Leon Ware

Leon Ware (February 16, 1940 – February 23, 2017)

Career 1950s–1960s: Early career During the mid-1950s, Ware became acquainted with the music industry as a key member of a vocal group, the Romeos, with Lamont Dozier and Ty Hunter, later of the Originals.

In 1960, Ware wrote half of an album for his solo output, which he never completed. By the late 60s, he began working at ABC Records as an arranger and songwriter. He later joined Motown as a staff member. His co-composition for the Isleys was his first one to achieve gold status.

1970s: Major breakthroughs In 1971, Ware collaborated with Ike & Tina Turner, co-writing six songs on their United Artists album 'Nuff Said. The album reached the number 21 on the Billboard R&B chart and also appeared on the Billboard 200. This led to a contract as a solo artist on United Artists where he released his self-titled debut album in 1972. Around this time, Ware began collaborating with Arthur "T-Boy" Ross, younger brother of Diana Ross. The pair penned the 1972 hit "I Wanna Be Where You Are," recorded by Michael Jackson for his album Got To Be There. The single reached number two on the R&B charts and peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. Ware co-wrote for numerous artists during this period including Donny Hathaway and The Miracles.

In 1974, Quincy Jones booked Ware as songwriter and performer for two songs on Jones' Body Heat album. The song "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" hit the R&B chart in September of that year and was covered by the Average White Band. Ware had worked with Minnie Riperton on Jones' album, and they collaborated again on Riperton's album Adventures in Paradise,

Having given away the material for his album, Ware began again on a solo effort for Motown's Gordy label. Motown executives insisted Ware's following album should be given to Gaye. Ware protested at their suggestion, so the company responded by barely promoting his second album, Musical Massage, released in September 1976. The album suffered commercially due to the fact, despite its excellence in quality. Retrospectively, the album gained a cult following among soul music fans that were intrigued with Ware's work and received positive reception from music critics.

When his contract with Motown ended, Ware decided to focus on writing and producing for other artists, and he wouldn't release another album until 1979. The album reached the charts along with its single, "What's Your Name," establishing him as a recording artist for the first time.

1980s: Subsequent career In 1981, Ware signed with Elektra Records, and he released his fourth album, Rockin' You Eternally. The album spawned two R&B singles chart entries, "Baby Don't Stop Me" and the title track. The album itself did not reach the charts. The company dropped him after the album didn't sell sufficient amount of copies. During this period, Ware contributhis songwriting and production input for several artists, including Shadow, and Teena Marie's 1984 album Starchild. William Ruhlmann of AllMusic wrote, the success "didn't increase Ware's exposure as an artist, but it substantially increased his publishing income." Ware co-wrote "Independence", the comeback single of Scottish singer Lulu that became a hit in 1993. After two years of Ware's death, his posthumous album Rainbow Deux was released in 2019. His second wife was the singer Susaye Greene (best known as a member of the last lineup of The Supremes), whom he married in 1974 and divorced in the same year due to Greene's familial disapprovement.

Illness and death As of 2009, Ware was recovering from treatment for prostate cancer, and credited his friend and fellow songwriter Adrienne Anderson with directing him to appropriate medical care. He died in Marina del Rey, California, on February 23, 2017, from complications of prostate cancer. He was 77. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, his sons, his granddaughter, and his brothers.

1972

— — United Artists 1976

— — Gordy 1979

— 62 Fabulous 1981

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1982

— — 1987

— — Sling Shot Records 1995

— —

2001

— — 2003

— — P-Vine 2004

— — Kitchen Records 2008

— — Stax 2014

— — P-Vine 2019

— — Be With Records

Charted singles Date Title US R&B 1979 What's Your Name 42 1981 Baby Don't Stop Me 66 Rockin' You Eternally 74

Songwriting credits Ware wrote and co-wrote dozens of songs for various artists, some of his credits include:

1966: "Tell Me I'll Never Be Alone" – Martha & The Vandellas 1967: Souled Out – The Righteous Brothers 1967: "Land of Tomorrow" – Kim Weston 1967: "Got To Have You Back" – The Isley Brothers 1970: "2-4-6-8" - The Jackson 5 1971: 'Nuff Said – Ike & Tina Turner 1972: "I Wanna Be Where You Are" – Michael Jackson 1972: "Up In Heah" – Ike & Tina Turner 1972: "I Know How It Feels To Be Lonely" – Delaney & Bonnie 1972: "Don't Tell Me I'm Crazy" – Edwin Starr 1973: "Give Me Just Another Day" – The Miracles 1973: "Stay Away" – Valentinos 1973: "Able, Qualified, And Ready" – Bonnie Bramlett 1973: "Rolling Down A Mountainside" – Isaac Hayes 1973: "Euphoria" – Michael Jackson 1973: "It's Too Late To Change The Time" – The Jackson 5 1973: "Don't Say Goodbye Again" – The Jackson 5 1973: "I Know It's You" – Donny Hathaway 1974: "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" – Quincy Jones 1975: Adventures In Paradise – Minnie Riperton 1975: "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" – Nancy Wilson 1975: "If I Don't Love You This Way" – The Temptations 1975: "Git It" – Bobby Womack 1976: I Want You – Marvin Gaye 1977: "Fantasy Is Reality" – Parliament 1980: "Everywhere Inside Of Me" – Norman Connors 1980: "No Tricks" – Chuck Jackson 1984: "Show Me Your Magic" – Bobby King 1984: "My Dear Mr. Gaye" – Teena Marie 1986: "Love's Been Here And Gone" – James Ingram 1986: "You Make Me Want To (Love Again)" – Vesta Williams 1996: "Sumthin' Sumthin'" – Maxwell