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Today in History

What went down and why you should care.

apr 01 Learn More Marvin Gaye Shot and Killed


On this day in 1984, R&B singer Marvin Gaye was gunned down by his own father in Los Angeles. Today, Gaye is celebrated as one of the greatest voices of all time, but did you know that he almost gave it all up to play wide receiver for the Detroit Lions? After the tragic death of his pal Tammi Terrell, Gaye was in a funk (pardon the pun), and turned his attention toward the NFL. Fortunately for music fans, Lions coach Joe Schmidt told Gaye that he just couldn't risk Gaye's magnificent voice being stifled by a couple of 400-pound defensive linemen, and Gaye went back into the studio to record "What's Going On."

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