Hello magazine – October 1994

Interview by Barbara Pepe; photography by Brian McKellan

Photography can be seen in the NonaNet family gallery



At home with her mother, Jan, the young singer shares memories of her father and speaks of her work with Prince


Nona Gaye has seen far more of life than most 20-year-olds. As children, she and her younger brother, Frank, traveled the world with their father, Marvin, viewing first-hand the ups and downs of his latter recording career. At Nona, Nona had to cope with not only the loss of her father, but also the violent nature of his death – killed by a handgun held by his own father, Marvin Gay Sr. Still, such childhood experiences did not deter Nona from pursuing a life in the public eye – first, as a recording artist and, most recently, as a Ford model.


Her first album, Love for the Future, chronicled the angst of a teenage love affair. Her current effort, she says, will exhibit a new maturity – not to mention a new sound, since it’s being produced by the artist formerly known as Prince. Love Sign – their duet on the 1-800-NEW FUNK album, has earned much attention for its hard-hitting anti-gun message in its accompanying video as it has for its groove.


Prince is also supportive of Nona’s fledgling modeling career, traveling to Paris to attend her catwalk debut at the Versace show this summer. Questions about their relationship, her current boyfriend – who’s also an artist and record producer – and life with Marvin were answered by Nona and her mother, Jan Gaye, as they wound down from a day of media interviews and shopping.


Tell us what life was like in the Gaye household.


Jan: We were pretty much gypsies! It wasn’t what the average person would perceive to be the lives of a celebrity, his wife and children. Marvin loved to cook. He would lay around in bed all day with the kids hanging all over him. He taught them to swim. A lot of celebrities thrive on the limelight and attention but he spent most of his time either with the children and myself, in the studio or at the piano, working.


Nona, did you see him as Dad or as a celebrity?


Nona: When I was a child and when he was still here, I basically perceived him as my father and that’s all. I didn’t really recognize him as a legend or a superstar until after he was gone, and I saw the way that people reacted to his death.


Did you feel you wanted to continue his musical legacy?


Nona: Not at nine. But at 14 or 15 I started to realize that’s what was in my heart. The only thing I can see myself doing really is singing. It’s in my blood.


Jan, how did you feel when Nona said that’s what she wanted to do?


Jan: I always knew she was going to be a singer, because she sang from the time she was able to talk. Even before that. She’s always been an entertainer.


Did you encourage her to do anything else?


Jan: I took her for ice-skating lessons, I took her for ballet lessons, but it’s always been music that’s been number one for her.


Nona, you’ve mentioned you were choosy about the songs you put on your first album. How did you pick them?


Nona: I was going through a break-up with my boyfriend. I liked this guy a lot, and I based my whole album on the way he broke my heart. I was only 16 or 17. On this new album, there are also some songs about love – because I’m in love again, although I’m happy this time…sometimes! But this album is more socially aware.


You’ve been doing a lot of work – including the new album – with Prince. How did this association begin?


Nona: We got to be friends over the telephone maybe two years ago. Then we met and became better friends and decided we wanted to work together. It just escalated from there.


How did the duet on Love Sign come about?


Nona: It was a surprise. He brought me over to the studio and said, ‘Listen to this.’ I was like, ‘That’s amazing, I love it.’ And he said, ‘Well, go sing on it.’ So we did a duet.


Ice Cube – an ex-gang member and author of songs that advocate killing police – directed the video. Did you find that ironic?


Nona: In a way, but he is now in favor of gun control. I don’t think he would have don’t the video if he felt differently. And I thanked him, because I thought he did a beautiful job. And to get me to hold a .357 in my hand…I fought with him over it. I was like, ‘I can’t do it, I can’t hold a gun in my hand.’ And he said, ‘You gotta handle it, you gotta make people understand.’ It was very difficult – but the end result I think made people understand why I had a .357 in my hand. To show people that guns aren’t a symbol of power, a symbol of being cool. They just destroy lives and…kill. And that’s all they’re good for.


Jan: And they destroy the people’s lives that they left behind.


Nona: I always say that when you shoot somebody, that’s not the only person that you’re killing. And I can speak from personal experience. I’m not dead inside, but a big part of me is gone because my father is dead – and not just because he’s dead, but because he was murdered. So I thought it was important for me to do that video.


