b. Frances T. Gay, 15th November 1941, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
d. 28th December 2001, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Frankie Gaye was the younger brother of the late Marvin Gaye.
Looking and sounding very much like his older brother, it was Frankie who had to remain out of the limelight, overshadowed by Marvin's enormous success.
Frankie sang on recordings with his brother Marvin off and on for years.
He also has another brother and two sisters, all of whom grew up in a strict church environment (their father being a preacher).
Frankie was recognized, notably, on the Marvin Gaye album 'Live At The London Palladium' (1977).
When Marvin and Harvey Fuqua left Washington for Detroit, Frankie stayed behind and established himself as a singer on the Washington club circuit.
In 1964 Frankie was drafted to serve in Vietnam, where he fought until 1967.
Upon his return he began working with Marvin, generally in the organization of his live shows and business interests.
When Marvin moved to Los Angeles with Motown, Frankie moved too.
Marvin Gaye's classic 'What's Going On' was based on the experience Frankie had during his service in the Vietnam war.
Frankie persuaded Marvin to record 'What's Going On' with Al Cleveland.
As a writer he composed the complete soundtrack to the film 'Penitentiary 1' in 1972, while as a performer he has worked extensively in California.
After Marvin's passing, Frankie teamed up with Cleveland recording an obscure single on Al's Hitsburgh Record Label.
He also began a series of visits to the UK, meeting his Scottish wife while on tour in 1980.
In 1989 he signed to the Motorcity label and recorded 'It Takes Two' with Kim Weston. (Marvin had originally recorded the song with Kim in 1966.)
Here he also recorded a tribute record to Marvin entitled 'My Brother'.
Frankie, in recent years, worked upon his own release in 1996 called 'The Very Best Of Frankie Gaye.
Marvin Gaye's brother, Frankie Gaye died on 30th December 2001 in a Santa Monica Hospital in California, at the age of 60.
Kim Weston, was at the hospital with Frankie's family.
Frankie left behind a wife of 23 years Irene Duncan Gaye, his children April, 18 years old, Frankie Marvin, 9 years old, and Fiona, 8 years old.
Frankie Gaye also had children from his first marriage to Judy Gaye, Denise, 25 years old, and Christy, 27 years old.
Albums:
The Very Best Of Frankie Gaye (Motorcity Records 1996)
