Rod Temperton, the British songwriter best known for Michael Jackson's Thriller and Rock With You, has died.


In a statement, Jon Platt, chairman of music publisher Warner/Chappell, said Temperton died in London last week at the age of 66 following "a brief aggressive battle with cancer".


His other songs included Off The Wall, Give Me The Night, Sweet Freedom, Always & Forever and Boogie Nights.


"His family is devastated and request total privacy," Mr Platt said.


Temperton, from Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, whose private funeral has taken place, was nicknamed The Invisible Man because of his low profile.


He first found success as a member of disco band Heatwave, for whom he wrote Always & Forever and Boogie Nights, which were hits in the late 1970s.


He also worked closely with Michael Jackson's producer Quincy Jones, leading him to write songs for Jackson's breakthrough solo album Off The Wall and best-selling follow-up Thriller.


Temperton's compositions were also recorded by artists including Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, The Brothers Johnson, George Benson, Herbie Hancock and Rufus and Chaka Khan.


He won a Grammy Award in 1990 for his work on Birdland from Quincy Jones's album Back on the Block.

http://www.bbc.com/news/e...s-37565125

This Should Be a Sticky or whatever TOP stories are called..

Rod was The God of groovin' songwriting!

[Edited 10/5/16 8:16am]

I used to see his name on alot of LP's writing credit. RIP Sir.

British songwriter who penned Michael Jackson's Thriller dies of cancer at 66

• British songwriter Rod Temperton has died of cancer at the age of 66
• He was the man behind Michael Jackson hits Thriller and Rock With You
• Temperton also collaborated with Aretha Franklin and Herbie Hancock

By STEPHANIE LINNING FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED: 08:24 EST, 5 October 2016 | UPDATED: 09:54 EST, 5 October 2016

The British songwriter who penned Michael Jackson's hits Thriller and Rock With You has died aged 66.

Rod Temperton died in London following a 'brief but aggressive battle with cancer, his music publisher announced.

Known to industry insiders as the 'Invisible Man', Temperton was also behind classics including George Benson's Give Me The Night and Heatwave's Boogie Nights.

Rod Temperton, pictured with wife Kathy, died after a 'brief but aggressive battle with cancer'

Disco fever: Heatwave members (l-r) Keith Wilder, Mario Mantesse, Ernest Berger, Johnny Wilder, Rod Temperton and Eric Johns outside the Sands, Skegness

The songwriter was behind Michael Jackson's hit songs Thriller and Rock With You

Jon Platt, chairman and chief executive of Warner/Chappell, said in a statement: 'Rod Temperton, British composer and musician, died last week at the age of 66 in London following a brief aggressive battle with cancer.

'His funeral was private.'

He added: 'He was often referred to as the Invisible Man. He was the sole writer of multiple successful songs such as Thriller, Off The Wall, Rock With You, Give Me The Night, Sweet Freedom, Always & Forever and Boogie Nights, to name just a few.

'His family is devastated and request total privacy at this, the saddest of sad times.'

Temperton began his career as a member of the disco band Heatwave (pictured)

Temperton, pictured, collaborated with Anita Baker, George Benson and Herbie Hancock

Temperton (right, back row) started in Heatwave before penning international hit songs

Temperton began his career as a member of the disco band Heatwave, penning the 1970s hits Always And Forever and Boogie Nights for the group.

He collaborated with the likes of Anita Baker, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin and the Brothers Johnson.

But he was best known for writing songs for Jackson's albums Off The Wall and Thriller, after working with the singer's producer Quincy Jones.

Temperton (far right) penned Always & Forever and Boogie Nights for Heatwave

2016 has claimed yet another one.

R.I.P. to a master songwriter.

Oh wow. Huge loss. Loved his songwriting and composing. Part of the "A" team with Quincy and Bruce.

I consider him as one of the incomparable composers of the past 40 years. He was a media-shy recluse, so we will never have insight into the way he approached writing. Nevertheless, songwriting is a complicated craft, and Rod Temperton was one of its masters.

