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The Invisible Man: The Rod Temperton Story

Another chance to hear Paul Gambaccini's 2006 profile of British-born songwriter Rod Temperton, who passed away in October 2016.

Another chance to hear Paul Gambaccini's 2006 profile the British-born songwriter Rod Temperton, who passed away in October.

The British-born keyboard player and songwriter enjoyed big disco-era success as part of Heatwave before writing hits for American R&B/pop stars including Donna Summer, George Benson, Aretha Franklin, James Ingram, Patti Austin, Herbie Hancock and, most lucratively, Michael Jackson.

Rod Temperton was a gentle-mannered man from Cleethorpes. Outside the music industry, few had heard of him, but everyone knows his songs. Without him the careers of Michael Jackson career, among many others, would have been very different. Rod single-handedly wrote and arranged some of the biggest songs in popular music history including Thriller, Give Me the Night, Boogie Nights, Always and Forever and Off the Wall, and became one of the most successful British songwriters of all time.

This programme charts his remarkable journey from Cleethorpes to Los Angeles, with contributions from Quincy Jones, George Benson and Patti Austin and many more. It was first broadcast on Radio 2 in 2006.

1 hour

Last on

Tue 22 Nov 2016 22:00

Music Played

  • Michael Jackson

    Thriller

    • EPIC.
    • EPC-474709-2.
  • Heatwave

    Boogie Nights

    • Columbia.
    • SONYTV-71CD*.
  • Michael Jackson

    Rock With You

    • Epic.
    • 474709 2.
  • Rod Temperton

    GIVE ME THE NIGHT

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: George Benson.
    • WARNER.
    • 81227-36932.
  • Rod Temperton

    Off The Wall

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: Michael Jackson.
    • Epic.
    • CDEPC-83468.
  • Rod Temperton

    Razzamatazz

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: Quincy Jones.
    • Polygram Tv.
    • 516-871-2.
  • Rod Temperton

    Too Hot To Handle

    Performer: Heatwave.
    • Epic.
    • 28-50371.
  • Rod Temperton

    Ain't No Half Steppin'

    Performer: Heatwave.
    • Epic.
    • 28-50597.
  • Heatwave

    Boogie Nights

    • Columbia.
    • SONYTV-71CD*.
  • S OTIS

    Strawberry Letter 23

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: The Brothers Johnson.
    • Pump.
    • DINCD-124.
  • Rod Temperton

    ALWAYS AND FOREVER

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: Heatwave.
    • EPIC.
    • EK-64914.
  • Rod Temperton

    The Groove Line

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: Heatwave.
    • Sony Music TV.
    • STVCD-168.
  • Rod Temperton

    BURN THIS DISCO OUT

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: Michael Jackson.
    • EPIC.
    • EPC-83468.
  • Rod Temperton

    Off The Wall

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: Michael Jackson.
    • Epic.
    • CDEPC-83468.
  • Michael Jackson

    Rock With You

    • Epic.
    • 1-474709 2.
  • Rod Temperton

    OFF BROADWAY

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: George Benson.
    • RHINO.
    • R2-79934.
  • Rod Temperton

    GIVE ME THE NIGHT

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: George Benson.
    • WARNER.
    • 81227-36932.
  • Patti Austin & James Ingram

    Baby, Come To Me

    • UNIVERSAL.
    • 560 291-2.
  • Donna Summer

    Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)

    Music Arranger: N/A.
    • Warner Bros..
    • 9031-72909-2.
  • The Manhattan Transfer

    SPICE OF LIFE

    Music Arranger: T.& J.HEY.
    • RHINO.
    • 8122--71053-2.
  • Michael Jackson

    Thriller

    • EPIC.
    • EPC-474709-2.
  • Rod Temperton

    Baby Be Mine

    Performer: Michael Jackson.
    • Sony.
    • 0-1.
  • Rod Temperton

    Sweet Freedom

    Music Arranger: T.& R.Temperto. Performer: Michael McDonald.
    • Warner Bros.
    • 2292-41049-2.
  • The Brothers Johnson

    Stomp

    Music Arranger: N/A.
    • Stardust.
    • STACD-064 (A).
  • Michael McDonald & James Ingram

    Yah Mo B There

    • NOW.
    • NOW 1985-1985.
  • Heatwave

    Boogie Nights

    • Columbia.
    • SONYTV-71CD*.
  • Michael Jackson

    Thriller

    • EPIC.
    • EPC-474709-2.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 23 Aug 2008 19:00
  • Sat 12 Dec 2009 22:00
  • Wed 9 Nov 2016 01:00
  • Tue 22 Nov 2016 22:00