Final tribute to one of Tamla’s ‘greats’

Press, 7 April 1984, Page 10

Final tribute to one of Tamla’s ‘greats’

NZPA-AAP Los Angeles . Recording stars such as Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson led a congregation of 400 in a final tribute to the murdered singer, Marvin Gaye, who lay in a silver casket wearing a military-style white uniform. Wreaths from the singer, Diana Ross, and other stars were placed at the foot of the coffin in the Hall of Liberty Church at Forest Lawn Cemetery yesterday, where about 8000 mourners earlier filed past Gaye’s body in another chapel. Gaye, aged 44, whose jacket was decorated with gold braid and a fur collar, was cremated after the funeral service, in which the comedian, Dick Gregory, told the congregation: “I wish Marvin senior was here so I could tell him how much I love him.” The 70-year-oid father of

Marvin Gaye has been charged with his son’s murder last Sunday and is undergoing psychiatric tests in custody. Marvin Gaye sen. was alleged to have shot his son twice after an agrument. Wonder paid a tribute to the singer and sang a song entitled ‘“Light up the Candle.” Gaye’s stage band played one of his record hits, “What’s Goin’ On,” as the mourners, who included his mother, Alberta, and three children, Marvin, Nona and Frankie, left the church. A Forest Lawn official said yesterday’s outpouring, mostly by women mourners, was the biggest since the death of Clark Gable in 1960. Surrounded by 15 wreaths, mourners whose dress ranged from minks to jeans, paid their last respects as Gaye’s body lay id state in the Hollywood

Hills cemetery’s Church of the Hills. Some played tapes outside the church of such Gaye hits as “Sexual Healing” and “I Heard it Through the Grapevine.” “He looks peaceful even though his death was so tragic,” one mourner said. The Associated Press quoted Gregory as saying “the legend still lives on, brother Marvin. Thank you, my brother, for your love and your dedication. That’s what’s still going on.” This was a reference to Gaye’s hit song, “What’s Goin’ On.” “We heard it from the grapevine just a feew days ago, our prince troubadour, our social port, our balladeer of soul, had sung his final note,” Gregory said. “He had given us so much.” The flower-bedecked hall echoed with music, including an overture by about 20 members of Gaye’s band. A recording of Gaye’s soulful

version of the “Star Spangled Banner” opened the service. Wonder told the mourners that Gaye was his mentor. “Marvin was the first person who showed me how to properly hold drumsticks,” he said. Gaye had played the drums on his first record. Wonder performed a song he said he wrote on Saturday — the day before Gaye was shot — and dedicated to his friend. “Lighting up the candle, wishing you best, like the happiness you gave in our moments of love,” Wonder sang. “Lighting np the candles, spark the memories, helping as to see more moments of love.” The hall featured a large black-and-white photograph of Gaye. His open casket was placed below the stage. The Mayor, Mr Tom Bradley, declared yesterday a day of mourning for Gaye.