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Premier Entertainment
At T.I.A. we pride ourselves on choosing only the finest quality artistes that would be at home on television stage or screen
Although their star power seemed unstoppable, Heatwave were dealt with some challenges during the late-1970s, as first Eric Johns, then Rod Temperton quit the band. Although Temperton would continue writing new songs for Heatwave, he swiftly became better-known for his songwriting for other artists, penning award-winning songs for some of funk's heaviest hitters, including Rufus and The Brothers Johnson. He also wrote for Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones, but his most famous partnership remains the one forged with Michael Jackson, writing three songs. The songs were "Rock With You," "Off The Wall" and "Burn This Disco Out" for Jackson's 1979 Off The Wall LP. He then returned to Jackson's camp in 1982, with three songs for the Thriller LP, including the title track.
Shaken, but undaunted by recent events, Heatwave was about to return to the studio, only to be dealt another blow, as Mantese was involved in a car accident, which forced him to leave the group. Mantese was replaced by bassist Derek Bramble. Adding guitarist William Jones and keyboardist Calvin Duke to the group, and now working with new producer Phil Ramone, Heatwave cut Hot Property, released in May 1979.
During the spring of 1979, lead-vocalist and songwriter Johnnie Wilder, Jr., also suffered injuries in an auto accident while visiting family and friends in Dayton, Ohio. Although he survived, the accident left him paralyzed from the neck down and unable to continue performing with the group. After the accident, Johnnie remained a co-producer of the group, along with Blue.
Determined to continue working with the band he had nurtured since the very beginning, Wilder remained on board for studio work and, in 1980, Heatwave recorded the Candles LP, with Temperton again providing the songs, except stand out track "All I Am", written by Blue's former writing partner Lynsey De Paul. The group recruited James Dean "J.D." Nicholas to handle vocals in concert.
Heatwave's 1982 LP, Current, marked yet another new era for the band, as they returned to producer Blue. The album managed only a desultory number 156 on the U.S. Billboard 200, although it scored the band a number twenty-one hit on the R&B charts, where Heatwave continued to be a strong presence. A Rod Temperton penned single, "Lettin' It Loose," proved a minor hit in August.