Marvin Gaye was born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. on April 2, 1939, to church Minister Marvin Gay Sr. and domestic worker Alberta Cooper. Gaye had said that he was constantly getting beatings from his father and that living under his roof felt like “living with a king, a very peculiar, changeable, cruel, and all-powerful king.” He stated that the only thing that prevented him from taking his life was his mother.
Gaye started singing at four years old in church. His love for singing led him to pursue a professional music career. After getting discharged from the Air Force, Gaye joined several singing groups before gaining his first solo success in 1962. His single, “Stubborn Kind of Fellow,” earned him eighth in the R&B chart and 46th on the Billboard Hot 100. Gaye got his first top-ten hit in 1963 with “Pride and Joy.”
Marvin Gaye became a sex icon at the height of his career, with most of his songs revolving around sensual romance and love-making. In 1968, Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” became his first single to reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number one in several countries and sold over four million copies. Gaye’s later recordings influenced the R&B genre greatly, and he was nicknamed the “Prince of Motown” and “The Prince of Soul.”
Gaye’s dysfunctional relationship with his father finally met a boiling point on April 1, 1984. After a heated argument, Gay Sr. shot and killed Gaye in the chest, ending his life immediately. Gaye left a lasting legacy in the music industry and was awarded accolades, but thanks to his style and the songs he performed, many wondered about his sexuality. Was Marvin Gaye gay? Let’s get it on and find the answer ourselves.
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Marvin Gaye’s Relationships
Seen by many as a sex symbol thanks to his iconic songs, Gaye gained a reputation among the sex community in the 60s and 70s. It was the time of sexual exploration and sexual positivity, but did he take part in this exploration as well? Here are some of Marvin Gaye’s confirmed and rumored relationships:
Marvin Gaye and Anna Gordy (1963-1977)
Anna Ruby Gordy’s sister, Berry, helped Gaye in the early stages of Gaye’s career. It’s reported that Gaye began flirting with Gordy to help with his career, but he ended up falling in love. Gordy was 17 years older than Gaye, and the pair went through a two-year courtship before marrying on June 8, 1963.
Gaye was reportedly head over heels for Gordy and his 1963 hit “Pride and Joy” was dedicated to Gordy.
When I composed ‘Pride and Joy’, I was head over heels in love with Anna. I just wrote what I felt about her, and what she did for me. She was my pride and joy.”
Marvin Gaye, Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye, 1991
Gordy was reportedly physically and verbally abusive to her younger husband. Rumors spread about infidelity between the couple, and by 1972, Gaye filed for legal separation. Gordy filed for divorce three years later, and the couple was separated on May 4, 1977.
Their marital troubles influenced much of Gaye’s songwriting. His 1968 hit, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” was inspired by his wife’s affair with another man. Gaye also rewrote “Just To Keep You Satisfied,” changing it from a romantic ode to an emotional ballad.
Marvin Gaye and Janis Hunter (1977-1982)
Janis Hunter and Gaye met in 1973 while the latter was still married to Gordy. They began their relationship before Gaye and Gordy’s divorce was finalized. Gaye was inspired to write “If I Should Die Tonight” after his first date with Hunter, and Hunter first came into the public eye after she and Gaye were featured in a 1974 issue of “Ebony.”
The couple had their first child, Nona, on September 4, 1974, and a son, Frankie, on November 16, a year later. The couple finally got married in October of 1977 after surviving a car accident. Gaye reportedly encouraged Hunter to have sex with other men, and the open nature of their marriage influenced much of Gaye’s lyric-creation process.
Their relationship was also plagued with domestic abuse and illegal drugs. Hunter filed for legal separation in 1979, and the pair divorced in November 1982. The couple remained in touch after the separation, renewing their relationship several times. They separated after a heated phone call sometime before Gaye’s demise.
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell (1960s)
Tammi Terrell came to be known as one of Gaye’s most frequent singing partners. Though the pair always claimed their relationship was platonic, the chemistry and affection between the two told a different story.
When Terrell collapsed during a performance, Gaye wouldn’t stop blaming himself. She was later diagnosed with a brain tumor and died. This incident threw Gaye into a depressive state which led to a cocaine addiction.
Marvin Gaye and Lady Edith Foxwell (1980s)
Lady Edith Foxwell was a British socialite who had a short relationship with Gaye during the early 80s. Though their relationship didn’t last long, it became serious enough that the couple began considering marriage by 1982. The passion burned bright between the two, but it eventually fizzled out as they soon became separated.
Marvin Gaye and Deborah Decker (1984)
Gaye’s final confirmed relationship was with another Englishwoman, Deborah Decker. Little is known about Gaye’s relationship with Decker, other than the couple moving into an apartment in West Hollywood after tensions grew with Gaye’s family. In 1974, Decker claimed she was pregnant with a son, but Gaye was unable to confirm this. It’s unclear if Decker had the miscarriage before or after Gaye’s death.
Was Marvin Gaye Gay?
No, Marvin Gaye was not gay. It’s rumored that Marvin Gaye intentionally added an ‘e’ to the end of his name to dispel any rumors about his sexuality. Gaye reportedly stated that he was a heterosexual, trying to dispel rumors about his sexual orientation. At present, all of Gaye’s known past relationships were with women.
Featured Image: “Marvin Gaye”, by J. Edward Bailey, licensed under CC0 1.0 DEED