Discover the story of the song > Abraham, Martin & John – Marvin Gaye

"Abraham, Martin and John" is a poignant song written by Dick Holler in 1968. The first recording of the song was performed by Dion and quickly became a hit in North America in 1968-1969. The song also received near-simultaneous covers by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and Moms Mabley, both of which hit the charts in the United States in 1969. In the UK, it was Marvin Gaye's version that became the hit. The song later became part of a medley for Tom Clay in 1971 and has been recorded by many other artists since then. "Abraham, Martin and John" pays tribute to four great men, President Abraham Lincoln, President John F. Kennedy, Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, who believed in and fought for freedom and equality, but lost their lives while doing so.