It may come as something of a surprise that some of Michael Jackson’s biggest hits – including Thriller, Rock With You and Off The Wall – were written by a long-forgotten keyboard player from Cleethorpes. Yet Rod Temperton was one of the most sought-after producers in the post-disco period who penned some of the best-known hits of the 1980s.

Mr Temperton made his name with the disco-funk band Heatwave, who had a string of hits penned by their keyboard player in the mid-1970s, including the anthemic Boogie Nights and the ballad Always and Forever, both of which were million-sellers in the United States.

That success brought him to the attention of Quincy Jones, who recruited him to work on Michael Jackson’s 1979 breakout album, Off the Wall, for which he wrote three songs. He wrote a further three songs for the Thriller album in 1982, including the title track, which went on to become the biggest-selling album of all time.

Mr Temperton wrote songs for George Benson – including the smash hit Gimme the Night – Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin, Michael McDonald and Herbie Hancock during the 1980s and has since penned tunes for contemporary artists, including Angie Stone and Mariah Carey.

He was also nominated for two Oscars in 1986 alongside Quincy Jones and for the soundtrack to the film The Color Purple and for Miss Celie’s Blues, which was in the film.

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