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Rod Temperton
Biography
Rod Temperton was born in the small northern town of Cleethorpes in England and began his working life at a fish finger manufacturer. After moving to Wurms, Germany, he answered an ad in music paper, Melody Maker, from a band looking for a keyboard player. That band became the internationally popular band Heatwave, and Rod began writing tunes for the group's first album, which was eventually released in 1976. Called Too Hot To Handle, it included the huge international hits, "Boogie Nights" and "Always and Forever," now the most popular choice of wedding song in the US!
Following two more Heatwave LPs, Rod was approached by legendary producer Quincy Jones to write songs for an upcoming Michael Jackson LP which Jones was about to produce. Rod provided three tunes - "Off the Wall" (the title track), "Rock with You" and "Burn this Disco Out." The LP made Jackson an international star -- selling 20 million copies -- and the relationship between Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton was born.
In the early 80s, Rod wrote hits for George Benson ("Give me the Night" and "Love x Love"), Brother Johnson ("Stomp") and Patti Austin ("Baby, Come to Me"). He then penned three more songs for Michael Jackson's follow-up album, Thriller, including the title track. The LP went on to smash all records in terms of sales and has currently sold in the region of 60 million copies. The song "Thriller" began life as "Starlight," and the famous Vincent Price rap was written by Rod in the back of a cab on the way to the studio.
Rod also collaborated on the soundtrack for the Billy Crystal film, Running Scared, which produced the hit single "Sweet Freedom" for Michael McDonald.
Rod has become one of the most successful British songwriters of all time.
By Jed Pitman
