Rod Temperton

Rod Temperton was the quiet Englishman who wrote some of Michael Jackson's most enduring songs. A former member of the funk band Heatwave, he came into Jackson's world through Quincy Jones. Temperton had a gift for melody and structure, building tracks with a craftsman's care and demo cassettes packed with detail. He wrote the title cuts for both Off the Wall and Thriller, and the smooth mid-tempo groove of 'Rock with You.' He also shaped the spooky theatre of 'Thriller,' complete with its narrated finale. Jackson gave the songs their electricity, but the bones were often Temperton's. He worked without fanfare and let the results speak. His songs still fill dance floors decades on.

Wrote 'Rock with You,' 'Off the Wall,' and 'Thriller.' Contributed arrangements and keyboard ideas across the Off the Wall and Thriller sessions. Provided detailed demos that guided the final recordings.