Marvin's Man

Marvin Gaye's songwriter dies

Marvin Gaye famously sang Townsend's Let's Get It On
Songwriter Ed Townsend, the man behind Marvin Gaye's suggestive hit Let's Get It On, has died aged 74.
Townsend, who wrote more than 200 songs for artists including Gaye, Nat King Cole and Etta James, died of heart failure in hospital in San Bernardino, California, on Wednesday.

His best-known track was criticised for its overt sexual theme when it was released in 1973.

But the songwriter insisted Let's Get It On was simply about getting on with life.

One of his first hits was For Your Love, which Townsend recorded himself, while he also wrote and produced the Impressions' 1974 song Finally Got Myself Together (I'm A Changed Man).

Townsend was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee and grew up singing in the choir at the church where his father, a minister, preached.

His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday.