And the range of his life experience is reflected in his iconic songs.
His talent also earned him critical recognition, including12 Grammy nominations and two Grammy awards.
But for all his musical talent, he struggled constantly with personal demons.
“His need to be successful, find love and then take drugs were all down to it.
No matter what he achieved with his songs, all he got was resentment and criticism.”
And, as History noted, he both disapproved of and envied his son’s success.
His addiction grew so intense he even took to using in front of his mother, whom he adored.
“He also started taking more drugs,” Alberta Gay, his mother, told Ebony.
“He’d even do it when I was there.
The last time.'”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Apparently,Marvin Gaye had a stunning amount of debt when he died.
This heavy debt was compounded by the hefty alimony he still owed his first wife, Anna Gordy Gaye.
In the last days of his life, Gaye still owed her around $300,000, according toBusiness Insider.
And asEbonyreported, his increasingly expensive cocaine habit wasn’t helping his bottom line, either.
To add to his stress, he became increasingly paranoid.
He spent his final months obsessed with his own demise.
Neither woman was interested in his advances.
Indeed, one of the many reasons Gaye resented his father was for the poor treatment of his mother.
This put her in the difficult position of having to run interference between Gaye and his father.
“He was a scared little boy.
He was pitifully scared,” she told Ebony.
“I kept reminding him.
I kept saying ‘Darlin’, a perfect love casts out all fear.'”
But even a perfectlovehas its limits.
“My son, my poor son, turned into a monster,” she told Ebony.
And four days before his death, he made a more obvious attempt to take his own life.
“He was only bruised, but there was no doubt he wanted to die.”
Father said so publicly on more than one occasion," Jeanne told Ebony.
Gaye’s biographer, Steve Turner, concurred.
Each considered himself the head of the household and deeply resented the other.
That Sunday morning, Gay became agitated trying to find a misplaced insurance document and angrily confronted his wife.
