Rod Temperton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rodney Lynn "Rod" Temperton (born 1947 in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England)[1] is an English songwriter, record producer and musician most famous for writing a number of songs performed by Michael Jackson, including the title track of Jackson's Thriller[2], the biggest-selling album of all time.
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[edit] Biography
Temperton attended the De Aston School in Market Rasen. He was one of the original members of the popular funk/disco band, Heatwave. With the band, he composed some of the group's big-selling singles including "Boogie Nights", "Groove Line" and the memorable ballad, "Always and Forever". All three tracks were million-sellers in the U.S.[3]
In 1972 Temperton and guitarist Bernd Springer formed a soul cover band in Worms, Germany called Sundown Carousel. With Temperton on an old Hammond organ, the band performed in clubs and GI bars in cities such as Mannheim. During the 1970s Temperton started to work with Quincy Jones, who once visited Temperton in Worms.[citation needed] In the early 1980s Temperton left Germany and moved to Beverly Hills, California.[4]
In 1979, he was recruited by Quincy Jones to write for what became Michael Jackson's first solo album in four years, and his first full-fledged solo release for Epic Records, entitled Off The Wall. Temperton wrote three songs for the album, including Rock with You which became the second US #1 single from the album. In 1982, Temperton wrote three songs, including the title track, for Jackson's next LP, Thriller, which became the biggest-selling album of all time.
Temperton was nominated for an Oscar for a song on the soundtrack of the film, The Color Purple, as the co-writer of the song "Miss Celie's Blues".[5]
[edit] Songwriting credits
Temperton wrote/co-wrote for the following singers/bands:[6][7]
- 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"
- 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: It's Your Night LP.
- 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".
- 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" (which sampled Michael Jackson's "Off the Wall") from her E=MC² album.
[edit] Production credits
- Kim Wilde: "Say You Really Want Me".
- Jeffrey Osborne: "We Belong To Love".
- Quincy Jones: "I'll Be Good to You", "The Secret Garden", "I Don't Go For That", "Stomp"[8]
- Patti Austin: "Givin' In To Love"
[edit] See also
- Grammy Awards of 1991
- Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement
- Academy Award for Best Original Song
- Academy Award for Original Music Score
[edit] References
- ^ Rod Temperton - Biography on imdb.com
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5646675/Michael-Jackson-How-Rod-Temperton-invented-Thriller.html
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 248. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Hoffmann, Christian. "Komponist von Michael Jackson war Wormser", Mannheimer Morgen, 18 July 2009, p. 30
- ^ Rod Temperton - Awards
- ^ allmusic ((( Rod Temperton > Songs > Songs Composed By )))
- ^ List of songs written by Temperton ASCAP
- ^ Qwest