Jan, how did it affect you?


Jan: I felt a little strange about it in the beginning. But I think the fact that Ice Cube did it made the message even stronger. I was really proud of the fact that Nona was able to get through the video. And the message gets across to one person, then that may be one less life taken away. That made me happy. And I was proud of all three of them – Nona, Ice Cube and –


Nona: The artist formerly known as Prince.


Nona, how closely are you working with him now?


Nona: He’s doing my album, so we see each other quite often. I go to Minneapolis to work on the stuff. So we work closely together.


How would you describe your relationship with Prince?


Nona: He’s my best friend, that’s the truth. And that’s all I’m going to say.


How do you feel about the rumors that you two are much closer than that?


Nona: People can say whatever they want to say. That happens all the time. When you see two people hang out together you just assume. And people can assume as much as they like but, my business is my own business. He’s my best friend.


- BARBARA PEPE

P.S Sorry If It's Been Posted Before, Just Thought Some People Would Like To Read It
[Edited 12/3/08 15:41pm]

i did not know that.

XxAxX said:

U didnt know what my friend?
[Edited 12/3/08 16:57pm]

optimus said:

nona and prince. that's nice. wonder what songs they did?

XxAxX said:

Yeah me 2, I think its a lovley little article actually...however im sure the "all-knowing" older and wiser Purple Hippies will soon answer are question

XxAxX said:

I tried looking on the net 2 see what they worked on but couldnt find anything

optimus said:

The only one I know of for sure, outside of "Lovesign", was a song called "Snowman".

JediMaster said:

cool was it ever released? cuz I adore Lovesign its such a great little track

...i liked nona in the vh1 love for one another special....she was great....enjoy!!!....mzsexybaby

JediMaster said:

She also did 1,000 Hugs and Kisses

Nona's hot. Big but hot.

XxAxX said:

Shh ..

NONA GAYE BIOGRAPHY TIDBIT..... http://biography.jrank.or...-Nona.html

Gaye's life would forever be divided into before and after slots because of the events of April 1, 1984, the day her minister-grandfather, Marvin Sr., fired two shots at her father at the home they were sharing in Los Angeles, during an argument. Gaye was nine years old at the time, and first heard the news along with the rest of the world. "We turned on the TV, and there was my father being rolled out in a body bag," she said in an interview with Michelle Tauber for People. "That never goes away." Despite the recent success her father had achieved, little of that money went to Gaye, her brother, or her mother after outstanding tax claims were settled. Kids at school knew she was Marvin Gaye's daughter, but she grew up in a household that was struggling financially. Her mother's addictions worsened, and Gaye began using drugs herself at the age of 14.

Gaye eventually dropped out of high school around the time she made her film debut with a bit part in the 1989 Eddie Murphy film Harlem Nights. She landed a record deal and put out a 1992 album, Love for the Future, whose top single, "I'm Overjoyed," reached No. 17 on R&B singles charts. Gaye was unhappy with the final product, however, and not surprised that it failed to sell. "I didn't have any creative control," she told Esquire writer Carter Harris some years later, and noted that the label "wanted to go with crossover pop. I wanted to come with the funk. I knew people wouldn't accept bubblegum from Marvin's daughter, and they didn't."

Not long after that debacle, Gaye became involved with R&B superstar Prince. They recorded a few songs together and had a long-term relationship that ended when Gaye learned he was engaged to his backup singer and dancer, Mayte. Gaye later noted that there was a gulf between them that was explained by her substance abuse more than the 16-year age difference between them. "Three years I dated him and didn't know him and really never let him know me, either," she later told Harris in Esquire. "But that was a long time ago, and I wish him well."

http://www.contactmusic.c...20betrayal

Actress NONA GAYE will never forgive PRINCE for the way he broke her heart when she was a smitten teenager.

The pop superstar was 16 years older than MARVIN GAYE's daughter when he told mutual friends the two were to wed, but he then proposed to his future wife MAYTE - and added to Gaye's pain with a diamond display at a New York concert.

The actress recalls, "I never really knew him, and I never let him really know me. I tried to be this woman I thought he wanted - very passive, letting him lead.

