Heatwave

Heatwave is a UK funk, disco and soul group that forms in London in the mid-1970s and is active from 1975 to 1984. It develops around American brothers Johnnie Wilder, Jr. and Keith Wilder, who sing after performing in Germany while serving in the U.S. Army, then move to the United Kingdom and link up with songwriter and keyboardist Rod Temperton. The band tours the London club circuit under the name Chicago’s Heatwave before shortening to Heatwave and refining a sound that mixes disco with a strong funk groove.

Original line-up and early recordings

The group’s early line-up includes Johnnie Wilder, Jr. and Keith Wilder on vocals, Temperton on keyboards, Mario Mantese on bass, Ernest Berger on drums, Eric Johns on guitar and Roy Carter on guitar. It signs to GTO Records in 1976 and works in the studio with producer and session guitarist Barry Blue. After guitarist Jesse Whitten is replaced by Roy Carter, the band issues early singles including Ain’t No Half Steppin’, Super Soul Sister and Boogie Nights.

Breakthrough with Too Hot to Handle and Central Heating

Too Hot to Handle, the debut album, appears in 1977. It contains Boogie Nights and Always and Forever, songs that become the group’s best-known recordings and bring chart success in the UK and the US, including strong R&B and pop positions. The follow-up album, Central Heating, arrives in 1978 and features The Groove Line, another major hit. The band’s early work establishes it as one of the more successful dance acts of the disco era.

Line-up changes and later albums

By the late 1970s the group changes repeatedly. Eric Johns leaves and Billy Jones replaces him on guitar. Temperton also leaves the performing line-up, although he continues writing songs for Heatwave and later becomes a successful songwriter for other artists, including Rufus, The Brothers Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. His work with Jackson includes songs for Off the Wall and Thriller.

Heatwave then goes through further disruption. Mario Mantese leaves after a severe stabbing incident, and Derek Bramble replaces him on bass. Calvin Duke joins on keyboards, and the band works with producer Phil Ramone on Hot Property, released in 1979. Roy Carter later leaves and Keith Harrison takes over on keyboards. Johnnie Wilder, Jr. is then left unable to perform after a car crash, though he remains involved with studio work and co-production.

The band records Candles in 1980 with Temperton again providing most of the material. James Dean “J.D.” Nicholas joins to sing live. The single Gangsters of the Groove becomes the group’s last major chart entry. A further album, Current, appears in 1982 and returns the band to Barry Blue as producer. Lettin’ It Loose gives the group a minor hit, but by the end of 1982 key members have left and the group effectively disbands.

Later activity and legacy

Keith Wilder revives Heatwave in the mid-1990s with Dave Williamson on bass, Kevin Sutherland and Byron Byrd on keyboards, and Bill Jones on guitar. The re-formed group tours in the United States, releases the live album Live at the Greek Theater in 1997, and issues a new extended club remix of Boogie Nights in 2002. A remix of Mind Blowing Decisions also charts in the UK in the early 1990s.

Johnnie Wilder, Jr. dies in Dayton, Ohio in 2006. Rod Temperton dies in 2016, and Keith Wilder dies in 2017. Heatwave remains associated with disco, funk and soul, and with a run of songs that help define late-1970s R&B and dance music.