Motown Celebrates Marvin Gaye's 70th Birthday!

Motown Celebrates the 70th Birthday of Marvin Gaye, One of the Most Acclaimed Artists in Music History.

In the 50th anniversary year of Motown, April 2, 2009 will mark the 70th birthday of the late great Marvin Gaye. Sadly, April 1 also marked the 25th anniversary of his tragic death the day before his 45th birthday. Motown's top solo male artist of the '60s, led by his "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"—at one time the biggest selling single in Motown history—Gaye became the label's most revolutionary artist in the '70s, breaking down barriers whether singing about the body or the soul, social consciousness or sexual politics. From his '60s classic "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", to his legendary rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, he defined the soul in "soul music".

Stock up on Marvin Gaye music at iTunes or Amazon!

Marvin Gaye's popularity and influence continues. His 1971 album 'What's Going On' forever changed the subject matter of popular music; it's one of Rolling Stone magazine's top 10 albums of all time. In 1973, "Let's Get It On" became perhaps the most passionate and sexual album ever recorded, led by its title track, which remains one of the most popular songs of all time, a certified Gold single back in the day, and in the digital music era it's a Gold digital download and a Platinum-selling ringtone as well. In 1987, three years after his death, Gaye was rightfully among only the second group of artists honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. More recently, Marvin Gaye was No. 6 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time.

Marvin Gaye - Nike Commercial

This is the American Anthem at its best in my opinion! Nike features a retro performance of the national anthem from Marvin Gaye mixed into recent images of the US Dream Team. The clip of Marvin Gaye singing comes from the 1983 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles. This is one of Nike's Olympic commercials and it truly is the best version of the American Anthem I've ever heard!

Usher Wants To Play Marvin Gaye

Usher wants to play the leading role in a biopic of legendary singer Marvin Gaye.

He's no stranger to this role as he already played Marvin Gaye once before during a guest-appearance on U.S. television show American Dreams. He is now desperate to portray Gaye in a movie version of his life story.

He says, “I want to be the person who tells the story of Marvin Gaye because I understand the conflict he had as a man.”

It doesn't seem that he'll be the chosen one for this amazing role, there already is a film about Marvin Gaye’s life in production which stars Jesse L. Martin in the lead role.

Who would you prefer to see in a Marvin Gaye biopic?

Marvin Gaye - A Brilliant Artist

Marvin Gaye was an amazing artist and I'm going to start posting a lot more about him. His music can really affect someone and this world doesn't have that many artists of this caliber anymore. "Mercy Mercy Me" is a song that everyone should keep on listening to and remember what we are all doing to our own home... planet earth. Let's start taking care of our home, it's about time, let's make a difference in 2008.

Ah, mercy, mercy me,
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no.
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south andeast.

Mercy, mercy me,
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no.
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon
our seas fish full of mercury,

Oh, mercy, mercy me.
Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no, no, no.
Radiation underground and in the sky;
animals and birds who live near by are dying.

Oh, mercy, mercy me.
Ah, things ain't what they used to be.
What about this over crowded land?
How much more abuse from man can she stand?