In a sort of multi-celebration event, MOTOWN will be celebrating its 50th anniversary year of Motown on April 2, 2009 which incidentally marks the 70th birthday of the late great Marvin Gaye. April 1 will likewise mark the 25th anniversary of Gaye’s tragic death before his supposed 45th birthday.

Motown’s top solo male artist of the ’60s, led by his “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” — at one time the biggest selling single in Motown history, Gaye became the label’s most revolutionary artist in the ’70s, breaking down barriers whether singing about the body or the soul, social consciousness or sexual politics. From his ’60s classic “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You),” to his legendary rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, he defined the soul in “soul music.”

In addition, the ongoing, acclaimed “Motown 50″ podcast series will feature special episodes on Marvin Gaye’s life and music; Gaye is also well represented on the deluxe 10-CD box set Motown: The Complete No. 1′s, which kicked off the year long celebration for Motown’s 50th anniversary. Both The Real Thing, a DVD collection of his greatest television and concert appearances, and Gold, a 2-CD overview of his career, have recently been certified Gold. Gaye will also figure prominently in a two-hour documentary about Motown produced by the label’s founder, Berry Gordy.

(Source) Press