Marvin Gaye is one of Westside Bands' greatest inspirations.
He was totally under-rated in the Twin Cities. I remember going to music stores and mass retailers as a wee one in the late 60s and early 70s, and seeing bins of Marvin Gaye 45s in the deep discount piles. The big radio station of the day, KDWB did not play Marvin. I don't think anyone else with a signal beyond a couple blocks played him either.
April 1st 1984 is when Marvin Gaye died. It was a Sunday morning, a day before his 45th birthday, His father shot him at point-blank range after a violent argument. It was headline news, even in the Twin Cities.
This April marks the 25th Anniversary of his death.
Marvin got his start as a drummer and a piano player in studio and on tour for the Miracles.
Marvin styled himself as "The Midnight Lover" and conventional press labeled him the "black Frank Sinatra." And, Motown was a family affair for Marvin, he was married to Berry Gordy's sister, Anna.
Marvin Gaye's legacy lives on. Last year Rolling Stone ranked him No. 6 on a list of the greatest singers of all time. A film on his life starring Jesse L. Martin is in the works. On UTube Gaye's memory has inspired more than 8,000 video postings.
25 years later Gaye's music still matters. Alright!
Jr. Trejo, Band Leader
2010 Mid America Music Hall of Fame Inductee
About Me
- Westside Band
- Minnesota, United States
- My music career began in my moms kitchen, at the age of 2. I was drumming on her pots and pans. By 3, was performing in my parents restaurant in West St. Paul. I went on to perform in Saxon Soul, Dannys Reasons, The Mystics, Free and Easy, and Gypsy before forming Westside Band in 1981. A 5 time inductee to the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame, and along with Westside Band, we were 2010 inductees to the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame. Most of all I am thankful for my health and the loving support of my mother and father.
Come 2 our Gigs
Play my music
Westside Band - 2010
Photo by Diane Rea
Tony Green and Greg Cauthen
Here are two of my band mates, Tony & Greg. I call them the FUN KINGS. @ Dukes. Photo by JeaneBiz
Jr. Trejo, me,
@ Treasure Island's Parlay Lounge. Photo by Lady Jayne
Junior Trejo, me again.
@ Robert's Off 10 in Mounds View. Photo by Lady Jayne
03/25/09
ReplyDeleteSad Note* Uriel Jones, the drummer for Marvin Gaye and other Motown artists, died yesterday from complications of a February heart attack.
We'll be remembering Marvin Gaye on Friday, 3/27 at our Robert's Concert. We have two Marvin Gaye songs on our play list that we haven't done for a while. We hope to dust them off for the fans as we remember all that talent. (No promises on peforming any of Gaye's material) :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jr. Love the new blog. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteHey all - Westside Band will NOT be performing at Mystic Lake Casino Friday 4/3. Sorry for any inconvenience.--Westside
ReplyDeleteC'mon Jr., you know "Let's get it on" is the dancin'est MG song!!!!!!
ReplyDelete