Divided Soul: The Life Of Marvin Gaye

by David Ritz

Drawing from interviews conducted before Marvin Gaye's death, acclaimed music writer David Ritz has created a full-scale portrait of the brilliant but tormented artist. With a cast of characters that includes Diana Ross, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, and Stevie Wonder, this intimate biography is a definitive and enduring look at the man who embodied the very essence of the word soul.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Memoir, Biography Memoir

416 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1985

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending of this book is so surprising and usually you don't get twists in biographies. Something very unusual about Marvin Gaye was that his first wife was 17 years older than him, the marriage lasted 12 years. His second marriage was to a 17 year old girl 16 years younger than him. This marriage lasted 5 years officially but they were together on and off until his death.

Marvin Gaye had been rejected by his father from birth and spent the rest of his life trying to win his father's approval and love (he didn't get either). I can identify with this because of my mother. It brought me close to tears reading of Marvin's striving. . He was brutally whipped as a child for very minor things by his father. His mother was also brutalised by her husband, a preacher in a strict Pentecostal church.

In the very last episode of Marvin's life, he had been very depressed and had tried to commit suicide several times. He had moved back home to be with his mother to whom he was very close. He hated that she had never left her brutally abusive husband and tried to be a buffer between them.

Marvin was in his mother's sick room berating his father for having ignored his wife and left her to suffer on his own when the two came to blows. Marvin being the younger beat his father pretty badly. His father left the room, went and got the gun that Marvin had given him for the family protection some months earlier, loaded it and come back and shot his son. He then stood over his dying son and at point blank range, shot him again. Marvin said he was done.... and died that day.

Gay Sr. had always said that if Marvin laid a hand on him he would kill him. Everyone knew that. And by provoking his father into murder, Marvin had achieved three goals at once, he died by a kind of suicide, he got his mother separated from her abusive husband and he ensured that his father would feel guilt and unhappiness for what he had done to his son all the rest of the days of his life.

If he meant it like that.

(Ultimately the father pleaded no contest, got a plea bargain which resulted in 6 years suspended sentence and 5 years probation. I hope he suffered with guilt and the loss of his family).

[Andre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, as good as possible, but not as good as it could have been. I believe that’s because the author, David Ritz, was too close to the subject. Knowing that Ritz and Gaye had a rollercoaster relationship that included litigation and disputes over money, there was no way I can take Ritz’s biography at face value. Even though the story of Divided Soul is nonfiction, it is told in the voice of an unreliable narrator.

Don’t get me wrong. I give Ritz a lot of credit for this work. This was heavily researched and there was a lot of in depth interviews with Marvin Gaye’s close friends and family. The interviewees, including Marvin, himself, are quoted heavily. With very rare exception, the quotes work and fit seamlessly into the story.

And that story was fantastic. Tragic, but fantastic. The way Ritz was able to relate Marvin’s lyrics to his life was great. It is difficult to read this book without emoting. And very difficult to read it and not judge the people closest to Gaye—personally, I find it very hard, despite knowing that times and life were much different back then, to not judge Marvin’s mother. If this was a work of fiction, it would be a 5-star work. For much of the book, I felt like I was in Marvin’s head.

But that’s also my biggest problem with the book. I don’t trust Ritz’s version of things. I can’t. Page after page after page of Divided Soul tells tale of Marvin’s manipulations of the people closest to him and the instability of those relationships. Ritz was one of those people, one of those relationships. He and Gaye were on non-speaking terms for nearly half of the time they knew each other. I cannot fully but into his insights into Marvin’s mindset. I don’t have full faith in his portrayals of Marvin’s emotions.

Marvin’s is a story that needs to be told by an outsider, but there’s no way an outsider could know or learn all that Ritz did. In that way, Divided Soul is, I believe, the best we can get. I’m glad I read it.

[LeeTravelGoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

OKAY…

UM…

WHERE TO BEGIN…

Troubled souls intrigue me to NO END!!!

