DJ Deano’s Jazz Funk Soul Heroes Pt 1

Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. (April 2nd 1939-April 1st 1984) better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye.An American singer-songwriter and musician started in the early days as a session drummer & played with a group in the late 50′s called The Moonglows,they however disbanded in 1960.He then persued a solo career with Tamla Records,a subsidiary of Motown.Gaye ranked as the label’s top-selling artist during the 60′s.

Due to the popular solo hits ” How Sweet it is (To Be Loved by You)”, “Ain’t that Peculiar”, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” and his duet singles with singers Mary Wells & Tammi Terrell,he was then later named as “The Prince of Motown” and “The Prince of Soul”.

In the 70′s his work included the albums What’s Going On,Let’s Get It On & I Want You….  After a self-imposed European exile in the early 80′s Gaye returned in 1982 with a Grammy Award winning hit “Sexual Healing” and the Midnight Love album before his death.Gaye was shot dead by his father on April 1st 1984,a tragic loss to the soul music industry.In 2008,the American music magazine Rolling Stone ranked Gaye at no 6 on it’s list of The Greatest Singers of All Time & ranked at no 18 on 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

Deano’s Factoids:

Fact 1: In 1983 Spandau Ballet recorded the single True as a tribute to Marvin & the Motown sound he helped to establish.

Fact 2: Gaye scored 41 Top 40 hit singles on Billboard’s Pop Singles between 1963 & 2001 & 60 Top 40 R&B singles chart hits from 1962 -2001.

Fact 3: 18 Top Ten pop singles on the pop chart

Fact 4: 38 Top Ten singles on the R&B chart

Fact 5: 3 no 1 pop hits

Fact 6: 13 no1 R&B hits

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