Marvin Gaye – $5 million
Greatest Hits: How Sweet It Is, Ain’t That Peculiar, I Heard it Through the Grapevine
Nicknamed “Prince of Soul” and “Prince of Motown,” Marvin Gaye helped form the 1960s Motown sound. He was the first in-house session player before becoming a solo artist. Besides Stevie Wonder, he was one of the first Motown musicians to break away from the record industry and make his own music independently. He was a major influence on quiet storm music and the neo-soul genre. He won a Grammy for Midnight Love. His last TV appearance at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game sang the anthem. He was on Soul Train, too.
Marvin Gaye
Chrissie Hynde – $12 million
Greatest Hits: Talk of the Town, Back on the Chain Gang
Chrissie Hynde created The Pretenders, her frontwoman since 1978. The hippie counterculture movement influenced her, working in London with designer Vivienne Westwood at a jointly owned clothing shop. She left fashion for music. She released songs with musicians including UB40, Cher and Frank Sinatra. After making a demo tape in 1978, she gave it to Real Records owner Dave Hill. She began to pay the back rent she owed in her London practice room, making it all back and more.
Chrissie Hynde