The death of Marvin Gaye is one of the most notorious murders in the music industry. On April 1st, 1984, a retired Minister, Marvin Gaye Sr, shotvhis son twice with a 38.Calibre pistol. His son Marvin Gaye Jr, slumped against the firewall and bleeding out. The gun had been a gift from a son to his father for Christmas that year.
Marvin Gaye, the musical legend known as ‘Prince Of Motown’, died a day before his 45th birthday. His father shot him in what many argued was the inevitable outcome of a troubled relationship. So much Marvin Gaye Jr, added an ‘E’ to his name.
Gaye was born April 2nd, 1939 in Washington DC, and suffered a strict corporal punishment literally ded out by his father. Even before he was born, Marvin Gaye Sr, had problems with him. In a book published by David Ritz and titled, ‘Divided Soul- Marvin Gaye’, Marvin Gaye’s mother, Alveda, said, “My husband never wanted Marvin, he never liked him.”
Marvin Gaye Sr, went as far as, telling his wife that he didn’t believe Marvin was his son. Marvin Sr, was a Minister with the Hebrew Pentecostal Church, but that didn’t stop him from physically abusing his children whenever he over consume alcohol.
Marvin Jr found solace in music in the church and believed he could win his father’s love through music. Still, the better he became, the more demands, his father made of him. Marvin Jr, only received support from his mother. He even claimed that he had once contemplated committing suicide, as a young boy.
Tired of his father’s constant abuses, he quit school at age of 17 years and ran away from home to join the US Air force, which ended disastrously. And with Gaye, faking a mental illness to get discharged.
He then found home at Motown Records, beginning as a drummer and growing into a singer. He made many songs until the 70s, when he produced, ‘Let’s Get It On’. Yet, their more he became successful, the more his father resented him.
By 1981, Marvin Gaye Jr, had become addicted to cocaine, declared for bankruptcy, and endured two failed marriages. Moreover, the IRS, hit him with a massive fine for unpaid back taxes. And he eventually, attempted suicide. Later, he made a big come back with megahits, ‘Midnight Love’ and ‘Sexual Healing’.
Unfortunately, when he was back in the music industry, he began using cocaine again. The last months of his life, he spent at the Los Angeles home, he bought for his parents. Living under the same roof, the relationship between father and son, disintegrated once again.
The final fight between Marvin Gaye and his father, began on Saturday night, March 31st, 1984, when his father had got into an argument with Marvin’s mother, over some missing insurance papers. The fight continued the next day, and it became physical. Gaye Sr, then left and soon came back into the bedroom and shot his son. Alveda called Marvin’s younger brother Frankie, who lived next door.
As Frankie held his dying brother, Gaye Jr said, “I got what I wanted. I couldn’t do it myself, so I made him do it.”
Marvin Gaye Sr, later pleaded a no contest to one count of involuntary manslaughter and was given 5 months of probation. He later died in 1998, at age of 83 years. At his sentencing, he said, “I am sorry. I loved him If I could do anything to bring him back, I would.”
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