Identity said:

I consider him as one of the incomparable composers of the past 40 years. He was a media-shy recluse, so we will never have insight into the way he approached writing. Nevertheless, songwriting is a complicated craft, and Rod Temperton was one of its masters.

Co-Sign 2016 had been a bitch of year for music This should be a sticky.

just how many songs did MJ ACTUALLY write??

My oh my, 2016 is mercyless! RIP Rod Temperton and thank you for the music. Your contributions to popular music will not be forgotten.

Funnily I've always assumed Rod Temperton to be a black man. Not sure why actually, but only today I've learnt he was a white dude from England.

This is such sad news.

He was a master songwriter and thinking about some of his biggest hits takes me right back to my early teens.

I loved Heatwave and Boogie Nights was a sublime track.

RIP to a fantastic songwriter and a quiet, humble man.

funkaholic1972 said:

My oh my, 2016 is mercyless! RIP Rod Temperton and thank you for the music. Your contributions to popular music will not be forgotten.

Funnily I've always assumed Rod Temperton to be a black man. Not sure why actually, but only today I've learnt he was a white dude from England.

And from Cleethorpes of all places. For those of you not from the UK you simply cannot appreciate the added weirdness of that.

Imagine the most dated and least funky place you can think of - that's Cleethorpes!

Thanks go out to Graecophilos for this list of songs penned by Rod:

Heatwave

01 Too Hot to Handle 3:44 Rod Temperton -
02 Boogie Nights 5:03 Rod Temperton -
03 Ain't No Half Steppin' 5:12 Rod Temperton -
04 Always and Forever 6:18 Rod Temperton -
05 Super Soul Sister 3:56 Rod Temperton -
06 All You Do Is Dial 4:12 Rod Temperton -
07 Lay It on Me 3:19 Rod Temperton -
08 Sho'nuff Must Be Luv 4:06 Rod Temperton -
09 Beat Your Booty 3:02 Rod Temperton

01 Put the Word Out 6:35 Rod Temperton -
02 Send Out for Sunshine 4:28 Rod Temperton -
03 Central Heating 4:42 Rod Temperton -
05 The Groove Line 4:14 Rod Temperton -
07 The Star of a Story 5:35 Rod Temperton -
08 Party Poops 3:51 Rod Temperton -
09 Leavin' for a Dream 3:24 Rod Temperton

01 Razzle Dazzle Rod Temperton -
02 Eyeballin' Rod Temperton -
03 This Night We Feel Rod Temperton -
04 Raise a Blaze Rod Temperton -
05 First Day of Snow Rod Temperton -
06 One Night Tan Rod Temperton -
07 Therm Warfare Rod Temperton -
08 All Talked Out Rod Temperton -
09 That's the Way We'll Always Say Goodnight Rod Temperton -
10 Disco Rod Temperton

1981

01 Gangsters of the Groove Rod Temperton -
02 Jitterbuggin' Rod Temperton -
05 Posin' Til Closin' Rod Temperton

1982

01 Lettin' It Loose Rod Temperton -
02 State to State Rod Temperton -
03 Look After Love Rod Temperton -
04 Naturally -
05 Big Guns Rod Temperton


Siedah Garret (Kiss Of Life, 1988)

Groove of Midnight 4:40 Rod Temperton
08 Baby's Got It Bad 4:43 Rod Temperton, Siedah Garrett -
09 Nobody Does Me 6:11 Rod Temperton

Quincy Jones

15 - The Dude 5:35 Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Patti Austin
16 - Somethin' Special 4:03 Rod Temperton -
17 - Razzamatazz 4:20 Rod Temperton
18 - Turn on the Action 4:17 Rod Temperton
Back on the Block 6:34 Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Big Daddy Kane, Siedah Garrett, Caiphus Semenya, Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel
The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite) 6:41 Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Siedah Garrett, El DeBarge
You Put a Move on My Heart 6:13 Rod Temperton
Slow Jams 7:30 Rod Temperton


