Marvin Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984)

waterproof · April 2013

A prolific writer, a great soul singer, a troubled spirit, A Messenger for his people, A SOUL MAN........

R.I.P. MARVIN GAYE

At around 11:38 am on April 1, 1984, as Gaye was seated on his bed talking to his mother, Alberta, Gaye's father shot at Gaye twice. The first shot, which entered the right side of Gaye's chest, was fatal, having perforated his vital organs. The shooting occurred after Gaye and his parents were involved in an argument over misplaced business documents, which had gone on constantly for several days. Gaye was taken to the emergency room of the California Hospital Medical Center and was pronounced dead on arrival at 1:01 pm. Gaye died a day before turning 45. It was revealed during Marvin Gaye, Sr.'s court case that the gun was given to him by his son as a Christmas present.

Gaye's funeral was attended by over 10,000 mourners at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Following the funeral, Gaye was cremated and part of his ashes were spread near the Pacific Ocean. Gaye did not leave behind a will or an insurance policy at the time of his death. Gaye's father pleaded no contest to a voluntary manslaughter charge after agreeing to a plea bargain in the case. He later died of pneumonia in 1998. Since Gaye's death, fans of the singer have crowded around Gaye's final residence where he was murdered to hold vigils on the day of his birth.