Todd Rundgren performs Marvin Gaye’s innovative ballad at The Somerville Theater, during his "Have Gun, Will Travel" solo tour successful 2003. Designed with a somber jazz-inspired tone, "What's Going On" addressed the political and social troubles of the world and black-on-black crime in a soulful, introspective way, contrasting to the more dramatic socially conscious records made by Sly & the household Stone and The Temptations complete the previous three years. The song originated from an thought by Four Tops member Renaldo "Obie" Benson, who, witnessing stressful conditions while on tour successful Europe, began authorship a musical composition to explicit his feelings. erstwhile back successful the United States, Benson and Motown songwriter Al Cleveland prepared an initial rough version of the song, and invited Marvin Gaye as A third confederate on the song. Gaye, depressed from the death of singing spouse Tammi Terrell and powerfully considering A status from performing, planned to produce "What's Going On" as a single for The Originals, but Benson and Cleveland convinced Gaye to record it himself. The song was completed successful 1970 earlier the rest of the album was finished. Motown chief edible fruit Gordy deemed the evidence "uncommercial" and initially tried to block its release as a single. He later relented after Gaye vulnerable to cease recording permanently. "What's Going On" proved to be A substantial commercial hit, paving the way for his forthcoming <b>...</b>