I love Marvin Gaye, I guess that’s the best place to start. I’ve avoided this book for so long because I thought I knew the story but NO GIRL, you did not!

WOW.

Joe Budden brought me back to this point of re-examining Marvin because Kendrick samples “I Want You” on his last installment of The Hearts pt. 5 right. Okay so, Joey plays the a cappella + bass and congas version of “I Want You” on his podcast and i LITERALLY SCREAM cause I HAD NO CLUE THESE cuts EVEN EXISTED right… so now I’m listening to this deep deep cut and finding random notes/podcasts/articles on Gaye and then I remember I had this book.

As a musician, Marvin sits in MY top 5 of male singers OF ALL TIME. And I’m ashamed to admit that I did not know that he played piano and drums, just on a whim… no classical training or otherwise, just good ole church life. BLESS GOD!

NOT TO MENTION… the fact that THEEE SMOKEY ROBINSON (yes, the legendary Smokey) names Marvin’s most iconic work as his FAVORITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME: What’s Going On (released over 51 years ago) is Smokey’s favorite album of ALL TIME. Smokey has lived y’all… years!!! In arguably the greatest music era that there is *throws phone across the room* and THAT is his choice… #KingShit.

Yes. We all know the infamous story of his passing but to know the backstory gives credence to the way his life unfolds.

I mean, what a life. Once the book started, I didn’t want it to end… as I normally do I’ve got Larry on standby… waiting to gain clarity on whatever. Larry, as in Larry Page… i.e. Google lol!

David Ritz is by far probably one of my fav biographers… my goal is to read all his books because he brings the subject to me; I’m watching the life unfold right in my living room.

This book is a masterpiece and I can only imagine the hell David went through to write it. Marvin was hell on two feet 😹. I won’t speak ill of a legendary icon such as Marvin but good LORD, it says so much about you when your father kills you and the family takes pity on the father. WTH?!?!

I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF PERSON ARE YOU??? 😩

I STILL LOVE HIM THOUGH AND HIS MUSIC… chef’s kiss 💋!!! *Inner City Blues is my fav Marvin jawn. 💚💚💚, this bio is a tops!!!

[Shayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvin Gaye is my favorite singer of all time. Here, My Dear and I Want You are stunning albums; I never get tired of listening to them. My obsession with Marvin’s music lead me to this book. A voice in my head kept telling me that I needed to hear his story.

After reading David Ritz’s book with Rick James, I immediately went to purchase his books about Marvin Gaye and Ray Charles. I wanted to know the stories behind the music. There’s nothing I love more than learning what inspired the musicians I love to listen to - to make the music they made.

To an extent, I have an issue with this book. It’s not a large issue. But, it’s hard to really love this book because it’s not really Marvin’s point of view. We get bits and pieces of Marvin’s thoughts and mindset. But this book was told from David’s perception of Marvin’s life. Also, I don’t really trust this book too much considering Marvin had issues with David for a few years. Although, I commend David for doing the best that he could. He interviewed the people closest to Marvin to try and make this book as truthful as possible.

This book revealed to me that Marvin was mentally ill. This book showcased what it is like to be mentally ill in the black community. The stigma of mental illness in the black community is the reason many black people self medicate to get through. Marvin showed signs of paranoia, mania, self hatred, and had struggled with suicidal ideation. I can’t help but wonder if anyone ever gave him the talk in his time. Most likely no.

Marvin confused love and pain. Marvin’s music in a nutshell is about his fears of inadequacy and his obsession with the idea of woman. Marvin’s love and hate relationship for women comes from his dislike for his mother. Marvin claimed to love his mother more than anything else. But, in a way I feel he didn’t truly respect her for allowing his father to abuse him and her in every way. He wanted his mother to be strong and use the voice he didn’t have to stand up to his father. It’s telling that the one time he had the strength to challenge his father, that was the time he was murdered by him.

Marvin had a fear of living. Marvin’s fear of living due to childhood trauma and feeling inadequate hurt his career. Sure, Marvin released some stunning albums that have lasted generation through generation - but, Marvin could have done so much more had his mental issues not gotten in the way.

