In 2019, the United States postal service will honor the memories of two of the most celebrated men in African-American music and arts with the arrival of forever stamps of Marvin Gaye and Gregory Hines, adding the icons to a growing list of those honored that include Rosa Parks, Mara Angelou, and Lena Horne.
“The miniature works of art illustrated in the 2019 stamp program offer something for everyone’s interest about American history and culture,” said U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Executive Director Mary-Anne Penner tells the Minnesota-Spokesman-Recorder. “From legendary poet Walt Whitman to the entertainment genius of Gregory Hines to the majestic beauty of our Wild and Scenic Rivers, this program is diverse and wide-ranging and tells America’s story on stamps.”
Image via USPS
While Marvin Gaye is most-known for being the artist and musician who brought us ubiquitous tracks such as “What’s Going On,” “Let’s Get It On,” and “Sexual Healing,” Hines was a famed actor, singer and dance most known for his electric style of tap dancing, introducing a new and refreshing method to the art.
Gaye’s own stamp will be featured in the Music Icons series while Gregory Hines will be included in the Black Heritage series. These new additions continue the USPS tradition of honoring the people and events that have shaped US history since 1847.
Image via USPS
