Similarities: Both can create very emotional music. Their voices can convey a lot of feeling. Differences: Marvin Gaye was more into R&B and soul, with a classic sound. Charlie Puth is more of a pop artist with a modern production style.
Similarities exist in their focus on melody. Both Marvin Gaye and Charlie Puth create melodies that are easy to remember and often get stuck in your head. However, the musical landscapes they operate in are quite different. Marvin Gaye was part of a time when R&B was evolving and his music was a big part of that evolution. His music was often accompanied by live instruments like saxophones and pianos. Charlie Puth, in contrast, is in the age of digital music production. His music is filled with programmed beats and digital effects. Also, Marvin Gaye's lyrics were sometimes more complex and had deeper social undertones, while Charlie Puth's lyrics are more straightforward and aimed at a broad pop audience.