Legendary Singer Behind One of the Greatest Albums Ever Was Born 87 Years Ago Today

Marvin Gaye, the legendary voice behind records such as What's Going On and I Want You, was born on April 2, 1939.

The singer was commonly referred to as the "Prince of Soul" for his enduring contributions to the genre throughout the '60s and '70s. What's Going On remains one of the most popular soul albums ever recorded, and Gaye's countless hit singles cemented him as a legend of the genre.

What's Going On was released in May 1971 and tells the unique story of a Vietnam war soldier returning to the United States and witnessing the terror, oppression, and injustice on the city streets. It was a revolutionary album for the time, and received widespread praise for its sublime songwriting and dense political lyricism.

Songs such as "What's Happening Brother" and "Save The Children" discuss the poverty and suffering that was growing rampant in '70s America, while tracks like "Mercy Mercy Me" cemented Gaye as a leading voice in the ecological movement to combat climate change—long before it was a widespread issue.

What's Going On became Gaye's second album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Soul LPs chart, holding onto the pole position for nine weeks. The album's titular lead single also reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Soul Singles chart.

Thanks to the commercial success of "Mercy Mercy Me" and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)", Gaye also became the first male solo artist to place three top ten singles on the Hot 100 from one album.

Gaye's critical and commercial success continued throughout his career, with albums such as I Want You and Let's Get It On continuing his chart domination. His contributions to the Motown community were invaluable in diversifying the U.S. charts and introducing audiences to a whole new wave of mainstream soul music.

Gaye was killed by his father during a violent domestic disturbance on the afternoon of April 1, 1984. After interfering in a heated argument between his parents, Gaye was shot twice by his father using the same handgun that Gaye had previously given him amid concerns of lacking security. He would have turned 45 the next day.

Since Gaye's death, his legacy as a pioneer of soul music has endured without competition. What's Going On is widely considered to be his greatest (and most important) studio record, with writers at NME and Rolling Stone ranking it at No. 1 on their 2004 and 2020 lists of the greatest albums of all time, respectively.