Artist · EveryDisc catalogue

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Pentz Gaye, Jr. (April 2, 1939, Washington — April 1, 1984, Los Angeles) is an American singer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist musician, songwriter, and music producer, who, along with Stevie Wonder, stood at the origins of modern rhythm and blues. Nicknamed the "Prince of Motown," Gaye evolved from light Motown rhythm and blues to the sophisticated soul of the albums "What’s Going On" (1971) and "Let’s Get It On" (1973), which are considered his masterpieces. Among the first, he turned rhythm and blues from a light entertainment genre into a means of artistic self-expression, allowing him to convey personal pain and political views to millions of listeners. He died during a family argument at the hands of his father one day before his 45th birthday, on April 1, 1984. When the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was created (1987), Marvin Gaye's name was also immortalized in it.