(June 20, 2021) A half century after his ground-breaking, historic album What's Going On, the late singer Marvin Gaye was honored by his home city of Detroit with the renaming of a portion of Outer Drive as "Marvin Gaye Drive."
With Gaye's family as well as local dignitaries and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan onhand, the cover on the sign was removed on Saturday afternoon amid a steady rain.
The fitting honoring of Gaye is the latest in a series of accolades for the former Motown star as the world remembers his career and especially What's Going On. It also comes at a time when the famed Motown Museum is embarking on an ambitious expansion plan to create a world class center to celebrate all things Motown -- which received a shot in the arm last week via a major contribution from McKenzie Scott.
(June 20, 2021) A half century after his ground-breaking, historic album What's Going On, the late singer Marvin Gaye was honored by his home city of Detroit with the renaming of a portion of Outer Drive as "Marvin Gaye Drive."
With Gaye's family as well as local dignitaries and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan onhand, the cover on the sign was removed on Saturday afternoon amid a steady rain.
The fitting honoring of Gaye is the latest in a series of accolades for the former Motown star as the world remembers his career and especially What's Going On. It also comes at a time when the famed Motown Museum is embarking on an ambitious expansion plan to create a world class center to celebrate all things Motown -- which received a shot in the arm last week via a major contribution from McKenzie Scott.
To read a more complete account of the Gaye celebration, check out the excellent article by Brian McCollum of the Detroit Free Press, as well as the speech from Marvin's younger brother, Antwaun Gay, below.