Gaye, Marvin (Pentz)

orig. Marvin Pentz Gay

(born April 2, 1939, Washington, D.C., U.S.—died April 1, 1984, Los Angeles, Calif.) U.S. singer and songwriter. Son of a Pentecostal minister, he learned to sing in church. He signed a contract with Harvey Fuqua (b. 1924) in 1959 and followed him to Motown, where he played drums on early Smokey Robinson hits. His own hits (from 1962) climaxed in “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1967). He paired with female singers, including Tammi Terrell (1946–70), in songs by Nick Ashford (b. 1943) and Valerie Simpson (b. 1948). With (1971) his songs became more socially conscious. Troubled in his personal relationships and finances, he reemerged in 1982 with “Sexual Healing.” He was shot to death by his father in a quarrel.

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