Marvin Gaye returned to the top of the music charts in 1971 with “What’s Going On.” The song was written by Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Al Cleveland. Benson had witnessed an act of police brutality at an anti-war rally in Berkeley, CA. Benson was a member of the Four Tops and offered the song to the rest of the group but they refused to record it. They thought it was too much of a protest song. Then the song was offered to Gaye. He loved the song but changed some of the words and the melody slightly. That ended up with Gaye sharing writing credit on the song.

“What’s Going On” got up to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks (April 4 – 24). On the Cash Box Top 100 chart it managed to hit the top of the chart but just for the week of April 4 – 10.

Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father on April 1, 1984. He was just one day short of his 45th birthday.