"He told a friend of mine he was going to marry me and take care of me. I knew I wouldn't get anything better than that from him, so I believed it.

"After that we were in New York, and he asked me to come see his show. Mayte, one of his dancers, flashed the engagement ring he'd given her from the stage.

"When I asked him about it afterwards, he was very evasive and defensive. I haven't spoken to him since. It upsets me that we ended things that way, because at one point he was really, really important to me."




JUST ADDING TO THE NONA INTERVIEW POSTS - ENJOY

DesireeNevermind said:

awwwww uve ruined this happy good feel thread SHAME ON U!

DesireeNevermind said:

doesn't seem like a great guy to have a relationship with.

NEVER SLEEP WITh PRINCE CAUSE once you do you are just ANOTHER GIRL. Don't give him what he wants. He is SPOILED and USED to GETTING What he WANTS. Tell him what you want if he wants YOU! Seems like he only dug MANUELA because he didn't want her to divorce him, yet Mayte he Divorced . And Manuela was NOBODY in the BUSINESS. He don't want any COMPETITION. Very JEALOUS wants all the WOMEN/Men to LOVE HIM. Doesn't want ANOTHER CELEBRITY. Plus, he didn't dig her DRUG USE PROBABLY. He digs Hispanic/Italian girls but sleeps with Black women. Look at his skin tone. He looks like an Italian guy. He's a Playboy/Player/Control Freak. This Jehovah Witness thing is to keep any SHOWGIRL /HOMOSEXUAL away from him. I think he needs to leave them because they have a doctrine of Hate against SEX and Homosexuals. Just read what they say about PHONE SEX which is NOT a CRIME...
[Edited 12/8/08 17:12pm]

^

Every time I read your posts, I swear I am reading Zelaria. It is you, isn't it Zel... 'fess up.

I have missed you.

MRGee said:

BUT HOW DO YOU REALLY FEEL?

wunderlandmine said:

Huh?

I think I KNOW his WAY being a FAN for so long.. But, I Love him Dearly and all stars are SPOILED and use to getting what they want. If you are Too Easy they get BORED. Nona should have been SMARTER and she was TOO TALL for Prince and it wasn't a COOL LOOK. Mayte was and is MORE his TYPE. Now think on this. Manuela was just a Young Girl and meanwhile he didn't want to DIVORCE her and she walked away with 5 million dollars when Mayte had his baby through C-Section and he ANNULLED the UNION. What was and is So SPECIAL about MANUELA and just one look at her cause SHE is GORGEOUS you'll KNOW. This Bria woman isn't as PRETTY as MANUELA. But Manuela looked OLDER around PRINCE and MUCH BETTER,YOUNGER, SEXIER NOW.

MRGee said:

MRGee said:

the hell...

My Opinions of course. Freedom of Speech..

MRGee said:

Yes...yes it is!
[Edited 12/9/08 13:02pm]

MRGee said:

Your posts actually made sense to me. but Nona was young too. prince just takes advantage of the young ones cuz they idolize him so and a woman closer to his own age or rather past the age of 35 aint about to put up with his egotistical bullshit or insecurities or control freak tendencies. Not saying that this is the sum of Prince I don't see him being able to handle a woman whose got her own mind and a life before and after him. yes he gets bored with what comes to easy but at the same time he seems too be intimidated by what has to be earned.

prodigalfan said:

ZELAIRA!

Stuff Of Org Myth.

HamsterHuey said:

She's an Org legend in her own right

Oh BOY.....That Tee-shirt is HILARIOUS. I wish you would sell them I Need that one. Sometimes, Life is Crazy isn't it? Maybe I should INTERVIEW PRINCE since I would ACTUALLY PRINT the TRUTH and well, if he told me something off the RECORD I WOULDN'T. But, I'm sure he has some CHOICE words for my OPINIONS . Hopefully and this I do KNOW he knows I think on him FONDLY and KINDLY.

the other song that nona had was the remake of the bobby womack cover on 1-800-NEW-FUNK "a woman's got 2 have it"

optimus said:

Snowman was not released, but was leaked on several boots.

KidaDynamite said:

Women Pipe down it aint that serious ya'll.