List of tributes to Marvin Gaye

Albums

Several albums have been released to commemorate Gaye's influence on popular music.

Among the two albums released include Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye, released in 1994 in collaboration with MTV, who previewed the album's contents with the airing of the documentary about Gaye, also titled Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye, that featured vintage Gaye performances, as well as performances of his songs by other artists, notably Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Bono and Gaye's daughter, Nona.

The second tribute album, Marvin Is 60: A Tribute Album, was released in 1999 on Motown in celebration of Gaye's 60th birthday. Released that June, the album featured Erykah Badu, D'Angelo and Will Downing. The respective artists released songs from the tribute album including covers of "Your Precious Love" and "You Sure Love to Ball" to R&B radio stations.

R&B band Frankie Beverly & Maze based their 1989 album, Silky Soul on Gaye, who had served as the band's early mentor following their early years. The title track was recorded as a tribute to Gaye and interpolated Gaye's melody from "What's Going On". The song was released as a single and became a top-ten hit on the R&B chart. Marvin's daughter Nona was featured in the video.

Upon reviewing her albums, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 and janet., David Ritz compared Jackson's switching of topics from social issues to sensual material to that of Gaye's.^[1]

Jazz composer Don Byron's album, Don Byron's String Quartet No. 2: Four Thoughts on Marvin Gaye, I-IV, A Tribute to the Life of Marvin Gaye was released by the string quartet Ethel on the album, Heavy (Innova, 2012).

American DJ and producer Amerigo Gazaway released an album in 2014, remixing the work of hip hop artist Mos Def with Marvin Gaye's music.^[2]

Songs

Even before Gaye's death in 1984, Gaye was mentioned by name in a couple of songs. In Spandau Ballet's breakthrough single, "True", one verse cited "listening to Marvin (all night long)/this is the sound of my soul", which was seen as an example of the influence of Gaye's romantic song style. Gaye was also mentioned by name in electro funk outfit R.J.'s Latest Arrival's "Shackles (On My Feet)".

Following Gaye's own death, Lionel Richie composed the song, "Missing You", which he immediately gave to Diana Ross, who was reportedly struggling with her friend's death. The song was released in late 1984 and became Ross' final top-ten single. A day after Gaye's death, new wave band Duran Duran dedicated "Save a Prayer" to Gaye. In 1985, The Commodores issued the ballad, "Nightshift", which was dedicated to both Gaye and Jackie Wilson.

The alternative band Violent Femmes' song "See My Ships" from their 3 album, referenced Gaye's death in a double-entendre to express anxiety about God (the father)'s final judgment: "Mercy mercy me, Marvin Gaye, he was shot by his father, O my father have mercy on me". Prefab Sprout's "When the Angels" from their album, Steve McQueen, was dedicated to Gaye.^[3]

In 2003 and 2004, Gaye was often mentioned in songs by rappers such as Jay-Z and T.I. on their respective songs, "Dirt Off Your Shoulder" and "Rubber Band Man", while in 2004, the R. Kelly song, "If I Could Make the World Dance" was dedicated to Gaye. That same year, George Michael referenced Marvin's name on his song, "John & Elvis are Dead" from his Patience album. In 2015, singer Charlie Puth released his first single, "Marvin Gaye", with Meghan Trainor as his duet partner, the song referring to Gaye and his 1973 hit, "Let's Get It On", with the chorus line, let's Marvin Gaye and get it on. Songs that paid tribute or mention reference to Marvin Gaye include:

• "The Introduction" by T.I
• "True" by Spandau Ballet
• "Shackles" by R.J.'s Latest Arrival
• "Missing You" by Diana Ross
• "Nightshift" by The Commodores
• "When the Angels" by Prefab Sprout
• "Silky Soul" by Frankie Beverly & Maze
• "Laughing" by The Stranglers
• "My Dear Mr. Gaye" by Teena Marie, recorded for her album, Starchild.
• "Hörst Du mich?" by German Hip Hop band Fettes Brot: its first verse was dedicated to Gaye.^[4]
• "The Day Marvin Gaye Died" by The Avett Brothers
• "Club at the End of the Street" by Elton John mentions Marvin.
• "Classic" By MKTO
• "Keep Your Head Up" by 2Pac: the rapper mentions him with the lyric, "I remember Marvin Gaye used to sing to me/he had me feeling like Black was the thing to be."
• Stevie Wonder's "Lighting Up the Candles" was a tribute to Marvin and Stevie first performed it at Gaye's funeral; he later issued the song on his soundtrack to Jungle Fever.
• Israeli artist Izhar Ashdot dedicated his song "Eesh Hashokolad" to Gaye.
• "Marvin Gaye" by Charlie Puth featuring Meghan Trainor, released as a single and peaked at position 25 on the Australian charts in early 2015.
• Rapper Kanye West referenced Gaye in his song "Slow Jamz" featuring Twista and Jamie Foxx.
• Rapper Big Sean recorded a song used on his Finally Famous album titled "Marvin & Chardonnay" featuring Kanye West and Roscoe Dash.
• Rapper Drake recorded "Marvin's Room" in reference to producing the song in Marvin Gaye's studio.
• Rapper Charles Hamilton referenced Marvin in his song "Stay On Your Level".
• Rapper Mos Def's song "Modern Marvel" from his 2004 album The New Danger was dedicated to Marvin.
• Rapper Tyler, The Creator referenced Marvin in his song "Yonkers".
• Rapper Immortal Technique referenced Marvin and "What's Going On" in his song "Crossing the Boundary".
• Rapper B. Dolan referenced Marvin in his song "Marvin (Can't Remember)".
• Rapper Cormega referenced Marvin in his song "Journey".
• R&B singer R. Kelly mentions Gaye at the end of "If I Could Make The World Dance" on his 2004 Happy People/U Saved Me album. Kelly states: "Marvin Gaye inspired me to write that one, y'all."
• R&B trio H-Town sang the first part on the line "Listening to some Marvin Gaye" on the first single, "Knockin' Da Boots" from their 1993 debut album, Fever for Da Flavor.
• R&B group The Whispers briefly references Marvin and his hit single Sexual Healing on the single "In the Mood" with the lyric "how about some Marvin Gaye...feel like some sexual healing...."
• Pop singers Charlie Puth and Meghan Trainor released the song "Marvin Gaye" in tribute to the singer and the soulful quiet storm sound he paved the way for.

Other tributes

Marvin's death was referenced in The Sopranos on an episode titled "Members Only", when Uncle Junior shoots Tony Soprano and Vito Spatafore later remarks: "He Marvin Gaye'd his own nephew”. Gaye is referenced as one of the supernatural acts to appear in the short story and later television version of Stephen King's Nightmares and Dreamscapes in "You Know They Got a Hell of a Band".

A play by Caryl Phillips called A Long Way from Home, focusing on Gaye's relationship with his father and his last years in Ostend, was broadcast by BBC Radio 3 in March 2008. It featured O. T. Fagbenle as Gaye and Kerry Shale as Marvin Gay Sr., with Rhea Bailey, Rachel Atkins, Damian Lynch, Alibe Parsons, Ben Onwukwe and Major Wiley. It was directed by Ned Chaillet and produced by Chris Wallis.

In 2010, Marvin's sister Zeola Gaye started producing musical plays titled My Brother, Marvin, in which has been played in several cities. In 2012, a similar titled musical play started playing also in tribute to Gaye.

Rapper Tupac Shakur refers to Marvin Gaye in his song Thugz Mansion:

Dear momma don't cry, your baby boy's doin good

Tell the homies I'm in heaven and they ain't got hoods

Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook

Drippin peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke

Music videos

Sources