George Benson (1980)

10 Love X Love 4:43 Temperton, Rodney
11 Off Broadway 5:23 Rod Temperton
12 Give Me the Night 4:58 Temperton, Rodney
13 Star of a Story (X) 4:40 Rod Temperton
14 Turn Out the Lamplight 4:43 Rod Temperton

Brothers Johnson (1980)

06 Stomp! 6:20 Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, Valerie Johnson, Jophnson, G. -
07 Light up the Night 3:45 Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson
08 Treasure 4:11 Rod Temperton
09 All About the Heaven 3:59 Rod Temperton

Rufus (1979)

04 Live in Me 3:54 Rod Temperton
05 Masterjam 3:37 Rod Temperton

* Michael Jackson:

01 Rock With You 3:40 Rod Temperton -
02 Off the Wall 4:06 Rod Temperton -
03 Burn This Disco Out 5:24 Rod Temperton

02 Baby Be Mine 4:20 Rod Temperton --
04 Thriller 5:57 Rod Temperton -
09 The Lady in My Life 5:00 Rod Temperton
Something In The Dark
Hot Street

Patti Austin 1981

01 Do You Love Me 3:24 Rod Temperton -
02 Love Me to Death 4:08 Rod Temperton -
03 Baby, Come to Me 3:30 Rod Temperton -
04 The Genie 3:57 Rod Temperton -

* Aretha Franklin: (1981)

05 Living in the Streets 3:53 Rod Temperton

Bob James (1981)

06 Hypnotique 5:49 Rod Temperton -
07 The Steamin' Feelin' 5:22 Rod Temperton -
08 Sign of the Times 5:38 Rod Temperton
09 Macumba 5:13 Rod Temperton, Bob James


* Donna Summer: (1982)

10 Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger) 4:20 Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Merria Ross -
11 Livin' in America 4:43 Quincy Jones, Steve Lukather, Donna Summer, David Foster, Rod Temperton -
12 Love Is Just a Breath Away 3:55 Donna Summer, David Foster, Rod Temperton

Herbie Hancock (1982)

01 Lite Me Up! 3:41 Rod Temperton -
02 The Bomb 3:58 Herbie Hancock, Rod Temperton -
03 Gettin' to the Good Part 6:13 Herbie Hancock, Rod Temperton -
06 The Fun Tracks 4:03 Rod Temperton -
07 Motormouth 3:58 Rod Temperton -
08 Give It All Your Heart 7:40 Herbie Hancock, Rod Temperton


Manhattan Transfer (bodies and souls, 1983)

Spice of Life 3:40 Rod Temperton, Derek Bramble
Mystery 5:00 Rod Temperton


James Ingram (1983)

Yah Mo B There 4:40 James Ingram, Quincy Jones, Michael McDonald, Rod Temperton
One More Rhythm 4:05 Rod Temperton

* Jeffrey Osborne (1986)

We Belong to Love 4:35 Rod Temperton



* Michael McDonald: "Sweet Freedom".



* Stephanie Mills (1985)

04 Time of Your Life -
05 Hold on to Midnight


C+C Music Factory 1994

12 Share That Beat of Love 4:28 Duran Ramos, David Cole, Rod Temperton


Mica Paris (1993)

04 We Were Made for Love 4:53 Rod Temperton -
08 Two in a Million 3:53 Rod Temperton -
12 Love Keeps Coming Back 7:26 Rod Temperton


Karen Carpenter (1996)

01 Lovelines 5:06 Rod Temperton -
05 If We Try 3:47 Rod Temperton


Anita Baker (Rapture, 1986)

Mystery 4:56 Rod Temperton

luvsexy4all said:

Wow, that list contains so may of my favorites, incredible legacy!!

luvsexy4all said:

just how many songs did MJ ACTUALLY write??

The other #1 songs on the albums, Don't stop 'til you get enough, Beat it, Billie Jean and many others.

funkaholic1972 said:

My oh my, 2016 is mercyless! RIP Rod Temperton and thank you for the music. Your contributions to popular music will not be forgotten.

