Marvin Gaye’s life was a fascinating one that captivated fans decades on end after his untimely passing a day before his 45th birthday in 1984. One reason was because of his relatability — the talented singer once sought to be a football player, a common dream for many young males hailing from the talent-filled, urban cornerstones of American society.
Gaye’s choice football team was the Detroit Lions. He was such a fan of the organization, he even had Detroit Lions’ player cornerback Lem Barney and running back Mel Farr lay background vocals on his timeless song “What’s Going On.” Joe Schmidt, Detroit Lions head coach from 1967 to 1972, allowed Gaye to tryout for a few positions, including linebacker, wide receiver, and fullback.
Gaye infamously trained with the team for a month in spring 1970, to the quiet dismay of his father and his music associates, who felt like the new pursuit would get in the way of his music career.
Gaye felt passionately about the game, once saying in an interview with his father, “I have the mentality to play football, I know I do because whatever deficiencies you may have as an athlete on the football field, if you use your brain along with your ability, you can generally negate if the guy’s stronger than you — if you’re a little quicker, then you can negate his strength somewhat. It goes like that, so I have the mentality to play the game that’s why I never really doubted it.”
Ultimately, he didn’t make it on the team, a rejection that Gaye says “disappointed [him] to tears,” but his continued trajectory to fame did not end there.
Considered one of the most soulful singing voices of his era and beyond, the “Prince of Motown” touched the world one song at a time. To this day, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (1967) is a staple in music, passed down through generations.
“You’re All I Need to Get By” (1968) has been repurposed several times, the most famous derivative being the Method Man and Mary J. Blige hip hop and R&B fused “All I Need.” Originally released by Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1967, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” became Gaye’s first No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968.
His 1971 album What’s Going On produced some of Gaye’s most cherished socially conscious songs, such as “What’s Going On,” “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology),” and “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler),” where he verbalized the societal hardships of that time and made a heartfelt call to action for resolution.
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The year prior to the release of the album, massive protests against the Vietnam War had ignited across the U.S., while members of the activist organization the Black Panther Party were targeted by a laundry list of criminal charges.
Both Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin suspiciously died 16 days apart at the age of 27 from substance abuse related issues. Nine months later in July 1971, The Doors frontman, Jim Morrison died at the age of 27 from an alleged heroine overdose.
From stateside politics to the ongoing struggle for equality suffered by Black Americans, Gaye, a self-proclaimed empath, channeled his frustrations into his music. His efforts would pay off with several No. 1 hits on the U.S. R&B charts and the lead up to 1972’s “Trouble Man,” a song covered and referenced by many, such as singer Chico Debarge and rapper T.I., and his explosive No. 1 platinum hit “Let’s Get It On” (1973).
Nearly a decade later, he would follow up with “Sexual Healing,” another anthem in the same train of thought as “Let’s Get It On.” Gaye released the song as his first single after departing from Berry Gordy’s legendary label, Motown, and signing with Columbia/CBS Records.
At the time of the recording, Gaye was dealing with a bout of depression stemming from issues with the IRS, his divorce from Anna Gordy, Berry Gordy’s sister, and a substance abuse addiction. The song was a great comeback for a 42-year-old Marvin Gaye, earning him platinum certification and two Grammy awards.
His life will be portrayed in the upcoming biopic, What’s Going On, from director Allen Hughes, who made the announcement in summer 2021 and originally set a release date for 2023, but recently pushed the date back in an effort to concentrate on another highly-anticipated biopic.
The Warner Bros. feature will contain music by Gaye, reportedly approved by Gaye’s estate and Motown Records. Marcus Gardley wrote the initial screenplay, while Andrew Lazar, Suzanne de Passe, and music icons Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine are onboard to produce.
