Whats Going On - Marvin Gaye

Whats Going On - Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye was such an exceptional person when it came to music. He had a heart and felt what others were feeling. Looking on the outside in, he seemed comical and interesting. However, being on the inside seemed as demanding as ever. He was married to Anna, Berry Gordy’s sister in which was the owner of Hitsville U.S.A. ‘The Snake-Pit’. With thoughts and images from the letters his brother Frankie sent from his 3-year tour of duty in Vietnam, and the memories of his fathers abusiveness had set the stage very clear for the song WHATS GOING ON. Of course, lets not forget the 1967 “race riot” that enriched the sky with the burning smell of houses and local businesses.

Gaye had to overcome so much pressure to get the song WHATS GOING ON released into mainstream media. With the war and politics and crazy riots everywhere Mr. Gordy was sure it would ruin him and his image. Berry recalls a time when Marvin was so excited about the song. Gordy told a T.V. interviewer,

“He called and said, ‘Lookit, I’ve got to release this album. I’ve got these songs, it’s great. ‘When he told me they were protest songs, I said, ‘Marvin, why do you want to ruin your career? Why do you want to put out a song about the Vietnam war, police brutality and all of these things? You’ve got all these great love songs. You’re the hottest artist, the sex symbol of the ‘60’s and ‘70s…’”

Finally Gaye made him an ultimatum, until Berry and his Quality Control cabal came to release WHATS GOING ON, Marvin would do nothing more for the company. Marvin Gaye was the first of the soul era to produce a record aiming to make a difference within the community and take a political strike at cultural. His vocals were blended and stacked or overdubbed in a high and low part for the recording. (He did a couple of lead mono takes accidentally dubbed together) founded by accident, this later became a hallmark of his vocal style.

As an industry professional, I see a person that would stop at nothing to see his dreams, wants and desired come to pass. Some good and some bad, but in the end most obstacles were overcome. Haunted by drug addiction like most other artist of that time, in which influenced his playing style and tangible writing techniques. He seemed to have much to say, R.I.P. Marvin.