THIS LP WAS SIGNED FOR ME BY MARVIN AT BINGLEY HALL BIRMINGHAM IN OCTOBER 2nd 1976.
HOW I GOT IT IS RETOLD BELOW.
IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION
In 1976 I heard it through the grapevine that Marvin Gaye was doing a UK Tour and that he was coming to Birmingham and being a big Marvin fan, I booked a ticket for the show at Bingley Hall – at the time a cold, run down market hall on Broad Street, soon to be demolished to make way for the magnificent Symphony Hall.
Saturday 2nd October was the date.
I was a PE teacher at Ladywood School, just a short walk from the venue but had just moved out to live in Bewdley, about 20 miles from Birmingham and the week before the concert had my ankle broken while playing football and had a leg in plaster and was on crutches.
This was not going to stop me seeing Marvin.
On the day, I booked a taxi and got to Bingley Hall, which was sold out, I bought the newly released Best of Marvin Gaye LP and propped myself against a pillar in the bar and when the bell announced the start, waited for the rush to die down and then headed for the seats.
The venue was a flat floor with rows of individual chairs and as I headed to the ticket check, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Richard, a great kid I used to teach at Ladywood who was working there as a steward, he looked at my ticket, shook his head, pointed to the middle of a very long row and looking at my crutches – said “you won't get there – wait here and I'll come back”
With everyone seated and the lights going down, Richard came back and said “Follow me”
He took me straight down the centre aisle to the stage, turned right and took me onto the side of the stage, then propped me up against a pillar, right next to the on stage speakers and said Don't Move !
The band came on, soon followed by Marvin who was surrounded by about 10 electric heaters – it is October in Birmingham, in venue with no heating and he was stripping to the waist to do Let's Get It On.
I was so close that had it not been for the pillar the audience would have thought I was part of the band and when Marvin was in full flow and dancing across the stage, he came within touching distance and laughed when he saw me dancing on crutches !
At the end of an amazing and unforgettable concert, I waited and Richard came back and took me towards the way out through backstage – and there was Marvin who looked at the crutches, laughed and said what happened man ? - Playing football – but I wasn't going to miss you I said – You got the album he said – Will you sign it I said – Sure he said – and signed my album and headed off to the coach back to London.
So 43 years later I sit here playing the album and looking at my signed copy and remembering the night I was on stage with the wonderful Marvin Gaye.