Memories of Marvin Gaye

By Susan Whitall

On Wednesday night (9 p.m. on Detroit Public Television/Channel 56) PBS is premiering a documentary on Marvin Gaye's life that will evoke memories for many Detroiters, Motown colleagues and music fans - some great, some melancholy.

It's hard when you have to always insert a clause, "shot and killed by his father" in every mention of Gaye's life and times.

Maybe that's why I love to watch, and rewatch, a YouTube clip of Gaye's "Save the Children" performance outside in Chicago, featuring Funk Brothers such as James Jamerson on bass (see link below). You forget everything but Marvin's almost Zen-like immersion in his music when you watch.

Here's my Marvin Gaye story: When I was editor of Creem Magazine, I asked for an interview with him via Motown PR guy Bob Jones. Good news: The interview was on. Bad news: Bob told me under no circumstance should I do the interview. Why? Bob said Marvin tended to relate to female journalists as, well, females. He said it happened with photographers, writers ... "You won't get a story," he warned.

"He'll just treat you like a girl."

Apparently there was a female photographer assigned to shoot photos of Marvin. Instead they disappeared for a lost weekend. No photos taken.

In retrospect, I can't believe I let Bob talk me out of it, but I did. I assigned the story to another Creem writer, the very estimable (and male) Ed Ward. Ed was flown to Los Angeles from wherever he was at the time to talk to Marvin. The next day an irate Ed called me to say he only got an hour with Marvin, and that there was no way he could write up that into a feature.

An hour with Marvin Gaye! Right now, to think of an hour talking to him ... I can't remember if Ed only got monosyllables out of him or what, but I know I didn't agree that an hour wasn't worth writing up. Disappointing to fly across the country for that, but, hey, write it up! I couldn't talk Ed into it. Any irritation I felt was long ago replaced by envy and now, humor. What I wouldn't give to have an unsatisfactory interview with Marvin Gaye!

Alas, I made the wrong call.