Funnily I've always assumed Rod Temperton to be a black man. Not sure why actually, but only today I've learnt he was a white dude from England.

Yeah. Me too. Amazing. And yes, awesome songwriter.

He proved that white men can have soul.

So many great songs. He wll be sorely missed. RIP, Mr. Temperton.

2freaky4church1 said:

He proved that white men can have soul.

Certainly he did.

PatrickS77 said:

luvsexy4all said:

just how many songs did MJ ACTUALLY write??

The other #1 songs on the albums, Don't stop 'til you get enough, Beat it, Billie Jean and many others.

The ones that are not as good as Rod's

Damn! Rod too?!!!

Identity said:

Thanks go out to Graecophilos for this list of songs penned by Rod:

Heatwave

01 Too Hot to Handle 3:44 Rod Temperton -
02 Boogie Nights 5:03 Rod Temperton -
03 Ain't No Half Steppin' 5:12 Rod Temperton -
04 Always and Forever 6:18 Rod Temperton -
05 Super Soul Sister 3:56 Rod Temperton -
06 All You Do Is Dial 4:12 Rod Temperton -
07 Lay It on Me 3:19 Rod Temperton -
08 Sho'nuff Must Be Luv 4:06 Rod Temperton -
09 Beat Your Booty 3:02 Rod Temperton

01 Put the Word Out 6:35 Rod Temperton -
02 Send Out for Sunshine 4:28 Rod Temperton -
03 Central Heating 4:42 Rod Temperton -
05 The Groove Line 4:14 Rod Temperton -
07 The Star of a Story 5:35 Rod Temperton -
08 Party Poops 3:51 Rod Temperton -
09 Leavin' for a Dream 3:24 Rod Temperton

01 Razzle Dazzle Rod Temperton -
02 Eyeballin' Rod Temperton -
03 This Night We Feel Rod Temperton -
04 Raise a Blaze Rod Temperton -
05 First Day of Snow Rod Temperton -
06 One Night Tan Rod Temperton -
07 Therm Warfare Rod Temperton -
08 All Talked Out Rod Temperton -
09 That's the Way We'll Always Say Goodnight Rod Temperton -
10 Disco Rod Temperton

1981

01 Gangsters of the Groove Rod Temperton -
02 Jitterbuggin' Rod Temperton -
05 Posin' Til Closin' Rod Temperton

1982

01 Lettin' It Loose Rod Temperton -
02 State to State Rod Temperton -
03 Look After Love Rod Temperton -
04 Naturally -
05 Big Guns Rod Temperton


Siedah Garret (Kiss Of Life, 1988)

Groove of Midnight 4:40 Rod Temperton
08 Baby's Got It Bad 4:43 Rod Temperton, Siedah Garrett -
09 Nobody Does Me 6:11 Rod Temperton

Quincy Jones

15 - The Dude 5:35 Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Patti Austin
16 - Somethin' Special 4:03 Rod Temperton -
17 - Razzamatazz 4:20 Rod Temperton
18 - Turn on the Action 4:17 Rod Temperton
Back on the Block 6:34 Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Big Daddy Kane, Siedah Garrett, Caiphus Semenya, Ice-T, Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel
The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite) 6:41 Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Siedah Garrett, El DeBarge
You Put a Move on My Heart 6:13 Rod Temperton
Slow Jams 7:30 Rod Temperton


George Benson (1980)

10 Love X Love 4:43 Temperton, Rodney
11 Off Broadway 5:23 Rod Temperton
12 Give Me the Night 4:58 Temperton, Rodney
13 Star of a Story (X) 4:40 Rod Temperton
14 Turn Out the Lamplight 4:43 Rod Temperton

Brothers Johnson (1980)

06 Stomp! 6:20 Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, Valerie Johnson, Jophnson, G. -
07 Light up the Night 3:45 Rod Temperton, Louis Johnson, George Johnson
08 Treasure 4:11 Rod Temperton
09 All About the Heaven 3:59 Rod Temperton