Marvin’s relationships with Anna and Jan were toxic. Marvin was searching for a mother and a father in every relationship he got into. He didn’t know how to be in a relationship with anyone because he never saw a true loving normal relationship growing up. He didn’t see women as his equal. Marvin’s inability to sympathize with women also hurt his artistry. He saw women as either all good or all bad. All sensual evil beings or Godly pure women here to heal. If Marvin truly learned how to love a woman, he would have been able to release an album for women in the vein of “I Want You” without sexualizing the woman.

In the end, Marvin Gaye was incapable of achieving the love he felt he deserved because of his obsession with suffering. Marvin was in every sense a masochist. Marvin didn’t love himself, so the love he received from others didn’t matter.

[bfred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I've been a fan of his music since I was a kid, I knew very little about Marvin Gaye’s life—aside from the fact that he was shot to death by his own father—before reading this biography. Author David Ritz does a thorough job of reconstructing the highs and lows of Gaye’s 44 years, including his abusive childhood, two unhealthy marriages, drug use, and long road to superstardom. Ritz portrays him as a incorrigibly insecure man, tortured by the psychological wounds inflicted upon him by his father. It’s fascinating to hear the complex truth behind a man often portrayed as a one-dimensional sex symbol.

The book’s only flaws come when Ritz—who met Gaye late in life and conducted a few extended interviews with the man himself—inserts himself into the narrative. He repeatedly recounts times when he taught Marvin about words of wisdom from philosophers, cultural critics, novels, and religious texts that conveniently sum up exactly what Gaye had gone through at certain points in his life. Whether or not these moments are true, they come off as pompous. But despite these annoying details, Divided Soul is still an engrossing look at Gaye’s shockingly sad life.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still working through my thoughts but I think I can settle on 3 stars.

Very interesting, but I also felt that the writer was biased. I’m not sure if having a friend of the subject write their life story is always the best option - in some cases, they feel they have to gloss over serious issues and ignore their faults. In others, especially if it’s possible there was a falling out or other conflict at play, they do everything in their power paint them in a negative light. I felt like the latter was the case with this book. He would quote Marvin, and then immediately prove that what he said was a lie. And he did this more times than I could count. Marvin sounded like an arrogant, chauvinistic, selfish, typical celebrity from a troubled childhood. I really wanted him to delve deeper into who he was a human, what his intrinsic motivations were. And unfortunately I didn’t get that. Plus, it didn’t get interesting to me until the last 20% of the book. I will say, I’m very interested in hearing more about his ex-wives, so I may look into books about them.

[Erin Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually a pretty compelling book. My friend recommended that I read it because I am a huge Marvin Gaye fan, however, he passed away before I was alive so a lot of his back history for me was unknown. After reading this book, his album Here My Dear, even I Want You make so much more sense to me. Parts of the book which were uncovered by Ritz in his interviews with Gaye were a little bizarre to me for example, his father essentially cross dressing and Gaye exhibiting the same behavior, as well as his attitudes towards sex. One of the things that I found most interesting while reading this book was the part about Tami Terrell. I remember watching her UnSung a few months ago and Valerie Simpson said that despite the rumors about their final album she did not sing any of Terrell's vocals when she got sick-- however, this book shows that was false. Interesting.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a brisk read but the author clearly has his own biases. And there are several large gaps, perhaps due to his lack of access to interviewees. Gaye's wives' viewpoints in particular are glaringly absent.

[Keila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. As my first biography of Marvin Gaye, it seemed to be a comprehensive view of his life and struggles. As for the author, I'm not a big fan. His detailed accounts of the people, places, and circumstances that spanned the decades of Gaye's career were appreciated, but I could have done without the flowery language used in between those stories to portray him as a tragic hero. I was distracted enough to skip over paragraphs at a time, and I'm a little hesitant to try another of Mr. Ritz' books. I guess I would recommend it in spite of that. Consider this a 3.5 star review.

