Janis Hunter

Short Biography

Janis Gaye (born Janis Elizabeth Hunter on January 5, 1956 in Los Angeles, California) is a singer and actress. She is best known for being the romantic partner and later ex-wife of legendary soul singer Marvin Gaye and the mother of singer and actress Nona Gaye. She is also the daughter of jazz great Slim Gaillard.Janis is also notable for being the muse behind Gaye`s 1973 romantic classic, "Let`s Get It On". After recording the song, Marvin and Janis began dating despite their 17-year age difference (Marvin was thirty-four and Janis was seventeen). Their romance consummated with the births of their two children, daughter Nona Marvisa Gaye, in 1974, and Frankie Christian Gaye in 1975.After Gaye finally had his divorce from his first wife, Anna Gordy Gaye, in the summer of 1977, he and Janis married in October of that year but by the beginning of 1979 had separated. After one tragic try at reconciliation between the two, Janis divorced from the singer in February of 1981. Janis is notable for singing background for some of her ex-husband`s work including being the only other background singer in Gaye`s 1977 #1 pop hit, "Got to Give It Up". Janis stayed in contact with Marvin, though, after the divorce until Marvin`s death on April 1, 1984.Marvin & Janis` daughter Nona is an accomplished singer and actress and was once managed by Janis for a brief time. Janis currently resides in California.