Marvin Gaye

Pictured on a USA nondenominated postage stamp in the Music Icons series, issued 2 April 2019. Price on day of issue was 55¢.

He was named the 19th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll artist of all time by Rolling Stone and the sixth greatest singer of the rock era in a Rolling Stone magazine poll in 2008. He was ranked #31 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.

His father, Marvin Pentz Gay, Sr., died in a nursing home at age 84 on October 10, 1998. Marvin Sr. had pleaded no contest and received five years probation for the murder of Marvin Jr.

He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. He was also awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1500 Vine Street in Hollywood, California, on September 27, 1990. He was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2014.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 311-313. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.

His 1973 hit song "Let's Get It On" was originally written as a political song.

Lobbied Motown Records in 1971 for creative control on albums (as did Stevie Wonder). The first result was "What's Goin' On".

Although there are several versions of the song, Gaye's version of "Abraham, Martin and John" is the only one which has been a chart hit in the UK (a Top 10 single in 1970). Marillion lead singer Steve Hogarth counts Gaye as one of his favorite singers. In 1998, the band covered the song for their live album "Unplugged at the Walls".

Discovered by Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows. Fuqua took Gaye into the group in 1959 and about a year later brought him to Motown.

Was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1957.

Marvin Gaye passed away on the day before his 45th birthday.

Marvin Gaye was born on April 2, 1939 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA as Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. He was married to Jan Gaye and Anna Gordy Gaye.