Editing Marvin Gaye (section)

===Influences===
As a child, Gaye's main influence was his minister father, something he later acknowledged to biographer [[David Ritz]], and also in interviews, often mentioning that his father's sermons greatly impressed him. His first major musical influences were [[doo-wop]] groups such as [[The Moonglows]] and [[The Capris (Philadelphia group)|The Capris]]. Gaye's [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]] page lists the Capris' song, "[[God Only Knows (1954 song)|God Only Knows]]" as "critical to his musical awakening".<ref name="Marvin Gaye Biography">{{cite web |url=http://rockhall.com/inductees/marvin-gaye/bio/ |title=Marvin Gaye Biography |work=The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum |access-date=July 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713180002/http://rockhall.com/inductees/marvin-gaye/bio/ |archive-date=July 13, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Of the Capris' song, Gaye said, "It fell from the heavens and hit me between the eyes. So much soul, so much hurt. I related to the story, to the way that no one except the Lord really can read the heart of lonely kids in love."{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=27}} Gaye's main musical influences were Rudy West of [[The Five Keys]], [[Clyde McPhatter]], [[Ray Charles]] and [[Little Willie John]].{{sfnm|Bowman|2006|1p=5|Ritz|1991|2p=29}} Gaye considered [[Frank Sinatra]] a major influence in what he wanted to be.{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=29}} He also was influenced by the vocal styles of [[Billy Eckstine]] and [[Nat King Cole]].{{sfn|Ritz|1991|p=30}}

As his Motown career developed, Gaye took inspiration from fellow label mates such as [[David Ruffin]] of [[The Temptations]] and [[Levi Stubbs]] of the [[Four Tops]], whose grittier voices led to Gaye and his producer seeking a similar sound in recordings such as "[[I Heard It Through the Grapevine]]" and "[[That's the Way Love Is (The Isley Brothers song)|That's the Way Love Is]]". Later in his life, Gaye reflected on the influence of Ruffin and Stubbs, stating: "I had heard something in their voices something my own voice lacked."{{sfnm|Bowman|2006|1p=14|Ritz|1991|2p=100}} He further explained, "the [[The Temptations|Tempts]] and [[Four Tops|Tops]]' music made me remember that when a lot of women listen to music, they want to feel the power of a real man."{{sfnm|Bowman|2006|1p=14|Ritz|1991|2p=100}}