An “American Masters” special on Marvin Gaye, featuring interviews with Berry Gordy, Mos Def, Michael Eric Dyson and more, is scheduled to premiere tonight at 9 p.m. on PBS (KETC Channel 9).
According to Richard Prince’s Journal-isms column, writer/director Sam Pollard said he wants viewers to take away two things from “Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On,” which is produced by New York’s WNET: “For that 52 minutes . . to be reacquainted with all that wonderful music that was so fabulous, from Marvin and Tammi to “Pride and Joy” to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. Just fall back in love with all that music.”
Secondly, “I want people to have a window into how complicated every life is: No matter what you do in life, it’s always some kind of struggle. He was able to use those struggles to create great works.”
Gaye was shot to death by his father on April 1, 1984, the day before his 45th birthday.
The American Masters presentation of Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On premieres tonight (May 7 at 9 p.m.) on CHANNEL 9 (KETC). For more information visit www.ketc.org.
