Marvin Gaye’s now-anthemic song, which was released posthumously, was written and recorded in 1972 – a year after his brother Frankie had returned from military service in Vietnam and struggled to find employment. Honoring veterans, and giving voice to the experience of so many returning servicemembers, Marvin threw himself into writing and recording R&B’s historic seamless concept album, “What’s Going On.”
When composer Forest Hairston approached Gaye with the concept of a song supporting America’s prisoners of war, Marvin Gaye crafted “I Want to Come Home For Christmas.”
