THE BEST SOUL BANDS / ARTISTS OF THE ALL-TIME # 3...MARVIN GAYE Part 5 (and Final)

This Series of Post's concerns in my Opinion The Best Bands/Artists of all time.

I will write a Short Bio including  the Band Members/Artist, some Facts and figures, their Histories,  Links, Videos, The Tracks they made Famous, Links to Download etc etc

I will continue the series with the Best Soul Vocalist from Tamla Motown Records................MARVIN GAYE. Part 5 (and Final).

After Signing for CBS Records in March of 1982, while still living in Belgium, Marvin Gaye started to writing and Recording Songs for his Forthcoming New Album.

But prior to the Album, was a New Single release, and as it turned out, it was to be one of his biggest Hits Ever!


The Song "Sexual Healing" was Released on 30/09/1982, and went on to Top the US Charts for 10 Weeks (A Record, at the time) it was also the Fastest Selling and Rising Single on the US R&B Charts for more than 5 years and also went Platinum!


The Album that followed was called "Midnight Love" and Released in October of '82, in the US Pop Chart it Reached Number 7 and in the UK Pop Chart it peaked at Number 10, it Sold over 6 Million Copies to eventually go Triple Platinum.  

Three more Singles were to follow from the Album: Joy, Til' Tomorrow and My Love is Waiting, but none did as well as "Sexual Healing"


In February of 1983, MG was invited to Perform "The Star Spangled Banner" at the NBA All Star Game, this turned out to be his Last Public Show!


By this time, Marvin Gaye was Battling his Demons again, Privately and Publicly, he Feared Artists like "Michael Jackson" who he thought would take his Fan Base away!

March '83 Marvin Gaye agreed to perform at the "Motown 25" Celebrations, after making up with Berry Gordy, he sung "What's Going On" (check out, Motown 25) and this turned out to be his very Last Live Performance!

During the summer of '83 until August Marvin Gaye Toured the US, but once again he was Plagued by Depression and Drugs!


After the Tour had came to an end he had began Isolating Himself from the Outside World and things were getting Worse, so MG decided to move back to His Parents House in Los Angeles, it was reported at that time that his Mental and Physical State was Spiraling out of Control! 


Things continued to Worsen back at Home, he was Hounded by Groupies and Drug Dealers all through the Day and Night, this led to Arguments between Marvin Gaye and his Father (Marvin Senior), they had never had an Easy Relationship, MG also threatened to commit Suicide, more than once!


All the Aggravation between Marvin Gaye and his Father came to a Head on 1st April 1984, (One Day before His 45th Birthday), MG walked into a Room and his Parents were Arguing about some Mis-Placed Business Documents, MG got on with His Mother a lot Better than he did His Father, so he was backing his Mother in the Argument, and before He or his Mother realised  Marvin Senior had got his Gun and pulled the Trigger!


Marvin Gaye was Shot Dead Instantly by hands of his own Father, ironically with the Gun that Marvin Gaye had brought his Father to Protect his Family Home, four months earlier.


Marvin Gaye Sr was Charged with First Degree Murder of his own Son, this was later Dropped, when it was Discovered during the Court Hearing that Marvin Gaye had Beaten his Father just before he Shot him! Marvin Gaye Sr pleaded Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter, and was Given 5 Years probation.                     


Marvin Sr died in a Nursing Home some 14 Year later in 1998.


Marvin Gaye was Inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" after His Death, also he was awarded with Stars on the Hollywood "Rock Walk" and the "Walk of Fame"

There were also 3 Albums Released after his Death, During 1985, 2 Albums "Dream Of A Lifetime" and "Romantically Yours" and a further 12 Years later in 1997, the Album "Vulnerable" was Released.

I have Compiled a List of My Favorite Top 10 of Marvin Gaye Tracks, with my Favorite Track Being "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" this is also in my Top 5 Soul Records of All Time! 

TO DOWNLOAD SOME 25 MARVIN GAYE ALBUMS, CLICK HERE!