Regardless of your political views, you’ve probably wondered what Marvin Gaye’s position on the Civil Rights Movement was. This article will discuss this topic in detail. But first, let’s review how the musician came to be. If you’re one of the millions who love Marvin Gaye’s music, you might wonder why you should care. In fact, you should care because you have the power to change the world!
As a child, Marvin Gaye worked in the studios at Motown as a session drummer and played on early Smokey Robinson hits. He then married Anna Gordy in late 1961 and struggled to find his voice. Despite this, his fourth single, ‘I Feel Like a Woman’, was a minor hit in 1962. Two more singles were released that year, and Marvin Gaye soon reached the top thirty.
After the Civil Rights Movement, Marvin Gaye teamed up with Diana Ross for a duet collection in 1973. He spent much of the mid-’70s in divorce court. During this time, Motown released a stopgap album titled Live at the London Palladium. This album spawned the single ‘Got to Give It Up’, which was his last No.1 hit.
Marvin Gaye’s first solo album, What’s Going On, a politically charged record, featured the iconic title track “What’s Going On.” The song was inspired by the experiences of Motown bassist Obie Benson, who had watched the brutality of police in Berkeley, California. Benson convinced Marvin Gaye to take on the title track. Gaye reworked the song’s melody and lyrics and added personal experiences.
