First Name |
Marvin
|
Middle Name |
Pentz
|
Last Name |
Gaye
|
Full Name at Birth |
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.
|
Alternative Name |
The Prince of Soul, The Prince of Motown, Prince of Motown, Prince of Soul, Marvin Gaye
|
Birthday |
2nd April, 1939
|
Birthplace |
Freedman's Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
|
Died |
1st April, 1984
|
Place of Death |
California Hospital Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
|
Cause of Death |
Gunshot wounds to the heart and left shoulder
|
Buried |
Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea
|
Height |
6' 1" (185 cm)
|
Weight |
172lbs (78 kg)
|
Build |
Average
|
Eye Color |
Brown - Dark
|
Hair Color |
Black
|
Distinctive Feature |
Tenor voice range
|
Zodiac Sign |
Aries
|
Sexuality |
DISPUTED
|
Religion |
Christian
|
Ethnicity |
Black
|
Nationality |
American
|
High School |
Randall Junior High School, Spingarn High School, Cardozo High School
|
Occupation Text |
Singer, Songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist
|
Occupation |
Singer
|
Claim to Fame |
songs like "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Let's Get It On" and his 1980s hit "Sexual Healing"
|
Music Genre (Text) |
R&B, Soul, Psychedelic Soul, Funk, Blues, Jazz, Pop, Gospel, Progressive Soul
|
Music Genre |
R&B/Soul, R&B
|
Year(s) Active |
1961–1984, 1959–1984, 1957–1984, 1957–1984
|
Music Style |
Soul, Motown, Smooth Soul, Urban, Quiet Storm, Funk, Soundtracks, Blaxploitation, Pop/Rock, Doo Wop, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Pop-Soul, AM Pop, Early Pop/Rock, Psychedelic Soul, Early R&B
|
Music Mood |
Earnest, Elegant, Intimate, Poignant, Passionate, Romantic, Plaintive, Reflective, Smooth, Warm, Party/Celebratory, Carefree, Cheerful, Happy, Confident, Fun, Hedonistic, Ambitious, Distraught, Amiable/Good-Natured, Sentimental, Producer
|
Instrument |
Vocals, Drums, Keyboards
|
Instrument (text) |
Vocals, Piano, Keyboard, Drums, Percussion, Synthesizer, Keyboards
|
Record Label |
Tamla/Tamla-Motown, Columbia, Tamla, Tamla-Motown, Columbia Records
|
Associated Acts |
Harvey Fuqua, Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross, The Funk Brothers
|
Brand Endorsement |
song: A Funky Space Reincarnation; TV commercial for Christian Dior in 2006, song: Let’s Get It On; TV commercial for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 2012
|
Official Websites |
www.marvingayepage.net/, http://www.marvingayepage.net
|
Father |
Marvin Gay, Sr.
|
Mother |
Alberta Gay
|
Brother |
Frankie Gaye
|
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), who also spelled his surname as Gaye, was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player (Drums) and later as a solo artist with a string of successes, earning him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".