Final answer:
Marvin Gaye fled to Belgium, where he recorded his album ‘Midnight Love’ featuring the hit ‘Sexual Healing’, which was one of the early songs to use the TR-808 drum machine, contributing significantly to the sound of pop music in the 1980s.
Step-by-step explanation:
The artist who fled to Belgium to record one of his biggest hits ever, utilizing the TR-808 drum machine, is Marvin Gaye. Gaye, an American soul singer, went through personal and professional turmoil in the early 1980s, including issues with the IRS and a struggle with drug addiction. During this period, he relocated to Belgium for a fresh start and there he recorded the album ‘Midnight Love’.
The lead single from this album, ‘Sexual Healing’, which is one of Gaye's most famous songs, prominently features the rhythmic patterns of the Roland TR-808, a drum machine that has become synonymous with the sound of the 1980s. The TR-808 was particularly known for its deep bass drum sound and artificial handclap, a contrast from the natural drum sounds more common in earlier recordings.
Marvin Gaye's stint in Belgium and his use of the TR-808 on the recording of ‘Sexual Healing’ marked a significant turning point in his career and the song itself won two Grammy Awards. It remains a classic in the history of R&B music.