So, Justin, how did you come to write a sports story about Marvin Gay?

You know, that's a really good question, man.

I was reading Divided Soul, which is a biography on Marvin Gay.

One of the biggest artists to ever come through Motown Records,

which is one of the biggest record labels to ever happen in music.

Justin Tinsley writes about sports and culture for the undefeated.

And within that book, there's a quick passage about how he tried out for the Detroit Lions.

It just piqued my interest.

I'm like, well, okay, I know about Marvin Gay.

I thought I knew a lot about Marvin Gaye, but what do you mean?

Marvin Gay's history is tied with the NFL's history.

I knew it would be interesting because you got this iconic artist playing this iconic American sport.

It took me on a rabbit hole I never saw coming. playing this iconic American sport.

It took me on a rabbit hole I never saw coming.

I discovered there's a very real and legitimate statement to be said that the Detroit Lions,

in particular two players played a crucial role in not just Marvin Gay's career, but the sound of music as a whole.

And there's also a way that you could say that these two Detroit Lions save Marvin from one of the darkest periods of his life.

Marvin Gay's rendition of the National Anthem at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game

is easily his most famous sports contribution, and it is worthy of that acclaim.

But the difference that sports made in Marvin Gay's life, that's much less known.

Today, how a friendship between two Detroit Lions and the Motown icon led directly to a song you know,

a song that still makes waves 50 years later.

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