[I Be Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great biography of Marvin Gaye; I would consider it definitive (SO FAR), given the author's interviews with Marvin and those closest to him. However, I could do with a lot less of David Ritz's personal opinions and analysis about Marvin. He managed to insert himself in Jan Gaye's autobiography by making sure he was credited for giving Marvin the idea for "Sexual Healing"; he also found a way to insert himself in this one. I didn't notice it the first time I read this but it was super obvious (and annoying) this time.

[Bria Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part interview, part biography, this was incredibly well done. A thorough look into the life and mind of a very troubled musical genius. David Ritz may be one of my new fave authors. He told this story incredibly well, with respect to everyone involved.

[Shan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This autobiography is the most intimate one I have ever read.
Marvin Gaye’s childhood, music, business and personal relationships, vices and addictions are all in Divided Soul.
No detail was spared.
In between listening and reading I went back to listen to some of his songs.
Some of them I didn’t know of until they were mentioned in his autobiography
Marvin Gaye’s soul was indeed divided.
I’ll admit the ending had me in my feelings knowing he tried his whole life to gain his father’s love.

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, Tragic, Compelling, Heartbreaking, Engrossing, Page Turner! An Awesome Read! I Loved It!

[Travious Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always wanted to read this book. I was excited to finally get the opportunity to do so and I felt as though this read gave a deeper look into the life of one of my favorite musicians. I saw a lot of myself in Marvin’s complexities but I also saw how much he was dependent on outside sources for escapism and affirmation that I wasn’t aware of. He was definitely a divided soul throughout his life and that added to the lure of Marvin Gaye.

I was surprised some things were not included in the book; I felt some things would have added to the book, but it was still a good read. It was quite sad that his life ended the way it did, but it was also sad that he never accepted the love that he was freely offered by many. Unfortunately, the love he wanted most he never received.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only thought that I knew a thing about Marvin Gaye. I read about this book in another book. It mentioned that Gaye was surprisingly candid when he and David Ritz worked together on this book but that it remained unfinished when Gaye’s father killed him, leaving Ritz to finish it alone. Candor aplenty. Gaye was riddled by insecurity, paranoia, addiction, and such inner turmoil that had he not been shot to death, his time on this planet was going to be short. This book is about Marvin Gaye the person. Not so much the musician. It’s actually quite scant as it relates to Gaye’s musical efforts…but crazy open and honest about everything else.

[Gabrielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This often makes lists of best music biographies. And I can see why. It is based on years of interviews with Marvin Gaye - who was usually stoned. And seems well researched and the writer is well connected so was able to verify things after Marvin’s death and talk to his mother and so on.

And if you love memoir and biography you need to read this.

But it had downsides. The author incorporates too much of himself frankly (yawn) and the ebook was filled with typos. And Marvin. What a troubled guy. At times it was stressful to read.

[Ronan Forde · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most music biography that has ever biographied.

[Elizabeth]

fascinating and ultimately very saddening read. made me mourn the loss of marvin gaye but also the institution of music journalism

[Elisha Lawrence]

I don't think this book can be given a rating. It's the story of a deeply troubled man. Divided Soul is a perfect title for the life of Marvin Gaye. I never knew his story and it is gut-wrenching. Abused as a child, Gaye never recovered. His father was a terrible man, abusive, alcoholic, and self-righteous. Sadly Gaye became a lot of the things his father was.

He was an incredible musical talent. Far more than I ever realized, Gaye was beloved in the music industry. I knew about some of his songs, but I didn't know that he was considered to be one of the best black musicians of all-time. Some of his confidants thought he had the talent to be a black Sinatra. It was the demons of his own mind that destroyed him. Gaye was insecure and that insecurity destroyed his career and his relationships.

His life is hard to read about because it is so sad to see him devolve. He was so torn inside of himself that he couldn't hold together his closest relationships. His greatest titles are deeply ironic. He never found the Sexual Healing that he sought for, in fact, it alluded him his entire life. He wanted sex and romantic relationships to deliver him an existential almost spiritual connection. And they could never reach his expectations, because he took both out of their proper context. Everyone he longed to be loved by, he pushed away. In the end, he was shot by his father. But Gaye was already at his wits end. He was driven crazy by drugs and the brokenness of his life.

