MARVIN GAYE WHAT’S GOING ON
Watch Free - The Tragic, Brilliant Doc Of His Life
What’s Going On, a PBS documentary about Marvin Gaye, portrays the artist’s life, his troubled childhood, and early career at Motown Records. The plot centers on the artist’s complicated life and battle with sexuality and drugs. According to the film, it took Marvin two years to become a sex symbol and musical icon. He often recorded with close friend Tammi Terrell and one of their biggest hits was “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
During the Vietnam War, Marvin Gaye added protest singer to his R&B songbook. Ten years after his solo career launched at Motown, in 1971, he released the protest album, What’s Going On. It focused on the Vietnam War, poverty, and racial inequality.
During the second half of Marvin Gaye’s life, he fell into drugs. It was a habit that drained his bank account. In 1977, the Internal Revenue Service confiscated all of his assets. He was married to Motown founder Berry Gordy’s sister Anna. To afford a divorce, Gaye made the double album Here, My Dear.
The soul singer remained hooked on drugs and moved back in with his parents. While there, Marvin’s parents fought constantly. The day before Marvin Gaye’s 45th birthday, his preacher dad shot and killed him.
Gaye’s career was monumental, and he influenced many R&B and soul singers who followed. Luckily, we still have a catalog of his music to remember him.
