Marvin Gaye, My Brother

Rating:
Summary: Expecting More
Review: God rest the souls of the Gaye brothers. In reading this book, I thought I would find the closure in peicing together where Marvin's life starting going chaotic, but I did not find that. Everything written in this memoir pretty much repeated what Marvin wrote in his. I know at one point, there was a feud between Frankie and his older sister, who had differing views of their upbringing. Maybe she will write a book and we can get closer insight.

Rating:
Summary: Very Insightfull!!!!!!!
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. It made me laugh and it also made me think about life in terms of how Marvin lived his life. His brother, Frankie, gives us an insight on Marvin not just being a troubled man but gives us specifics. Marvin being a rebel, stubborn, and provocative man, Frankie lets us know that Marvin was also a shy, loving, gentle, God fearing man. And lets not forget their sense of humor as brothers. Frankie's take on the reason for the events that stemmed from childhood leading up to Marvins death makes more sense and puts a closure of any rumor (ie: arguing over insurance money) regarding that day on April 1, 1984. Marvin got the attention, among other things, that his father never had or tried to get. His father resented and was jealous of Marvin for public attention as an entertainer as well as attention from his Mother. This book is good reading I would strongly recommed it to any Motown or Marvin Gaye fan!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Frankie Gaye deceived others, self
Review: I found Francis "Frankie" Gaye's amateurish biography of his famous brother, of some use, but not much. Some of the anecdotes ring true. I believe that Marvin Gaye was the impulsive, sometimes unintentionally amusing person Frankie describes. That is why I have given the book a couple stars. But, Marvin Gaye was much, much more than this book suggests -- and much of the personal aspect was rather awful. I would urge anyone interested in the brilliant singer, musician and songwriter, who was also a misogynist and drug addict, to read other sources. Foremost among them would be David Ritz's biography of Marvin Gaye.

I will correct a few misconceptions a reader will get from "Marvin Gaye: My Brother." Another reviewer, A Reader, has corrected others.

*It is well-documented that Rev. Marvin Gay, Sr., was physically and emotionally abusive to his wife and children. He seldom worked and was a drinker, despite his religious zealotry. He also was a cross-dresser and there were questions about whether he was bisexual or homosexual, as ran in his family. Frankie Gaye skims over or tries to cover up these facts.

*Frankie and Marvin Gaye were not close as adults. Though Frankie was on hand for some of the later significant events in Marvin's life, he was living a separate life in Washington, D.C., and later, California, when his brother descended into drug addiction, sexual profligacy and possible insanity. Oddly, neither he nor other family members ever sought psychiatric help for Marvin Gaye.

*Marvin Gaye's impressive contributions to American music occurred in spite of, not because of, his warped family. Frankie Gaye's attempt to credit the Gay household for his brother's talent is ludicrous.

Just how dishonest was Frankie Gaye, who died before this book was published? Gaye 'erased' his first marriage and children from his life. You will find no mention of his first wife, Judy, and their two daughters in "Marvin Gaye, My Brother." Instead, he gives the reader the impression that he had never been in love until he met a Scottish woman delivering a lei to his brother in London. She became the only wife he acknowledges, Irene. I believe that such shameful behavior reveals Frankie Gaye suffered some of the same problems with interpersonal relationships as his father and brother. He is not a reliable source.

What of co-writer Frank Basten? As someone with enough distance to be objective, he could have improved the book considerably by adhering to the truth instead of helping Frankie Gaye obfuscate. His name is on the book, but he seems to have contributed little work to it.

Rating:
Summary: The Real Story About Marvin Gaye?
Review: I found the book insightful in some ways, with Frankie Gaye's stories behind the songs, Marvin Gaye's personal relationships with his wives, etc. However, at times, I felt Gaye was still holding something back, and not fully disclosing the real Marvin Gaye, warts and all.

Rating:
Summary: I Love Marvin Gaye
Review: I love Marvin Gaye, but I didn't like this book at all. It wasn't very informative. Only thing that I learned was that Marvin Gaye had bad feet.....2df.

Later!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Marvin Gaye fans, take this one lightly
Review: I won't reiterate what the other reviewers have said, because they make a great point--the book is light on real information. Much of what Frankie covers is what we already knew about Marvin (drugs, women, mental woes), which leads me to think Frankie didn't know Marvin that well at all.

I was hoping to learn the hardcore, real reason Marvin Sr. shot Marvin. Frankie can only speculate, and since Marvin Sr. is gone, the world will never really have a clear understanding what happened the fateful day that shook the music world. What was appalling then--and still is now--is that Marvin Sr. didn't even get much of a slap on the wrist. The crime is given the almost-justifiable gloss of "Marvin had it coming." Like another reviewer mentions, no one in the family ever sought professional help for Marvin, and if everyone thought the man was such a loose cannon, why didn't they? It's my guess that Marvin Sr. would have blocked that attempt anyway, given that he was such an attention hound, to hear Frankie tell it. Frankie makes it clear that Marvin Sr. caused a significant amount of pain to his own family, through routine unemployment, anger-loaded outbursts, and all-around childishness. I had heard that Marvin and his sibs were abused sexually as children, but not a word of that appears in this book.

The book isn't bad, but I agree with the reviewer who noted that the co-author didn't seem to have a voice within the pages, and I believe that would have made the book much less subjective. Frankie writes as if he is sitting in front of you, just talking about his brother, so the tone and style are very loose and informal. Not a bad book, but I think there are better, more meaty biographies out there. It's my guess that Frankie left a lot of family detail out to spare those still living; maybe he felt that Marvin's very public demons were enough embarrassment.

Side note: Frankie makes mention of Ritz and claims that what information he spewed out isn't reliable and that Marvin only met him one time. I think I'll read that one next...

Rating:
Summary: AWESOME BOOK GREAT DETAIL
Review: OH MY GOD, this was a wonderfully written book. Frankie tells you all about his brother. When I finished I felt like I knew Marvin. I recommend all fans should add this to their collection.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ FOR MUSIC, MOTOWN & MARVIN FANS!
Review: There have been many stories written and televised about the life and tragic death of Marvin Gaye. But non comes close to the compelling story told by his brother Frankie Gaye. He was the only one with Marvin when he died and the true circumstances of his death have never been told until this book. It's well written and finally gives us a REAL look into the talented and tragic life of Marvin and his brother. To add to the tragedy, Frankie passed away before the book was published. But now thanks to his wife Irene, the story is available to us all.
I highly recommend this book and I hope it makes a great movie someday soon.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful tribute
Review: This book was a beautiful tribute to Mr. Gaye's brother, Marvin. It gave the reader an excellent insight into the sensitivity that surrounds the Gaye family and not just the trials and tribulations that the public was led to believe about Marvin Gaye while he was with us. I couldn't put the book down and finished it without interruption in just several days. Thank you to the late Mr. Frankie Gaye for writing about the real Marvin Gaye and to Irene Gaye and Fred Basten for making sure it was presented to the public. (I get goose bumps when I think of July 4th -- you'll understand when you read the book!)

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful tribute
Review: This book was a beautiful tribute to Mr. Gaye's brother, Marvin. It gave the reader an excellent insight into the sensitivity that surrounds the Gaye family and not just the trials and tribulations that the public was led to believe about Marvin Gaye while he was with us. I couldn't put the book down and finished it without interruption in just several days. Thank you to the late Mr. Frankie Gaye for writing about the real Marvin Gaye and to Irene Gaye and Fred Basten for making sure it was presented to the public. (I get goose bumps when I think of July 4th -- you'll understand when you read the book!)