Rod Temperton

Known as the songwriter behind Michael Jackson's "Thriller," composer, arranger, producer, and keyboardist Rod Temperton was among the top tier of R&B hitmakers from the late '70s through the majority of the '80s. The Cleethorpes, England native's fledgling career took off when he was recruited to collaborate on Too Hot to Handle, Heatwave's 1976 debut. The album featured the disco classic "Boogie Nights," which peaked at number two on the U.K. and U.S. pop charts, as well as the ballad "Always and Forever," a Top Ten U.K. and Top 20 U.S. hit, subsequently a wedding standard. ...