was appointed the show's director in 1965. It was broadcast from August 1963 until December 1966. It was produced by Associated-Rediffusion the weekday ITV contractor for London, called Rediffusion-London post 1964. The live show was eventually networked nationally. The show gained its highest ratings on 20 March 1964 when it featured the Beatles being interviewed and performing their songs "It Won't Be Long", "You Can't Do That" and "Can't Buy Me Love" - the last of which was a hit at the time. RSG! USA! was a Dick Clark production in 1964. A trademark infringement ended the show after six episodes. Its last episode was broadcast on 23 December 1966.
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Title: The Ed Sullivan Show
Character: Self - Singer
Released: June 20, 1948
Type: TV
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
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Live at Amsterdam 1976
Title: Live at Amsterdam 1976
Character: Himself
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: Movie
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Detroit Burning
Title: Detroit Burning
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: December 31, 1969
Type: Movie
The follow-up to the firefighting movie BURN. 12 years in the making, BURN X explores stories and introduces characters never seen before...and continues the journey for many of the Detroit firefighters audiences met in the first film.