Thriller songwriter Rod Temperton dies aged 66

https://a6p8a2b3.stackpathcdn.com/3DCBzGOXjo8xWqsuXeCWs2ND5Pk=/700x0/smart/http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.pitchfork.com%2Fnews%2F68778%2F82256653.jpg

British songwriter Rod Temperton died at 66 after a battle with cancer: the news was broken by Jon Platt, Chairman & CEO of Warner/Chappell.

In a statement, Platt wrote:

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

The hugely talented composer wrote Michael Jackson classics including “Off the Wall”, “Rock With You”, “Thriller”, “Baby Be Mine”, “Burn This Disco Out” and “The Lady in My Life”. But Temperton’s catalogue also includes songs performed by Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, The Brothers Johnson, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, James Ingram, Michael McDonald and Quincy Jones - whose breakthrough solo album, The Dude, Temperton co-wrote.

Temperton got his start in music with the funk group Heatwave. They were best known for their Temperton-penned song “Boogie Nights,” which reached No. 2 in the United States and the UK. He played on two Heatwave albums before leaving the band to concentrate on songwriting.