BLACK MUSIC MONTH (OLD SCHOOL): Heatwave

Before Rod Temperton created perfection for Michael Jackson on Off the Wall and Thriller, he was the keyboardist and principal songwriter for the band Heatwave. Formed in Germany but based in London, Heatwave touted two Brits on keyboards and guitar, a Jamaican guitarist, a Swiss bassist, a Czech drummer and two American brothers on vocals. They have got to be the most genuinely international funk band of note. Stateside, they are best known for hits like "The Groove Line" and "Boogie Nights."

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BLACK MUSIC MONTH (OLD SCHOOL): Heatwave

POSTED: Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 1:00 PM

Filed Under: Music | Blast from the Past

Black Music Month has rolled in, so all June long Critical Mass will be featuring videos of some of our favorite artists from now and then.

Before Rod Temperton created perfection for Michael Jackson on Off the Wall and Thriller, he was the keyboardist and principal songwriter for the band Heatwave. Formed in Germany but based in London, Heatwave touted two Brits on keyboards and guitar, a Jamaican guitarist, a Swiss bassist, a Czech drummer and two American brothers on vocals. They have got to be the most genuinely international funk band of note. Stateside, they are best known for hits like “The Groove Line” and “Boogie Nights.”

Heatwave toured in Europe during its early years, but not so much on this side of the Atlantic, creating an air of mystery around them for American audiences. They didn’t take their distance from the core funk market as a excuse for lollygagging, and prepared to stand toe-to-toe with the best funk show bands of the day. Lead vocalist Johnnie Walker, who had a military background, drilled his bandmates to put on the most spectacular show they could manage. This rendition of “Too Hot to Handle,” the title track of their debut album, comes from a Musikladen special. Get ready to watch what they pulled onstage.

Heatwave’s potential was cut short by a series of tragic events after recording their third album. Bassist Mario Mantese was stabbed in the heart by his live-in girlfriend. He remarkably survived and even more remarkably moved back in with her. Shortly after, Walker was paralyzed in an automobile accident. It’s truly saddening to think about what could have been. TV One’s Unsung has a fantastic episode on them for those interested.

Abounding thanks to the German who dusted this gem off from the vault. Imagine if they had a bigger stage for the special. Oooooh weeee!

See Also:

Aloe Blacc @ World Cafe Live

The Roots Picnic

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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