You may not know the name but you know the voice. It's one of those special ones that could belt out a classic ballad or blow you away with searing dance funk. Johnnie Wilder Jr. could do it all. As the lead singer of the seminal 70's band, Heatwave, Wilder blasted out classic after classic: "Mind Blowing Decisions", "Happiness Togetherness", "Boogie Nights", "Star of the Story", "Ain't No Have Steppin", "Groove line", and many others including possibly the all time baby making jam, "Always and Forever".
Together with song writing machine, Rod Temperton, and Keith Wilder ( brother and co lead vocalist ) it seemed like Heatwave was well on their way until one of those terrible moments that happens to famous and regular folk alike... happened. In 1979 Wilder was involved in a car accident when his rental car was struck by a van on his way home to his native Dayton, Ohio. Wilder was paralyzed from the neck down.
Johnnie Wilder Jr would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Johnnie, to his credit, refused to let his disability and bad fortune beat him. He stayed with his group and continued to sing on studio tracks for a few more albums ( even traveling with the band, although not performing live). In what had be a bittersweet opportunity, Wilder would turn out to be a friend and confidant for Teddy Pendergrass when he was forced to deal with a similar injury just three years later.
From all reports he found a relationship with God that gave him the strength to lead a full life and even stay involved in music as a producer of acapella gospel and teaching students about the music industry at Ohio Central State University since 1994. He passed away in his sleep at the age of 56 at his home May 13th 20o6.
Heatwave and Johnnie Wilder Jr in particular have been a "what if" scenario that has often popped up in my mind when talking about classic music groups. What if a few of those Rod Temperton written songs from Michael Jacksons solo work had went to Johnnie and the Heatwave instead? "Rock with you", "Off the Wall",and "Thriller" all potentially could have been Heatwave songs; I definitely would have loved to hear Johnnies version of "The Lady in My Life" off of Thriller. What if.
What if Johnnie Wilder Jr never got in that accident? What if Hendrix never overdoses on sleeping pills? What if Sam Cooke never goes into that hotel? What if Otis Redding never got in that plane? What if.
You could go crazy thinking about all these "what ifs" for people you don't even know, for that matter you could for those you know intimately. A hard fact of life is that everyones lives are marked with these seminal events whether it happens to us or just the ones we love.
Wilder will be remembered by his family members for far better reasons than his musical artistry, that is a fact. However, for those of us that did not know him but appreciate pure talent, his voice will be remembered "Always and Forever".
Johnnie Wilder Jr Official Bio
Online Funeral Guest Book for Johnnie Wilder
Rod Temperton Article
Together with song writing machine, Rod Temperton, and Keith Wilder ( brother and co lead vocalist ) it seemed like Heatwave was well on their way until one of those terrible moments that happens to famous and regular folk alike... happened. In 1979 Wilder was involved in a car accident when his rental car was struck by a van on his way home to his native Dayton, Ohio. Wilder was paralyzed from the neck down.
Johnnie Wilder Jr would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Johnnie, to his credit, refused to let his disability and bad fortune beat him. He stayed with his group and continued to sing on studio tracks for a few more albums ( even traveling with the band, although not performing live). In what had be a bittersweet opportunity, Wilder would turn out to be a friend and confidant for Teddy Pendergrass when he was forced to deal with a similar injury just three years later.
From all reports he found a relationship with God that gave him the strength to lead a full life and even stay involved in music as a producer of acapella gospel and teaching students about the music industry at Ohio Central State University since 1994. He passed away in his sleep at the age of 56 at his home May 13th 20o6.
Heatwave and Johnnie Wilder Jr in particular have been a "what if" scenario that has often popped up in my mind when talking about classic music groups. What if a few of those Rod Temperton written songs from Michael Jacksons solo work had went to Johnnie and the Heatwave instead? "Rock with you", "Off the Wall",and "Thriller" all potentially could have been Heatwave songs; I definitely would have loved to hear Johnnies version of "The Lady in My Life" off of Thriller. What if.
What if Johnnie Wilder Jr never got in that accident? What if Hendrix never overdoses on sleeping pills? What if Sam Cooke never goes into that hotel? What if Otis Redding never got in that plane? What if.
You could go crazy thinking about all these "what ifs" for people you don't even know, for that matter you could for those you know intimately. A hard fact of life is that everyones lives are marked with these seminal events whether it happens to us or just the ones we love.
Wilder will be remembered by his family members for far better reasons than his musical artistry, that is a fact. However, for those of us that did not know him but appreciate pure talent, his voice will be remembered "Always and Forever".Johnnie Wilder Jr Official Bio
Online Funeral Guest Book for Johnnie Wilder
Rod Temperton Article
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