Rufus (1979)

04 Live in Me 3:54 Rod Temperton
05 Masterjam 3:37 Rod Temperton

* Michael Jackson:

01 Rock With You 3:40 Rod Temperton -
02 Off the Wall 4:06 Rod Temperton -
03 Burn This Disco Out 5:24 Rod Temperton

02 Baby Be Mine 4:20 Rod Temperton --
04 Thriller 5:57 Rod Temperton -
09 The Lady in My Life 5:00 Rod Temperton
Something In The Dark
Hot Street

Patti Austin 1981

01 Do You Love Me 3:24 Rod Temperton -
02 Love Me to Death 4:08 Rod Temperton -
03 Baby, Come to Me 3:30 Rod Temperton -
04 The Genie 3:57 Rod Temperton -

* Aretha Franklin: (1981)

05 Living in the Streets 3:53 Rod Temperton

Bob James (1981)

06 Hypnotique 5:49 Rod Temperton -
07 The Steamin' Feelin' 5:22 Rod Temperton -
08 Sign of the Times 5:38 Rod Temperton
09 Macumba 5:13 Rod Temperton, Bob James


* Donna Summer: (1982)

10 Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger) 4:20 Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton, Merria Ross -
11 Livin' in America 4:43 Quincy Jones, Steve Lukather, Donna Summer, David Foster, Rod Temperton -
12 Love Is Just a Breath Away 3:55 Donna Summer, David Foster, Rod Temperton

Herbie Hancock (1982)

01 Lite Me Up! 3:41 Rod Temperton -
02 The Bomb 3:58 Herbie Hancock, Rod Temperton -
03 Gettin' to the Good Part 6:13 Herbie Hancock, Rod Temperton -
06 The Fun Tracks 4:03 Rod Temperton -
07 Motormouth 3:58 Rod Temperton -
08 Give It All Your Heart 7:40 Herbie Hancock, Rod Temperton


Manhattan Transfer (bodies and souls, 1983)

Spice of Life 3:40 Rod Temperton, Derek Bramble
Mystery 5:00 Rod Temperton


James Ingram (1983)

Yah Mo B There 4:40 James Ingram, Quincy Jones, Michael McDonald, Rod Temperton
One More Rhythm 4:05 Rod Temperton

* Jeffrey Osborne (1986)

We Belong to Love 4:35 Rod Temperton



* Michael McDonald: "Sweet Freedom".



* Stephanie Mills (1985)

04 Time of Your Life -
05 Hold on to Midnight


C+C Music Factory 1994

12 Share That Beat of Love 4:28 Duran Ramos, David Cole, Rod Temperton


Mica Paris (1993)

04 We Were Made for Love 4:53 Rod Temperton -
08 Two in a Million 3:53 Rod Temperton -
12 Love Keeps Coming Back 7:26 Rod Temperton


Karen Carpenter (1996)

01 Lovelines 5:06 Rod Temperton -
05 If We Try 3:47 Rod Temperton


Anita Baker (Rapture, 1986)

Mystery 4:56 Rod Temperton

-

-

Wow! What a legacy! Always had love for Rod.

laurarichardson said:

PatrickS77 said:

laurarichardson said:

The ones that are not as good as Rod's

Ah, you know what they say about opinions? And yours is opinion. Not fact.

Nah Rod was five times the writer that MJ was. I don't even think Mike's songs are even covered by other artist. In fact Prince was a better songwriter than Mike along with loads of other people.

laurarichardson said:

PatrickS77 said:

laurarichardson said: Ah, you know what they say about opinions? And yours is opinion. Not fact.

Nah Rod was five times the writer that MJ was. I don't even think Mike's songs are even covered by other artist. In fact Prince was a better songwriter than Mike along with loads of other people.

It takes a really small minded person to start some MJ vs Prince bs in a thread honoring Rod Temperton's work. Can you get back on topic please or exit the thread.