Rod Temperton, the legendary songwriter behind Michael Jackson’s classics “Thriller,” “Off The Wall” and “Rock With You,” died last week after an aggressive battle with cancer, according to his publisher.
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He was 66.
“His family is devastated and request total privacy at this, the saddest of sad times,” his music publisher, Jon Platt, said in a written statement.
The music industry called Temperton the “Invisible Man” because his songs defined the 1970s and 1980s disco and pop music era without many ever knowing his name.
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Outside of the Michael Jackson classics, Temperton also penned George Benson’s “Give Me the Night,” Michael McDonald’s “Sweet Freedom,” and Heatwave’s “Always and Forever” and “Boogie Nights.”
Another musical legend, Quincy Jones, took to Twitter to express his sorrow over Temperton’s passing.
“We never did anything for the money. We did what gave us goosebumps and that’s what we got… miss you so much already, worms,” Jones wrote.
According to NPR, Temperton, who grew up in England, taught himself how to play drums and keyboard. As Jones was working on Michael Jackson’s solo career, he turned to Temperton – who had already written the Heatwave’s disco hits – to jump on Jackson’s Off The Wall project in 1979.
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A private funeral service was held for Temperton. His publisher called Temperton’s battle with cancer “brief.”
