Heatwave were an international funk/disco band formed in 1975. Its most popular lineup featured Americans Johnnie Wilder Jr. and Keith Wilder (vocals) of Dayton, Ohio; Englishman Rod Temperton (keyboards); Swiss Mario Mantese (bass); Czechoslovak Ernest “Bilbo” Berger (drums); Jamaican Eric Johns (guitar); and Briton Roy Carter (guitar).
They were known for their singles “Boogie Nights”, “The Groove Line”, and “Always and Forever”.
Johnnie Wilder died in his sleep at his home in Dayton, Ohio on May 13, 2006. On 5 October 2016, Temperton’s death was announced after what was described by his music publisher as “a brief aggressive battle with cancer”. Temperton had died at the age of 66 in London the previous week and his funeral had already taken place. The exact date of his death was not announced. Keith Wilder died on October 29, 2017.