If I told you that there is one man that almost single-handedly raised R & B and Pop music to the status that we know it, your answer would probably be Michael Jackson. If I told you that this same man has worked with just about every famous singer in the business, your answer might be Quincy Jones. But if I told that this man was once in a band and had decided to leave this band to go write music for artists, your answer might be Jimmy Jam James & Terry Lewis. But I'm only talking about one man.
For years, Heatwave had this quiet gentleman, whom at first glance would not conjure up any threat to others music composers and writers of becoming the top sort-after songwriter of all time. This songwriter even gave the group Heatwave first dibs on a song that made Michael Jackson famous down to this day, "Rock Wit You".
Rod Temperton was a member of the group Heatwave and is this man that still to this day is favored to write music by artists. It's interesting how looks can be deceiving but how hard work is the key to being an invisible king. I look forward to hearing more songs by this master of music.
Below are just a partial list of his myriad of accomplishments.
Michael Jackson: "Rock with You", "Off the Wall", "Burn This Disco Out", "Baby Be Mine", "The Lady in My Life", "Thriller", "Someone in the Dark", "Hot Street".
Heatwave: "Boogie Nights", "Always and Forever", "The Groove Line", "Gangsters of the Groove", "Lettin' It Loose", "Keep Tomorrow for Me", "Party Suite"
James Ingram & Michael McDonald: "Yah Mo B There".
Tamia: "You Put a Move on My Heart".
Rufus: "Masterjam", "Live In Me".
The Brothers Johnson: "Stomp!" and "Treasure" "Light up the Night", "All About The Heaven".
Donna Summer: "Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)", "Livin' In America" and "Love Is Just A Breath Away".
Quincy Jones: "The Dude", "Razzamatazz", "Somethin' Special", "Turn On The Action", "The Secret Garden" and "Back On The Block", "You Put a Move on My Heart" and "Q's Jook Joint".
Herbie Hancock: "Lite Me Up", "Getting To The Good Part", "Motor Mouth".
Aretha Franklin: "Livin' In The Streets".
Jeffrey Osborne: "We Belong To Love" (which Temperton also produced).
Bob James: "Sign Of The Times" and "The Steamin' Feelin'".
The Manhattan Transfer: "Mystery", "The Spice Of Life", from their Bodies and Souls album.
George Benson: Give Me the Night LP, including "Love x Love", "Turn Out the Lamplight" and the title track.
James Ingram: "One More Rhythm" from his It's Your Night LP (also includes "Yah Mo B There").
Anita Baker: "Mystery" from her Rapture album.
Patti Austin: Every Home Should Have One LP; "Do You Love Me?", "The Genie", "Baby, Come To Me" (with James Ingram).
Second Image: "Lights Out" on Strange Reflections
Michael McDonald: "Sweet Freedom".
Stephanie Mills: "Time of Your Life" and "Hold On to Midnight".
Karen Carpenter: "Lovelines" and "If We Try".
LL Cool J featuring Boyz II Men: "Hey Lover" (Temperton listed as co-writer for sampled section from Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life").
Mica Paris: "Love Keeps Coming Back", "Two in a Million", & "You Put A Move On My Heart".
Mýa: "Man in my Life".
Klymaxx: "Man-Size Love".
C+C Music Factory: "Share That Beat of Love".
Angie Stone: "Lovers' Ghetto" from her Stone Love album.
Mariah Carey: "I'm That Chick" (Temperton listed as co-writer for sampled section from Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall") from her E=MC² album.
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