Marvin Gaye is an American Prince of Soul who created the conceptual album Whats Going On (1971). The album was written during the Vietnam War and included hits Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) and Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler). Gaye used multi-track recording technique, singing all vocal parts himself. The album reached #6 on Billboard 200 and went platinum, selling over 1 million copies. Gaye had 41 Top 40 hits between 1963-1983, including I Heard It Through the Grapevine and Sexual Healing. He was shot by his father in 1984, a day before his 45th birthday. His influence is felt in the work of Prince, DAngelo and Frank Ocean.