After Gaye left the Air Force, he formed a vocal quartet, The Marquees, with his good friend Reese Palmer. The group performed in the D.C. area and soon began working with Bo Diddley, who tried to persuade his own label, Chess, to sign them to a record deal. Failing that, he sent them to Columbia subsidiary OKeh Records. Diddley co-wrote the group's sole single, "Wyatt Earp"; it failed to chart and the group was soon dropped from the label. Gaye began composing music.
after gaye left the air force he formed a vocal quartet the marquees with his good friend reese palmer the group performed in the dc area and soon began working with bo diddley who tried to persuade his own label chess to sign them to a record deal failing that he sent them to columbia subsidiary okeh records diddley co-wrote the group's sole single "wyatt earp"; it failed to chart and the group was soon dropped from the label gaye began composing music