Janis Hunter Gaye, Second Wife of Marvin Gaye Passes Away At 66
Janis Hunter Gaye, Second Wife of Marvin Gaye Passes Away At 66
The second wife of legendary singer Marvin Gaye has recently passed away at the age of 66.
According to uDiscoverMusic, Janis Hunter Gaye died this past weekend on Saturday of an undisclosed cause at her residence in Rhode Island.
Gaye was a stylist, manager, and author who was the inspiration and object of affection for several of Marvin Gaye’s songs. She passed away on Saturday, December 3. She left behind several family members including her siblings, Shawnn Monteiro and Mark Gaillard, her two children, Nona and Frankie, as well as her grandson Nolan Pentz.
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of my mother, Janis Gaye. She was the most influential woman in my life and many others. I believe once you met my mother Jan, she wasn’t a woman you could ever forget. Every word from her mouth was from her soul. She never said anything she didn’t mean. I know her drive and influence from the time she was 17 until the day she died was all about her family and family that extended beyond blood – brothers, sisters in every part of this beautiful and painful planet. Every day she was here it was about the love she felt for her husband, children, grandson, and the friends she met all over the world.
Gaye, who was just a month short of reaching her 67th birthday, was born on January 6, 1956, to Barbara Hunter and Slim Gaillard. She met Marvin Gaye during a recording session of one of his most memorable songs, Let’s Get It On.
Marvin penned the song Jan for Janis that was included on his 1974 album Live! album recorded for Motown Records. She was also the focal point of his hit album, which peaked at number one, I Want You, which came out in 1976. She also sang on the 1977 hit single, Got To Give It Up.
Pentz, Gaye’s grandson said, “From the first memory of my grandmother, I knew then and now, how much she cared about her family and the warmth she gave to all of us. I will always be grateful for all the memories. She also cared about so many people in the world, and I will do everything I can to put into action the things she wanted and help continue the Gaye legacy.”
Janis Hunter Gaye, Second Wife of Marvin Gaye Passes Away At 66
