Rod Temperton
Rodney Lynn "Rod" Temperton (born 1947[1] in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England) is an English songwriter, record producer and musician most famous for writing the title track of Michael Jackson's Thriller, the biggest-selling album of all time.
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.[2]
In 1979, he teamed up with Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson to help conceive what became Jackson's first solo album in four years, and his first full-fledged solo release for Epic Records, entitled Off The Wall. 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"[3].
Songwriting credits
Temperton wrote/co-wrote for the following singers/bands[4]:[5]
- Michael Jackson: "Rock with You", "Off the Wall", "Burn This Disco Out", "Baby Be Mine", "The Lady In My Life" and "Thriller", "Someone In The Dark", "Hot Street".
- Heatwave: "Boogie Nights", "The Groove Line", "Gangsters of the Groove", "Lettin' it loose", "Always and Forever"
- 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", "Baby Come to Me", "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".
- 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" from her E=MC² album .
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"[6]
- Patti Austin: "Givin' In To Love"
See also
- Grammy Awards of 1991
- Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement
- Academy Award for Best Original Song
- Academy Award for Original Music Score
References
- ^ Rod Temperton - Biography
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 248. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Rod Temperton - Awards
- ^ allmusic ((( Rod Temperton > Songs > Songs Composed By )))
- ^ List of songs written by Temperton ASCAP
- ^ Qwest