
El DeBarge's classic hit "All This Love" holds a fascinating backstory that connects two legends of R&B. Originally, DeBarge wrote the song with Marvin Gaye in mind, hoping that the soulful icon would bring it to life. However, Motown Records refused to let Marvin Gaye record the track. To make matters worse, El DeBarge was falsely informed that Gaye didn’t like the song.
Years later, the truth came out when Marvin Gaye’s wife, Jan, revealed to El that Marvin actually loved the song. In fact, Gaye had played it constantly and even enjoyed DeBarge’s vocal imitation of him on the record. It turns out, Motown never told Marvin about the offer, robbing fans of what could have been a powerful collaboration between two of the greatest voices in soul music.
Though "All This Love" became a signature hit for El DeBarge and his group, the knowledge that it could have been sung by Marvin Gaye adds a bittersweet layer to its history.
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