Gaye's life is a sad story with a sad ending. I hurt for him and for his family. He was a tremendously talented man who at times sounded like a joy to be around. I hate that he never found the healing he so desperately longed for.

[Jenn Victorious · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a troubled life over the span of 44 short years. He lived a life of trauma. How unfortunate. Was Marvin Gaye ever truly happy? I doubt it.

[Katy Koivastik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written, seemingly day-by-day account of Marvin Gaye’s personal and musical life by someone who knew him well. Rock journalist David Ritz started this project with Marvin in 1979 and then finished it by interviewing family members, musicians, producers, and perhaps anyone and everyone Marvin had contact with. The book ends with a 1991 postscript, is well indexed and includes a comprehensive discography, complete with notes on which versions of Marvin’s songs were released.

“Divided Soul” is a hard book to read. One wishes Marvin had not been beset by demons created by an unloving “Father”, a small man who held sway over Marvin’s life, literally from beginning to end.

[Paul Lyons · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad, upsetting, informative and possibly sensational biography of the late great singer Marvin Gaye. Author David Ritz admits that in addition to having known Marvin Gaye over the years, he also sued the singer for songwriting credit. The author also had the benefit of meeting and interviewing members of Gaye's family, and several of his friends. So it can be said that David Ritz's validity as a biographer is more than sound. Still, "Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye" seemed to serve more on the disturbing side of Gaye's life than anything else, with a very telling title.

Now, of course, I get it. An author has to sell books, and so does a publisher. So it makes sense that David Ritz did not hesitate to expose the worst sides, the worst moments, the worst everything that happened in Marvin Gaye's life. The bad stuff can make for interesting, compelling copy. On the other hand, from reading the book and understanding Marvin Gaye's storied history (and tragic end in general), I get there is a truth in the specific, sometimes sordid angle "Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye" took in chronicling Gaye's difficult life. However, the effect of the author's bad stuff pileup makes for a most unpleasant read, which effect could easily draw the reader away from Marvin Gaye's life and brilliant art, and away from the book itself.

In David Ritz's defense, the author does often state his admiration and appreciation of Marvin Gaye's music, even defending the singer at times and praising underrated Gaye albums such as the controversial "Here, My Dear." Also, the fact that Ritz had at least some kind of friendship (professional, at least) with Marvin Gaye, and personally interviewed friends and family for the book, (in addition to including well-researched stats and facts) lent the tome an authentic flair no matter how unsettling the material might be.

"Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye" tells the tale of one Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., the child of a loving mother and an absolute monster of a pious father. The book appears to say that Marvin Gay (the "e" was added to his name professionally, at his request)'s life was doomed from the start. Beaten, abused and generally unloved and unwanted by the mostly unemployed and tyrannical Marvin Pentz Gay Senior, Marvin Gaye began his career singing career with groups in the Washington, D.C. area. Meeting his lifelong mentor (on and off) Harvey Fuqua in the Moonglows, Gaye followed Fuqua to Detroit when Fuqua was dating Gwen Gordy, sister of a young and enterprising record executive and salesman Berry Gordy.

Soon, Marvin Gaye met and eventually married the first woman who helped and haunted Gaye's life, Berry Gordy's other sister, Anna. However as Gaye's star began to rise with the Berry's and Motown, the problems began to pile up. No matter how many hits Marvin Gaye had, he was forever haunted by his traumatic childhood, forever petulant with authority, prone to jealousy, and pitifully self-destructive. Gaye wanted all of the fame and glory he could get, yet did not want to make the steps to achieve his goals. Gaye did not like to dance, railed against saying and doing what the label wanted, hated performing and touring, and was generally irresponsible with money, woman, obligations and everything else.

