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ARTICLE
For every charismatic, shouty, opinionated or eye-catching performer there is a whole host of people shoring up that individual’s success. It might be the band that they play with, a manager intent on pushing boundaries, or a producer that brings a whole new dimension to the soundscape. Often, it’s a songwriter. Although they get a writing credit, they are rarely a household name, and yet they can elevate an artist to new heights with a catchy tune and a clever lyric.
te an artist to new heights with a catchy tune and a clever lyric.
Of course, not all songwriters want to be the centre of attention. Some of them prefer to watch from the shadows and leave the spectacle and grandeur to others. One such person was so infamous for his aversion to the limelight that he became affectionately known as the Invisible Man. And yet he was responsible for many hits for many big names, and that includes one of the biggest tracks ever written. This songwriter’s name was Rod Temperton.
Temperton was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, in October 1949. Music came into his life almost right away, thanks to his father. Whereas most children would get a soothing lullaby or a story at bedtime, Temperton got a transistor radio on his pillow, tuned to Radio Luxembourg. Because of what he then went on to do, and who he got to work with, it’s hard to dismiss the importance of this fatherly act on a developing mind. Temperton must have absorbed song structures like a sponge.
By the time he was at grammar school he was in a band with friends. They’d enter music competitions, held at the school, with Temperton on drums. He’d practise these skills at home, playing along to the continuous music played over the BBC test card, thumping out the beat with a snare drum and cymbal. Despite a keen musical ability and natural flair, leaving school meant he had to face the harsh reality of the adult world. This meant getting a job with local employer Ross Frozen Foods, in Grimsby. Temperton was now a fish filleter.
His passion, though, was his music, and a talent such as his was in demand. Although a drummer at school, he was a keyboard player too, which soon landed him full-time work with several dance bands. This helped shape his professionalism as he clocked up countless hours playing gigs and shaping songs with bandmates.
But it wouldn’t be until 1974 that he got a first sniff of the big time. American Johnnie Wilder Jr had just completed serving with the US Army in West Germany and had stayed in the country performing in the clubs before heading for the UK. He wanted to form his own band, so placed an advert in Melody Maker seeking a keyboard player. Rod Temperton saw the ad and applied. Wilder was impressed by Temperton’s determination and ability, also noting his sense of humour and friendliness. He was a good fit. Temperton thus joined the disco funk band Heatwave.
Beginning as a covers band, they played the London clubs, poaching Wilder’s brother Keith from his band in the USA to sing vocals. Their particular blend of funk and disco caught the eye of GTO Records who signed them in 1976. In need of original material, Temperton presented his bandmates with several songs he’d been playing with and it was enough to get them excited. The album Too Hot To Handle was recorded that autumn, and in 1977 they released one of the tracks as a single: ‘Boogie Nights’.
It was an instant hit, selling millions of...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full access to this article and the last year of articles, reviews and play lists via the Pro DJ App
te an artist to new heights with a catchy tune and a clever lyric.
Of course, not all songwriters want to be the centre of attention. Some of them prefer to watch from the shadows and leave the spectacle and grandeur to others. One such person was so infamous for his aversion to the limelight that he became affectionately known as the Invisible Man. And yet he was responsible for many hits for many big names, and that includes one of the biggest tracks ever written. This songwriter’s name was Rod Temperton.
Temperton was born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, in October 1949. Music came into his life almost right away, thanks to his father. Whereas most children would get a soothing lullaby or a story at bedtime, Temperton got a transistor radio on his pillow, tuned to Radio Luxembourg. Because of what he then went on to do, and who he got to work with, it’s hard to dismiss the importance of this fatherly act on a developing mind. Temperton must have absorbed song structures like a sponge.
By the time he was at grammar school he was in a band with friends. They’d enter music competitions, held at the school, with Temperton on drums. He’d practise these skills at home, playing along to the continuous music played over the BBC test card, thumping out the beat with a snare drum and cymbal. Despite a keen musical ability and natural flair, leaving school meant he had to face the harsh reality of the adult world. This meant getting a job with local employer Ross Frozen Foods, in Grimsby. Temperton was now a fish filleter.
His passion, though, was his music, and a talent such as his was in demand. Although a drummer at school, he was a keyboard player too, which soon landed him full-time work with several dance bands. This helped shape his professionalism as he clocked up countless hours playing gigs and shaping songs with bandmates.
But it wouldn’t be until 1974 that he got a first sniff of the big time. American Johnnie Wilder Jr had just completed serving with the US Army in West Germany and had stayed in the country performing in the clubs before heading for the UK. He wanted to form his own band, so placed an advert in Melody Maker seeking a keyboard player. Rod Temperton saw the ad and applied. Wilder was impressed by Temperton’s determination and ability, also noting his sense of humour and friendliness. He was a good fit. Temperton thus joined the disco funk band Heatwave.
Beginning as a covers band, they played the London clubs, poaching Wilder’s brother Keith from his band in the USA to sing vocals. Their particular blend of funk and disco caught the eye of GTO Records who signed them in 1976. In need of original material, Temperton presented his bandmates with several songs he’d been playing with and it was enough to get them excited. The album Too Hot To Handle was recorded that autumn, and in 1977 they released one of the tracks as a single: ‘Boogie Nights’.
It was an instant hit, selling millions of...
To read the full article, you’ll need to have a physical copy of the magazine which you can sign up for here for 6 issues delivered to your door from just £16!
https://store.promobile.online/products/pro-mobile-magazine-6-issue-1-year-subscription
You’ll also get full access to this article and the last year of articles, reviews and play lists via the Pro DJ App
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 131, Pages 40-44.
