RE-AIR: How Two Detroit Lions Inspired Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”

ESPN Daily

ESPN

Sports

4.6 • 3.9K Ratings

🗓️ 6 July 2021

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

You know and love the Marvin Gaye song “What’s Going On,” which turned 50 this year. But do you know the background voices on the hit song belong to two Detroit Lions? The Motown superstar developed a deep friendship with NFL players Mel Farr and Lem Barney, and it led to music history. Plus the story gets even better, as Farr and Barney helped Marvin Gaye take his dream of playing pro football to the next level. Justin Tinsley joins the show to tell the amazing story of football’s role in Marvin Gaye’s turbulent life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, it's Sarah Spain here. Today, ESPN Daily is running a staff favorite. It's a story about
0:05.4	music legend Marvin Gay, the Detroit Lions, and the all-time hit song, What's Going On? Enjoy Pablo and
0:13.0	Justin Tinsley on this one. Oh, and it's Tuesday, July 6th. This is ESPN Daily.
0:21.0	ESPN and 30 for 30 podcasts present Girl V. Horse.
0:24.7	I've been a runner my whole life.
0:25.8	I've survived the New York City Marathon.
0:28.2	But a few years ago, my life went off script in a way that I didn't see coming.
0:32.3	I was diagnosed with epilepsy.
0:34.6	You just toppled over head first.
0:37.0	Because of that, I decided to do something
0:39.0	possibly absurd, try and outrun a horse. 50 miles against a horse. I got this. I'm Nicole Tini,
0:46.1	and from ESPN and 30 for 30 podcast. This is Girl v. Horse. Listen to Girl v. Horse from ESPN and
0:53.5	30 for 30 podcasts, wherever you're listening now. So, Justin,. Horse. Listen to Girl v. Horse from ESPN and 30 for 30 podcasts, wherever you're listening now.
0:57.1	So, Justin, how did you come to write a sports story about Marvin Gay?
1:02.2	You know, that's a really good question, man.
1:08.0	I was reading Divided Soul, which is a biography on Marvin Gay.
1:13.9	One of the biggest artists to ever come through Motown Records, which is one of the biggest record labels to ever happen in music.
1:21.9	Justin Tinsley writes about sports and culture for the undefeated.
1:26.7	And within that book, there's a quick passage about how he tried out for the Detroit Lions.
1:34.5	It just piqued my interest.
1:36.1	I'm like, well, okay, I know about Marvin Gay.
1:38.1	I thought I knew a lot about Marvin Gaye.
	...

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