Marvin Gaye Killed: Soul Music Loses Its Conscience
Marvin Gaye was shot by his own father on April 1, 1984 — the day before his 45th birthday. The argument had been going on for years. His father, a minister with his own violent history, retrieved a gun Marvin had given him for protection. The shot was fatal. The autopsy revealed Marvin had been beaten before the shooting. His father was charged with first-degree murder, but brain tumor surgery before trial led to a reduced plea. Marvin Gaye had been scheduled to tour that spring.
April 1, 1984
42 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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