Rodney Lynn Temperton (9 October 1949 – 25 September 2016) was an English songwriter, musician, vocalist, and record producer. He initially made his mark as the keyboardist and main songwriter for the 1970s pop music, disco, and funk band Heatwave, whose hit songs included "Always and Forever", "Boogie Nights", and "The Groove Line", amongst many others.
After being subsequently recruited by record producer Quincy Jones, he wrote several internationally known hit songs performed by Michael Jackson, including "Thriller", "Off the Wall", and "Rock with You". He also wrote hit songs for George Benson, including "Give Me the Night" and "Love X Love", along with Patti Austin and James Ingram's United States number one hit "Baby, Come to Me", among many others.
Temperton wrote the soundtrack for the 1986 film Running Scared. He won a Grammy Award in 1990 for his work on Birdland, from Quincy Jones's album Back on the Block.
Last Updated: June 9, 2021
