A gifted and beautiful man, how tragic his murder was - shot dead by his father Marvin Snr as he intervened in a fight between his parents in 1984, the day before his 45th birthday.
His father had always abused his children (a Pentecostal minister, his regular and brutal whippings for minor misdemeanours made them all bed-wetters), and according to Marvin's mother Alberta, had never loved him.
An alcoholic and cross dresser, Marvin Snr fathered a son outside of marriage through his womanising. He clearly blighted Marvin's childhood terribly and played a big role in his failed relationships, drug addiction and paranoia.
This evil man never served a prison sentence for killing his son, ironically with the gun that Marvin had gifted his father for his protection. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and got a 6 year suspended sentence. Some justice!
Marvin Gay Snr (Marvin Jnr added the letter 'e' to his surname to avoid gay jibes and distance himself from his father), was divorced by Marvin's mother Alberta after 49 years of marriage following his trial. He died in a nursing home in 1998 aged 84 - the peaceful, natural death he had denied his talented, world famous son.
RIP Marvin Gaye, an amazing human being, your music and your magic live on. XXX