Classic Pop Icons

Soul legend Marvin Gaye died 26 years ago today, just one day before what would have been his 45th birthday. Gaye died after his father shot him in the heart during a violent argument at his home in Los Angeles.

Marvin Gaye signed with Motown in 1960 and went on to be the label’s biggest selling solo artist of the decade, with classic hits such as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” and “Ain’t That Peculiar.”

The high quality work continued into the 1970s, with albums like “What’s Going On,” “Let’s Get It On” and “I Want You.”

All told, Marvin Gaye had 18 songs in the US top ten, including three number ones – “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (1968), “Let’s Get It On” (1973) and “Got To Give It Up” (1977). He also hit the top ten with eight albums. His last top ten album in the US was “Midnight Love” from 1982, which included the Grammy winning song “Sexual Healing.” This was his final album and his first for Columbia. Rolling Stone ranked “Midnight Love” number 37 on its list of the 100 Greatest Albums of the 80s.

Despite the success of “Midnight Love,” Gaye had a problematic and sometimes reclusive last year, struggling with drug addiction and reportedly owing the IRS $4 million in back payments. It’s rumoured that a duets album would have been his next project, involving artists such as Jermaine Jackson and Dionne Warwick. Given the quality of his earlier duets with Tammi Terrell and Diana Ross, this could have been a real treat.

Here’s some classic Marvin Gaye performances.

Marvin Gaye – “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)”

Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”

Marvin Gaye – “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”

Marvin Gaye – “Let’s Get It On”