British songwriter who penned Michael Jackson's Thriller dies of cancer at 66

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The British songwriter who penned Michael Jackson's hits Thriller and Rock With You has died aged 66.

Rod Temperton died in London following a 'brief but aggressive battle with cancer, his music publisher announced.

Known to industry insiders as the 'Invisible Man', Temperton was also behind classics including George Benson's Give Me The Night and Heatwave's Boogie Nights.  

Rod Temperton, pictured with wife Kathy, died after a 'brief but aggressive battle with cancer'

Disco fever: Heatwave members (l-r) Keith Wilder, Mario Mantesse, Ernest Berger, Johnny Wilder, Rod Temperton and Eric Johns outside the Sands, Skegness

The Cleethorpes-born songwriter was behind Michael Jackson's hit songs Thriller and Rock With You

Jon Platt, chairman and chief executive of Warner/Chappell, said in a statement: 'Rod Temperton, British composer and musician, died last week at the age of 66 in London following a brief aggressive battle with cancer.

'His funeral was private.'

He added: 'He was often referred to as the Invisible Man. He was the sole writer of multiple successful songs such as Thriller, Off The Wall, Rock With You, Give Me The Night, Sweet Freedom, Always & Forever and Boogie Nights, to name just a few.

'His family is devastated and request total privacy at this, the saddest of sad times.'

Mark Ronson, Boy George and Chaka Khan are among the stars who have paid tribute to the songwriter.

Rod Temperton began his career as a member of the disco band Heatwave (pictured)

Musician Ronson said he was 'devastated' to hear that Temperton had died.

He tweeted: 'So devastated to hear that Rod Temperton has passed away. a wonderful man & one of my favourite songwriters ever. thank you for the magic.'

Singer George wrote: 'Sad to hear about the passing of Rod Temperton, a great British songwriter who gave us so much great music. R.I.P.'

American singer Khan referenced the song Live In Me, which Temperton wrote for her when she was in the band Rufus.

She wrote: 'Thank u 4 your superlative songwriting @RodTemperton. U will always Live in Me. Rest in power.'

The songwriter, pictured, collaborated with Anita Baker, George Benson and Herbie Hancock

Temperton began his career as a member of the disco band Heatwave, penning the 1970s hits Always And Forever and Boogie Nights for the group.

He collaborated with the likes of Anita Baker, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Aretha Franklin and the Brothers Johnson.

He also wrote songs for Karen Carpenter, Donna Summer, Mariah Carey and Mica Paris. 

But he was best known for writing songs for Jackson's albums Off The Wall and Thriller, after working with the singer's producer Quincy Jones.

Before penning international hit songs, Temperton (right, back row) started in Heatwave

When he joined Heatwave, Temperton had been working in a frozen fish factory in Grimsby.

He came up with the title for the smash hit song and album Thriller, which went on to sell millions of copies worldwide.

'I wrote two or three hundred titles and came up with Midnight Man. I woke up the next morning and I said this word, Thriller,' he has been quoted as saying.

'Something in my head just said, "this is the title". You could visualise it at the top of the Billboard charts, you could see the merchandising for this one word, how it jumped off the page.'

Cleethorpes-born Temperton is also said to have come up with much of the song in the back of a taxi, on the way to the studio.

Despite his huge success, eventually owning properties in Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, the south of France, Switzerland, Fiji and Kent, he shunned the limelight.

He said of his life: 'I watch telly, catch up on the news, and maybe the phone will ring.'