The man who wrote Michael Jackson’s biggest song dies Read more

Sir Rod Temperton: The man who wrote Michael Jackson’s hit song Thriller recently passed on

Thriller songwriter Rod Temperton dies aged 66 – The name Rod Temperton may not ring a bell, but one of his greatest creations the song Thriller is unarguably one of the biggest songs in the world – Performed by Michael Jackson, the song and album of the same name is currently the best-selling album of all time. The album also won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in 1984 – Sir Temperton passed away recently at the age of 66

Musicians are a lucky set of people. This is not saying musicians don’t work hard, but they often get the praise and glory that comes with making a hit song. A few people know that musicians are not one man machines. That song you like was probably made with the efforts of a song writer, song arranger, backup singer, producer and finally the musician who sings the finished product.Michael Jackson is an icon when it comes to music all over the world. But good songwriters contributed to making him an icon and Sir Rod Temperton was one of such people

Quincy-Jones, Michael Jackson and Rod-Temperton in the studio while making the Thriller album

.A British songwriter best known for Michael Jackson’s mega hit song Thriller and Rock With You, he died in London last week at the age of 66 after a brief aggressive battle with cancer according to the BBC. Temperton’s other hits included Off The Wall and Baby Be Mine for Jackson and Boogie Nights for his band Heatwave. He also penned three songs for Off The Wall, which became Jackson’s breakthrough solo album – the title track, Rock With You and Burn This Disco Out.

Michael Jackson in the video of his song Thriller

 He went on to write three more for follow-up album Thriller – the title track, which became one of Jackson’s signature smashes, plus Baby Be Mine and The Lady in My Life. They helped make Thriller the best-selling album of all time in the US, with 32 million copies sold. His tunes have also been recorded by artists including Anita Baker, Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin and The Brothers Johnson.