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Marvin Gaye, officieel Marvin Pentz Gay (Washington, D.C., 2 april 1939 – Los Angeles, 1 april 1984), was een Amerikaanse rhythm-and-blueszanger. Hij geldt als een van de belangrijkste en invloedrijkste soulzangers, en ontwikkelde een revolutionaire opnamestijl waarbij hij via overdubs niet alleen met zichzelf in duet kon gaan maar ook de harmonieën voor zijn rekening nam. Na een leven waarin hij ondanks zijn artistieke successen steeds meer aan lager wal raakte door drugsgebruik en wangedrag, werd hij doodgeschoten door zijn vader, een predikant.

Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. (né Gay; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of successes, which earned him the nicknames "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul".

Gaye's Motown hits include "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" (1964), "Ain't That Peculiar" (1965), and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (1968). He also recorded duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross. During the 1970s, Gaye became one of the first Motown artists to break away from the reins of a production company and recorded the landmark albums What's Going On (1971) and Let's Get It On (1973).

His later recordings influenced several R&B subgenres, such as quiet storm and neo soul. "Sexual Healing", released in 1982 on the album Midnight Love, won him his first two Grammy Awards. Gaye's last televised appearances were at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game, where he sang "The Star-Spangled Banner", Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever in 1983, and on Soul Train.

On April 1, 1984, Gaye intervened during a fight between his parents at their home in Western Heights, Los Angeles. Gaye's father, Marvin Gay Sr., subsequently shot and killed him; it was the day before Gaye's 45th birthday. Gay Sr. later pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, receiving a six-year suspended sentence and five years of probation. Institutions have posthumously bestowed Gaye with such awards and honors as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award; a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and inductions into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.