Died On This Date (February 23, 2017) Leon Ware / Successful R&B Songwriter & Producer
themusicsover Leon Ware
February 16, 1940 – February 23, 2017
Leon Ware was an American singer, songwriter and producer who was celebrated for the many hits he crafted for others. Born in Detroit, Ware began writing professionally in 1967. Later that year, the first recording note of a song he co-wrote was released; “Got To Have You Back,” by the Isley Brothers. A couple of years later, he hooked up with Ike & Tina Turner to co-write six songs on their album, Nuff Said. What followed was nearly four decades of hit songs for the likes of Michael Jackson, Minnie Riperton, Quincy Jones, and Marvin Gaye. In Gaye’s case, every song on his I Want You album was penned or co-penned by Ware who also produced the landmark album. It sold over a million copies and is considered a must-have for any album collection. Ware also recorded nearly a dozen albums of his own, the most successful being 1979’s Inside Is Love, and the most recent, 2008’s Moon Ride. Leon Ware was 77 when he died of prostate cancer on February 23, 2017.
What You Should Own
George Jackson was an American southern soul singer and songwriter who penned a number of songs that became major hits throughout the ’70s and ’80s. Born in Greenville, Mississippi, Jackson eventually settled in Memphis where he wrote songs for such studios and labels as FAME, Goldwax, Muscle Shoals, Malaco and Hi Records. Over the years, Jackson released numerous records but none achieved the popularity of song of his that were recorded by others. In 1970, the Osmonds recorded his “One Bad Apple,” which ultimately topped the pop charts. And Bob Seger had a huge hit with “Old Time Rock And Roll” thanks in part to Tom Cruise’s iconic dance scene to it in the 1983 film, Risky Business. The song, co-written with Thomas Jones III, has since become a Classic Rock staple. Jackson’s “The Only Way Is Up” as performed by Yazz and Coldcut topped the US dance charts and UK charts in 1988. Others who have recorded his include Otis Clay, 
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Johnnie Bassett was an American electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who, over the course of a career that spanned some 60 years, worked as a band leader as well as an in-demand session player for many of music’s biggest names. The list of those that the self-taught guitarist played with includes B.B.King, 
Frazier Mohawk was a man of many talents who was a prominent if not well-known figure of the Los Angeles music scene of the 1960s. One of his earliest jobs was doing publicity for radio and television host, Bob Eubanks. He quickly parlayed that into doing sound mixes for bands performing on TV. He also worked as a publicist for