A South Los Angeles post office was renamed in honor of music icon Marvin Gaye.
Gaye’s relatives politicians and local residents gathered in June for a rededication ceremony.
Among those in the crowd were Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, LA City Council President Herb Wesson and City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson.
“I never thought in a million years that my brother would have a post office named after him,” said Marvin’s sister Zeola Gaye. “It warms my heart.”
The two-time Grammy winner was nicknamed “The Prince of Soul” because of mega hits such as “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “Lets Get It On,” and “Sexual Healing.” According to his biography Gaye was inspired by political unrest over the Vietnam War and wrote one of his signature songs “What’s Going On.”
Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) introduced the legislation to name the post office at 3585 S. Vermont Ave near USC.
“Marvin Gaye’s music has transcended generations and gave 70s and 80s a sound,” said Rep. Bass.
In fact, Gaye is the first Motown artist to get a US Post Office and Forever Postal Stamp. The USPS issued a stamp honoring Gaye on April 2, which would have been his 80th birthday. He died in 1984.
The Marvin Gaye postal facility was previously known as the Dockweiler Post Office in honor of Isidore B. Dockweiler, a prominent lawyer.
