When Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his own father in 1984, the world lost one of its greatest singers. Although his fans were stunned, the singer's friends, knowing the violence that cocaine had created in Gaye, weren't surprised that the killer was found to have acted in self-defense. In intriguing detail, Sharon Davis charts Gaye's extraordinary, often turbulent career, including his tempestuous relationship with the record company Tamla Motown and its legendary head Berry Gordy. She follows Gaye's struggle for artistic independence and details his successes with singles like Can I Get a Witness? and I Heard It Through the Grapevine and the epoch-making album 'What's Going On? Sharon Davis is considered a leading authority on Motown history. She is the author of Motown: The History and Stevie Wonder: Rhythms of Wonder.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
kkk"Research at depth and previously unpublished revelations make this adroitly told biography of soul singer Marvin Gaye hard to put down." -- KIRKUS REVIEWS
From the Publisher
When Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his own father in 1984, the world lost one of its greatest singers. Although his fans were stunned, the singer's friends, knowing the violence that cocaine had created in Gaye, weren't surprised that the killer was found to have acted in self-defense. In intriguing detail, Sharon Davis charts Gaye's extraordinary, often turbulent career, including his tempestuous relationship with the record company Tamla Motown and its legendary head Berry Gordy. She follows Gaye's struggle for artistic independence and details his successes with singles like "Can I Get a Witness?" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" to the epoch-making album ''What's Going On?" and beyond. A superb biography of one of the most original music talents of his time. Sharon Davis is considered a leading authority on Motown history. She is the author of "Motown: The History" and "Diana Ross: A Legend in Focus."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
i hate to say this, because I had high hopes ... but,
By A Customer
This review is from: Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Paperback)
this book is really not good. David Ritz's Gaye bio isn't perfect, but it's way better. The quotes Davis uses from interviews are just plain lame: mostly they are broad and impersonal. This book works better as a history of Motown, but not even so well as that.
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Healing,
By Miss DTP "upper_echelon" (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Paperback)
This book tells the story of Gaye, his relationship with his family, Motown, Berry Gordy, his wives (one of which was Gordy's sister, Anna) and with his fans.Unlike other bios of Motown stars (Knight, Reeves)this one is packed with info and personal details about the singer. Marvin is very candid as well as other members of his family about his relationship with his father. It also seems that Marvin is bashing Berry Gordy...the man who gave him a chance at stardom. It also seems that Marvin (along with other Motown stars)is jealous of the attention paid to Diana Ross. Marvin looked up to Berry and was hurt when he could not receive approval of his father figure. The relationship he had with his wives Anna Gordy and Janis Hunter is also discussed-- although very briefly especially in terms of Hunter. I would've liked to know more about the teen girl Marvin called his inspiration. It is clear that Marvin's long battle with COCAINE, keeps from maintaining healthy relationships with any one. The end of 'GRAPEVINE' talks about the tragic death of Marvin. I was very satisfied with Davis's work on this subject. This book gave a great sense of comfort and allowed me to ......... Heal.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read,
By Joe "Read! Read! Read!" (PA & NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Marvin Gaye: I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Paperback)
What a life! This is a good book, well-written and seems very balanced in the telling.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
More than five thousand people queued in the damp cool evening on 4 April 1984 from Forest Lawn drive to the Chapel of the Hills to pay their last respects to Marvin Gaye whose body lay in an open coffin inside a white wooden chapel. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
sexual healing, sanctified lady, chart topper, front sleeve Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Marvin Gaye, Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, Tammi Terrell, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells, Los Angeles, Harvey Fuqua, Kim Weston, The Temptations, Janis Hunter, David Ritz, Make Me Wanna Holler, Lady Edith Foxwell, Jeffrey Kruger, Mary Wilson, Gay Snr, Larkin Arnold, Mickey Stevenson, New York, Martha Reeves, Graham Canter, The Ecology New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
More than five thousand people queued in the damp cool evening on 4 April 1984 from Forest Lawn drive to the Chapel of the Hills to pay their last respects to Marvin Gaye whose body lay in an open coffin inside a white wooden chapel. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
sexual healing, sanctified lady, chart topper, front sleeve Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Marvin Gaye, Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, Tammi Terrell, The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Mary Wells, Los Angeles, Harvey Fuqua, Kim Weston, The Temptations, Janis Hunter, David Ritz, Make Me Wanna Holler, Lady Edith Foxwell, Jeffrey Kruger, Mary Wilson, Gay Snr, Larkin Arnold, Mickey Stevenson, New York, Martha Reeves, Graham Canter, The Ecology New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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