R.I.P. Leon Ware, singer, songwriter, producer, unsung legend (1940 – 2017)

I didn't see another thread about this, and the search engine seems to not be working at the moment, so apologies if this is already posted elsewhere.

I only came to discover Leon's solo music fairly recently which is incredible, but his work with Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye alone makes him a legend.

R.I.P. to a soulful guy.

http://www.okayplayer.com/news/rip-leon-ware.html

 

Here's a great song from his last album in 2008, which showed Leon's gorgeous voice was intact as was his way with a melody...

 

Sad news. Such a great talent. RIP.

 

What a shame. Until last year, I knew him only through his work on I Want You, but then picked up Musical Massage, which completely blew my mind. In fact, had bought the reissue on CD and listened obsessively, then went on vacation for a couple of weeks and ended up buying it again on iTunes because I couldn't wait until I was back home to hear it again. It's that good.

 

My first exposure was this track, co-written with Pam Sawyer:

"If I Ever Lose This Heaven" - Quincy Jones, from the album Body Heat.

 

I agree -- I only discovered it in the early 2000's, but man, what an album! I couldn't figure out how I missed it all those years. For anyone interested, it was reissued on vinyl last year by Culture Factory.

Leon Ware - LP 33 RPM - Musical Massage (BROWN VINYL) - Culture Factory

 

RIP Leon, you will be missed.

 

Here's a live performance of "I Want You" from 2001, which features Carleen Anderson and Michael Franti.

 

Some nice tributes from Thundercat, Mayer Hawthorne, et al.:

Soul legend Leon Ware dies aged 77

 

He also wrote this incredible song that Donny Hathaway recorded:



Sleep well, Leon.

Ed

 

Leon Ware was such a brilliant writer, had a great ear and inspired such beautiful arrangements. He's written so many of my favorite songs and you can tell he really lived. RIP.

 

You could tell a Leon Ware tune a mile off. I remember thinking when Maxwell brought out his debut album ' God, Leon Ware is still around and producing music'. Much more to him than 'I Want You', brilliant though it is. I'll miss him.

 

Another great loss....some of my favorite songs of his:

I Wanna Be Where You Are (he wrote it for Michael Jackson but I prefer his version over Michael's)

 

Rockin' You Eternally

 

Michael's version

 

RIP

His music shall stay with us.