Marvin Gaye gets commemorative stamp on what would have been his 80th birthday

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11) - Maybe you heard it through the grapevine.

Legendary singer Marvin Gaye was honored Tuesday with a commemorative stamp on what would have been his 80th birthday.

The U.S. Postal Service unveiled the stamp at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, which features the “Prince of Soul” inspired by historic photographs.

Gaye was one of the most influential music performers of his generation, helping to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s and broaden the scope of R&B music in the 1970s. 

The stamp pane is designed to resemble a vintage 45 RPM record sleeve. One side of the pane includes a brief biography about Gaye’s legacy and an image of a record peeking out of the sleeve. 

“The Postal Service is honored to recognize Marvin Gaye, the Motown legend, with a stamp on his birthday in this venue that held a special place in his heart,'' said Gary R. Barksdale, USPS chief postal inspector. “Known as the 'Prince of Soul,' Gaye was a man whose timeless music was a true catalogue of human emotions that inspired, informed and entertained the world.''

His 1971 album “What’s Going On” was the first openly political album released by Motown and is widely considered one of the greatest recordings in the history of American popular music.

Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, singer Mary Wilson of The Supremes and singer Smokey Robinson, along with members of Gaye's family, were all in attendance at Tuesday's unveiling. 

 Elvis Presley and John Lennon have also been celebrated in the USPS' Music Icon series.

Last year, a bill naming the post office at 3585 South Vermont Avenue in South Los Angeles as the "Marvin Gaye Post Office" was signed into law by President Donald Trump.

Gaye was shot and killed by his father in 1984 following an altercation with his father after he intervened in an argument between his parents at their house in the West Adams district of Los Angeles.

 He was 44.