Marvin Gaye Sings the United States National Anthem at the 1983 NBA Allstar Game

In 1983, at the NBA All-Star Game, Marvin Gaye stole the show with his singular rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

At the time, singing the anthem was for the most part a straightforward job — shoulders square, sing it straight like the hymn that it is. But for this game, Gaye took the anthem to a new level.

Lon Rosen remembers it well — he was the director of promotions for the Los Angeles Lakers, the team hosting the All-Star game that year. He says Gaye's one rehearsal was bumpy. By this point in his life, Gaye was battling a serious drug addiction. And on game day, the singer was running perilously late. But then the lights dimmed, and Gaye made history.

One year later, Marvin Gaye was dead, shot by his own father.

• Category

  Music

[paulmatsumoto233]

He just had sex with a country.

[Javier Cortez]

That just gave me a boner for America

[sai12337]

Marvin Gaye! The only one who's singing makes you want to have sex to any song.

[boaz343]

i remember that game,,it was about noon on Saturday. just left the Zanzi bar in newark

[HacksignKT]

Total class.

[brobullhead]

marvin's performance of the song was unheard of at the time. performers have been trying to do the same every since. disrespectful?? NOT!! Roseanne Barr's version was disrespectful not marvins.

[grn100cash]

This is the first time I ever heard this and I was like WTF

The Statue of Liberty has threw her panties at him

[john moncur]

my man,he was great,wish he here,God needed a tenor,but will have his music.john(TEX) Moncur

[kingjaffejoe32]

bone chilling

[Isa Swain]

thanks xavier!

[Xavier Jackson]

Motown 40! from 1998

[Todd Campbell]

The Greatest!