Legendary singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye and tap dancer and actor Gregory Hine will be honored by the United States Postal Service (USPS) in 2019.
The USPS will be making commemorative stamps honoring the two legends. They will be joining the other famous icons that have been honored such as Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, and Lena Horne. Gaye’s stamp will be part of the Music Icon series. Hines’ stamp will be the 42nd stamp in the Black Heritage series. The late Gaye’s stamp design will feature a portrait of the artist inspired by historic photographs. It will look like a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve. The stamps will be included on one of the side panes, along with information about his legacy. Hines’ stamp will include a full body image of the late dancer which was taken by Jack Mitchell. The image was taken in 1988. In the image, we see the actor and dancer presenting a pair of tap dancing shoes. Marvin Gaye is well known for his hit songs like “What’s Going on,” “Let’s Get It On,” and “Sexual Healing.” Hines was a famous actor known for movies such as Running Scared and Waiting for Exhale. The two new stamps will continue the tradition of honoring those who have shaped the United States’ history since 1847. Educator and author Booker T. Washington was the first African American to be featured on a stamp on April 7, 1940. The stamps will be coming to postal offices in 2019, but no official date has been released.