The older Gaye got, the worse things became. Gaye's marriage to Anna fell apart badly, and his next relationship and marriage to Janis Hunter was even more tortuous and destructive. 17 years Gaye's junior, Hunt and Gaye fought constantly, and their relationship rarely rested upon the foundations of the functional. An adopted child with Anna, and two kids with Janis brought love to Gaye's life, yet sadly not enough.

Making matters worse, Marvin Gaye's drug use never stopped, and in fact advanced from consistent marijuana use to a steady and costly diet of cocaine. Feeling violated by the women Gaye would perform to in concert, feeling paranoid about everyone in his life except his children and his Mother, Gaye still managed to make great music with songs and albums like "What's Going On" and "Let's Get It On" and yes...the underrated "Here, My Dear."

An intensely talented yet tragically troubled man, Gaye was guilty of everything: abusing others psychologically and physically, envy, infidelity, telling tall tales to the press, pride, elitism, ego, stubbornness, self-abuse, irresponsibility, avoiding paying the people who worked for and with him, avoiding paying taxes, laziness, and laying blame on everyone but himself. On the other hand, Marvin Gaye was a wise and highly spiritual man, finding faith and strength in God and Jesus. Contrary to the ways he succumbed to sexual temptations and evil influences, Gaye believed in delivering God's message of love through music. Gaye was indeed a divided soul.

Yet my takeaway from "Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye" was less about feeling entertained enlightened or educated about the life and music of Marvin Gaye, and more about feeling repelled, repulsed and ridiculously sad about what I had read. Whether Marvin Gaye's real life was as sad as the author makes it, or not, the book itself perhaps did not have to be as hopelessly depressing as it was. Reading the book, one can easily forget the beauty, wonder and joy of Marvin Gaye's songs, which the singer devoted his whole soul to. I wish "Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye" stressed Gaye's greatness more, so one could leave the book feeling elevated by learning about Marvin Gaye's life and history. Instead, this book just made me sad.

[W. D. Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a lot of ways I respect David Ritz for not writing a more salacious book on the life of Marvin Gaye. It is an outrageous tale. Living in a mountain retreat with an underage girl he keeps impregnating and forcing to sleep other men? I definitely think Ritz attempted to be kind to Gaye but some of this story tells the tale as it is. It's kind of cringeworthy. But his life reminds me of books by James Baldwin from the period, and black masculinity in America has always been a very complicated position.

[Kimberly Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvin is my favorite recording artist, and after reading his life story, it just pulled at my heart strings. Marvin fought so many demons, and who would have guessed it with the life he led. I have every song he's ever recorded. Took me years to complete my collection, but complete it, I did, and I've added my book to my Marvin collection. I miss you, Marvin! But your music will remain with me always!

[Chavon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read. Full of musical history spanning 20+ years woven with the story of GAye's life. Tragically brilliant, he reminds me of fictional character Holden Caufield. Gaye's spiritual awareness and connection with God is beautiful. His mental health issues are heart breaking as you winess the star fall from grace. I adore Gaye even more. Understanding his story and pain, well written by David Ritz.

[NON · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would never consider David Ritz a biographer because of his tendency to write as if he can read his subject's mind. That is a flawed way of writing a candid biography, and he always keep me feeling suspicious when I'm reading any of his books. This is the same case with Marvin Gaye's book, which I do not consider (like many other readers) a biography, it is more like a memoir.
It is not easy to read Marvin's life without aching. He was indeed a flawed genius.

[Dana.nicksongmail.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're a true fan of Marvin Gaye, this book will be an easy read although the writing is not superb. The narrative really humanized Marvin and his music, but you wonder whether the negative relationship Marvin had with the author plays into his potrayal of Marvin, which is overwhelmingly pitiful. Still a great read!

[Chene · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was very dry. It was disturbing to read how tortured this man was this book could have been wrapped up in about 5 chapters and it was dragged out to a tortured amount of chapters. I could have lived without this story.

[Daniel Chamberlayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvin Gaye was a complex man who beared his soul in his music

[Michiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of famous short reviews:

Marvin is the Man!

Heartwrenching (Tammi!). I cried.