Rod Temperton (born Rodney Lynn Temperton, 1947 [1], Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England) is a British songwriter, record producer and musician.

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 helped compose 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.^[1]

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 Colour Purple, as the co-writer of the song "Miss Celie's Blues (Sister)". [2] [3]

Songwriting credits

Temperton wrote/co-wrote for the following singers/bands: [4]

• Michael Jackson: "Rock with You", "Off the Wall", "The Lady In My Life", "Burn This Disco Out", "Thriller" and "Baby Be Mine".
• James Ingram & Michael McDonald: "Yah Mo B There".
• Tamia: "You Put a Move on My Heart".
• Rufus: Masterjam LP.
• The Brothers Johnson: "Stomp!" and "Treasure" on their Stomp LP, and "Light up the Night"
• 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".
• 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".
• James Ingram: It's Your Night LP.
• Anita Baker: "Mystery" from her Rapture album.
• Patti Austin: Every Home Should Have One LP.
• Michael McDonald: "Sweet Freedom".
• Stephanie Mills: "Time of Your Life" and "Hold On to Midnight".
• Karen Carpenter: "Lovelines" and "If We Try".
• Patti Austin: "Do You Love Me?", "The Genie".
• Boyz II Men: "Hey Lover".
• Mica Paris: "Love Keeps Coming Back", "Two in a Million".
• 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.

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". [5]
• Patti Austin: "Givin' In To Love". [6]

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

1. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums, 19th, London: Guinness World Records Limited, p. 248. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• Rod Temperton biography at the All Music Guide website
• Irreverent website info
• Mini biography
• "The Yorkshire Post" article (2006)

Donate to Wikimedia