Marvin Gaye, Singer, Would Have Celebrated 73rd Birthday

Marvin Gaye, the Motown recording artist whose smooth voice captured Americans in the 80s, would have celebrated his 73rd birthday today, had he been alive.

Gaye died in Los Angeles on April 1, 1984, one day before his 45th birthday, after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. The singer's father was arrested for the shooting, and he later pleaded no contest.

In his decade-long career, Gaye won several Grammy and American Music awards. He also won several NAACP Image Awards. At the height of his fame, Gaye released "Let's Get It On," and "Sexual Healing." He also sang a widely popular duet "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" with Tammi Terrell.

Even after his death, Gaye's music continues to influence today's record artists. Rolling Stone magazine ranked Gaye as number six on its "Greatest Singers of All Time" list and number 18 on the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" list.

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• Ain't No Mountain High Enough

  Marvin Gaye sings "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" with Tammi Terrell.

• Let's Get It On

  Marvin Gaye performs one of his most widely known songs, "Let's Get It On."

• What's Going On?

  Marvin Gaye's song about police brutality was named <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/marvin-gaye-whats-going-on-19691231" target="_hplink">the fourth greatest song of all time</a> by Rolling Stone magazine.

• Sexual Healing

  Marvin Gaye's sensual love lyrics became one of America's most popular songs throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

• Let's Play Ball

  Marvin Gaye sung theAmerican National Anthem at 1983 NBA All Star Game.

• Have Mercy

  "The Ecology," Marvin Gaye's song most referred to as "Mercy Mercy Me" hit the U.S. Billboard Pop Music chart at #4. Here he performs the song in Switzerland in July 1980.

• Inner City Blues

  Marvin Gaye entertains the crowd with a socially conscious song about inner city living in America.

• A Funky Space Reincarnation

  Marvin Gaye performs his futuristic space single in Switzerland.

• I Want You

  Marvin Gaye relaxes on the couch and sings the 1976 song "I Want You" from his I Want You album

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Comments

[rewith85man]

03:13 PM on 04/03/2012

It is great celebrating his birthday, music, memories, etc. as well as those from Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, and others.

[brooktarheel]

09:47 PM on 04/02/2012

I take issue with this article's contention of "Marvin Gaye, the Motown recording artist whose smooth voice captured Americans in the 80s. . ." Gaye was a well-established R & B icon in the '60s and the '70's. Perhaps the REST of America took notice of his "Sexual Healing," in the '80s, but he certainly was a well known artist long before then.