Marvin's Rage: A stunning 8-Page anger and racial letter with extensive, shocking content!If you were writing about Marvin Gaye’s legacy, soulful music with many awards and accolades would be the forefront mention. However, his life had a contrasting touch of tragedy and heartbreak. On April 1, 1984 Gaye was killed by his father. Indeed, the last 12 months of his life were a roller coaster and quite tumultuous.
Just a year earlier in 1983, with two decades under of his belt of accomplishments Gaye’s life was at a peak. He had just won two Grammy Awards for “Sexual Healing” and “Midnight Love” was rising the charts. His performance of the “Star-Spangled Banner ” at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game was a “seminal moment in sports history” according to the NBA. He was ready for a comeback despite his messy divorce.
Marvin Gaye had a very toxic marriage with his second wife, Janis Hunter. He first met her in 1973 when she was only 17 years old (half Gaye’s age). With the affair in full swing, by 1977 he was divorced from his first wife, Anna Gordy. Gaye married Hunter, with whom he had two children, Frankie and Nona. Though passionate, Gaye’s marriage with Hunter was filled with substance abuse, sexual impropriety, and trauma, as Hunter recorded in her memoir, “After the Dance: My Life with Marvin Gaye”.
As reported by the New York Post, Gaye and Hunter’s initial attraction was strong and undeniable. By the time his wife was in her early 20s, though, and mother to two children, Gaye’s eyes began to wander as his substance use issues worsened. Gaye had also encouraged Hunter to engage in sex acts with other people for his enjoyment prior to their marriage, but she never agreed, per New York Post. Even though Gaye continued to be abusive, the couple stayed together until 1982. After writing her book and dealing with her trauma, Hunter has made peace with her experience.
Presented is an 8 Page handwritten letter from Marvin Gaye in the middle of the turmoil he was experiencing in 1980. This letter was given to the writer in 2001 who was to create Marvin Gaye’s Biography. It was gifted to the writer, by Zeola Gaye Woodard, the family member of Marvin Gaye. The Biography book was never written, but this letter has been preserved by the writer. The writer has retained the original legal contractual agreement for the project that was drafted between their attorneys. We have copies of which will be sent out with the 8 page letter. We have picture the legal contract but have redacted personal information.
The envelope is a telltale sign of both his incoherency and coherency. Gaye desired his resentful words about his mother-in-law to be heard by not only her, Jan Gaye (wife) but the world. The envelope was addressed to his mother-in-law at the time, Barbara Hunter, but it was addressed in C/O of Frankie Gaye (brother) at his mother’s house. He knew that the letter would be forwarded to Hunter. The envelope is dated and postmarked 1980.
Controversial in its entirety, here are excerpts from the contents of the letter:
Page 1. “I think you are a perfect illustration of a sick, white pig society: Your cold and ruthless satan inspired philosophies and lifestyles, an abomination to my sweet and innocent and highly impressionable little girl. You have already f***ed up one beautiful Godsoul..
page 2. “And Jan, she says she loves me but no woman who loves a man would do the kind of things she done and what have I done to deserve the Jet magazine and other major news publications printings: Marvin Gaye arrested by Hermosa Beach Police for assault and battery on Jan Gaye: People will stop buying my records on these kinds of lies…”
Page 3. “What will you teach her? How to smoke hot to cry good? How to be white? Will you have her pattern her sex life after yours or perhaps teach her your learned white intellect.”
Page 4. “I decided I would be heard and proceeded to engage her and hold her down (in the sand) until she decided to listen to me for the last time. I become angry and say if you don’ tlisten to me Im going to take teh childern again at which point she goes screaming down the beach for the Police ( white style) ‘white satonic merciless pigs (Hermosa Beach all white cops).
Pag 6. I am superior to you and magnificent. “”after hearing about your pig cop friends beating me and my susepquent arrest, was there any sympathy for me?
Page 7. Marvin Gaye Super Star who deserves No Condsideration for Nothing Good He’s Done, “the white women’s way Press Charges against that “N**R.”
Just an absolutely stunning, blistering letter from the legendary singer with absolutely explosive content! The letter exhibits moderate handling wear and a rough left edge from being removed from a spiral notebook. The handwritten envelope exhibits heavy wear and soiling from mailing. Accompanied by a full Letter of Authenticity from James Spence Authentication (JSA).
Page 8- Your Mother’s voice is the voice of Satan… may God have mercy on the Pee.” 3:55 Maui Love God”