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Heatwave

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International disco-funk group, formed in Europe in mid-1970s. Heatwave was founded by Johnnie Wilder, an American serviceman based in West Germany, who stayed on there after his discharge. He sang in local clubs until he moved to the UK and met Rod Temperton through an ad in the paper. Calling themselves the Chicago Heatwave, they recruited Johnnie's brother, Keith. Signed to GTO records in 1976, they went into the studio that fall with producer Barry Blue. In the UK, their first two singles tanked, but the third one "Boogie Nights" went on to become an iconic disco anthem. It became their debut single in the US peaking at #2 early in 1977. Their follow up became an R&B classic, "Always and Forever" and peaked at #18. Writer and keyboardist Rod Temperton continued to write songs, giving Heatwave one more top ten single, "The Groove Line" in 1978. Temperton went on to write hit songs for Michael Jackson. The band faced several tragedies, first with Mario Mantese. On the third of November 1977, he being stabbed by an unknown person then fell into a deep coma which lasted five weeks. When he came out of the coma he was blind, totally paralyzed and mute. After a long convalescence, he was able to see, walk, and speak again. In 1979 founding member Johnnie Wilder was paralyzed from the neck down in a serious auto accident and unable to perform with the group. He continued on as a co producer with Barry Blue. JD Nicholas replaced him for concert appearances. 1980 saw the release of the #21 single, "Gangsters Of The Groove". Then, members one by one left the band until Heatwave died a quiet death in 1983. Keith Wilder tried to restart the band in 1988, but had to wait until 1991, when a remix of "Mind Blowing Decisions" became a hit in the UK to put a new band together. Keith Wilder provided the lead vocals and toured regularly. "Boogie Nights" lived on in the 90's as the title of the Mark Wahlberg movie of the same name about the rise of pornography (however, the song did not appear in the movie). Johnnie Wilder died peacefully in his sleep in May of 2006 at his home in Dayton, Ohio, aged 56. Rod Temperton died of cancer in 2016 in London, at the age of 66. Keith Wilder died in 2017 at the age of 65. Ernest Berger died of a heart attack in 2024, at the age of 73.