I dedicated today’s show to the memory and the music of Rod Temperton who died aged 66 last week after a short battle with cancer.
Rod Temperton
Rod was the keyboardist and main songwriter for the R&B funk/disco band Heatwave.
He went on to become one of the greatest songwriters in R&B history, a songwriter best known for Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Rock With You,
Temperton’s other hits included Off The Wall and Baby Be Mine for Jackson and Boogie Nights for his band Heatwave.
Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers was among those paying tribute, tweeting: “Your genius gave us a funkier world!”
Producer and DJ Mark Ronson wrote: “So devastated to hear that Rod Temperton has passed away. a wonderful man & one of my favourite songwriters ever. thank you for the magic x”
Rod Temperton’s greatest hits
- Thriller – Michael Jackson
- Rock With You – Michael Jackson
- Boogie Nights – Heatwave
- Give Me The Night – George Benson
- Baby, Come to Me – Patti Austin and James Ingram
- Sweet Freedom – Michael McDonald
- Always and Forever – Heatwave
- Yah Mo B There – James Ingram and Michael McDonald
- Brothers Johnson – Stomp
And many more…
Rod with Heatwave in 1978
