Ed Sheeran Sings to Jury to Rebut Claim He Copied Marvin Gaye

British musician Ed Sheeran took the witness stand in New York to defend himself from claims he stole from a classic Marvin Gaye song when he wrote his Grammy-winning hit “Thinking Out Loud,” ending the day by picking up a guitar and singing to the jury.

Heirs of Ed Townsend, who cowrote Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On,” claim Sheeran lifted elements from the 1973 hit for “Thinking Out Loud” in 2014. They’re seeking damages for copyright infringement.

Under questioning from one of his lawyers Thursday, Sheeran, 32, told jurors about his career and his songwriting process, from composing his first ...