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| One of the greatest of all soul singers, Marvin Gaye began at Motown in the early 'sixties, co-writing and recording such R&B classics as STUBBORN KIND OF FELLOW, HITCH HIKE and PRIDE AND JOY. He went on to cut essential versions of songs by fellow Motown writers including HOW SWEET IT IS (TO BE LOVED BY YOU) and CAN I GET A WITNESS by Holland/Dozier/Holland plus AIN'T THAT PECULIAR and I'LL BE DOGGONE by Smokey Robinson; later, in 1968, he reached an even greater plateau with his definitive and stunning interpretation of Norman Whitfield & Barrett Strong's I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE.
His series of memorable duets with Tammi Terrell (including Ashford & Simpson's immortal AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH, AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING and YOU'RE ALL I NEED TO GET BY) turned into neverending Motown anthems eclipsed only by Marvin's self-comoposed social commentaries WHAT'S GOING ON and MERCY MERCY ME (THE ECOLOGY), both major hits in 1971.
The early 1980's found him in Europe and on a different record label; indeed, his debut album for Columbia ("Midnight Love" in 1982) became another watershed in Marvin Gaye's career and from that album came what would be his final major crossover smash, SEXUAL HEALING.
Biography courtesy of Alan Warner |
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