Remembering The Legacy Of Marvin Gaye On The Anniversary Of His Death

Thirty-one years ago today there was a shot that not only shook the music industry but also the whole United States. Soul singer?and speaker of love Marvin Gaye fell at the gun of his envious father.

Courtesy of Biography
Courtesy of Biography

It’s rare that one person can touch millions through his words but that’s what Marvin Gaye did. Gaye is most remembered for his soul love songs such as?“Let’s Get It On” and “Sexual Healing.” Gaye’s?reach?extended far beyond?mere words on?a page though. His songs?put every tired and pain-filled soul at ease with a low-toned rasp that was his signature sound.

Gaye’s ability to relate to nearly everyone wasn’t just because of his soulful singing, but rather?because he had lived a life of abuse and hardship as child. He knew what it felt like to feel useless in the eyes of a booze filled parent. He knew that his father would take out his anger on him for his father’s “shortcomings.” He knew?the same thing was happening?with thousands, and?that they?felt the same way he had as a?child.

Perhaps?the one bright spot?Gaye pulled?from his terrible childhood was his mother, who had encouraged his singing. Gaye thought that he would have killed himself had his mother not come to his rescue as he struggled to appease his sinful father.

Even as Gaye escaped his troubled?home life through the sounds of music he still struggled to fully get away from his tormentor. Gaye found himself, only one year removed from a Grammy Award for the song “Sexual Healing,” broke, physically exhausted, and cocaine addicted. In the year 1983?he was drawn back into his childhood home where it all began.

He was drawn back to an envious father and home where tensions always ran?high. Within a few short months after Marvin Gaye moved back into his childhood home it all came to a startling end.

On the morning of April 1, 1984 a verbal argument became physical between Gaye and his father. As his mother attempted to calm Gaye in his bedroom his father stepped into the room and shot Gaye three times with a revolver. Those three shots ended the Prince of Motown’s life.

The legacy of Marvin Gaye can teach us many things. The first?that life is precious. The second that music can soothe a tired soul. Last that we can accomplish anything, no matter where we come from.

Before his death, Marvin Gaye left?us with a powerful thought,

If you cannot find peace within yourself, you will never find it anywhere else.”

 

Tanner Bisbee hails from the great State of Maine. He's a full time college student and serves on the football staff at school. His most notable work to date is his book Modern Day Sports Blog. To read more check out my blog http://moderndaysportsandpolitics.blogspot.com/