Anna Gordy Gaye facts for kids

Anna Ruby Gaye (born Gordy; January 28, 1922 – January 31, 2014) was an American businesswoman, composer, and songwriter. She was the older sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Anna became a record executive in the 1950s. She helped distribute music for labels like Checker Records and Gone Records. Later, she started her own record company called Anna Records with Billy Davis and her sister Gwen Gordy Fuqua.

Anna Gordy also became a well-known songwriter. She helped write hit songs like "Baby, I'm for Real" for the Originals. She also co-wrote two songs on Marvin Gaye's famous album, What's Going On. Anna was the first wife of Marvin Gaye. Their relationship later inspired Gaye's album, Here, My Dear.

Anna's Early Life and Music Career

Growing Up and Starting in Music

Anna Ruby Gordy was born on January 28, 1922, in Oconee, Georgia. She was the third oldest of eight children born to Berry Gordy Sr. and Bertha Ida Gordy. When Anna was very young, her family moved to Detroit. After finishing high school in 1940, Anna moved to California for a while. Her younger brother, Berry, also moved there to try a boxing career.

In the mid-1950s, Anna returned to Detroit. She and her younger sister Gwen started managing the photo booth at the Flame Show Bar in Detroit. This was a popular place for music and entertainment.

Becoming a Music Executive

By the late 1950s, many members of the Gordy family were getting into the music business. In 1956, Anna began her career by helping to distribute records for Checker Records. Around 1957, she also distributed music for Gone Records.

In 1958, Anna and her sister Gwen started their own record label called Anna Records. They partnered with musician Billy Davis. This was one year before her brother Berry started his famous Tamla Records. Anna Records helped distribute Tamla's first national hit song, "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett Strong. Other artists like David Ruffin and Joe Tex also recorded for Anna Records. Marvin Gaye even worked there as a session musician, playing instruments for recordings.

Joining Motown and Songwriting Success

In 1961, Anna Records became part of Motown, which was Berry Gordy's growing music empire. Anna then joined Motown as a songwriter. Some of her first songs were recorded by Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells. In 1965, Anna co-wrote the holiday song "What Christmas Means to Me" for Stevie Wonder.

Anna later co-wrote two big hits for the group the Originals: "Baby, I'm for Real" and "The Bells". She wrote these songs with Marvin Gaye. Anna's name was also listed as a co-writer on two songs from Marvin Gaye's important 1971 album, What's Going On. These songs were "Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)" and "God Is Love". Anna left Motown at the end of the 1970s and stopped working in the music industry.

Anna's Personal Life

Meeting Marvin Gaye

Anna Gordy met Marvin Gaye in 1959. At the time, Marvin was 20 years old and singing with a group called Harvey and the New Moonglows. Marvin soon started working at Anna Records and became interested in Anna. They began dating in 1960 and got married in June 1963.

Marvin Gaye wrote hit songs about Anna, inspired by their romance. These included "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" and "Pride & Joy." Marvin said about "Pride and Joy," "When I wrote 'Pride and Joy,' I was completely in love with Anna. I just wrote how I felt about her and what she meant to me. She was my pride and joy."

Family Life and Later Years

Anna and Marvin adopted a boy born in 1966, whom they named Marvin Pentz Gaye III.

In 1971, Anna and Marvin moved to Hollywood Hills. A few years later, they decided to separate. In 1975, Anna filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized after Marvin agreed to give her some of the money from his next album. This album, Here, My Dear, shared Marvin's feelings about their marriage.

In the 1980s, Marvin and Anna became friends again. Anna often went with Marvin to music events after he released his comeback album, Midnight Love, in 1982. She was with him at the Grammy Awards in 1983, where Marvin won two awards.

Marvin's death in 1984 was very sad for Anna. Later, she and Marvin's three children scattered most of his ashes near the Pacific Ocean. Anna kept a small portion of his ashes. When Marvin was honored by being added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Anna and Marvin Gaye III accepted the award for him.

Anna Gordy Gaye never married again. Her last public appearance was in June 2008. She attended an event where her brother Berry was honored.

Death

Anna Gordy Gaye passed away on January 31, 2014, just three days after her 92nd birthday. She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills in California.