Johnnie Wilder Jr. | |
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Background information | |
Born | Dayton, Ohio, United States | July 3, 1949
Died | May 13, 2006 Dayton, Ohio, United States | (aged 56)
Genres | R&B, funk |
Johnnie James Wilder Jr. (July 3, 1949 – May 13, 2006) [1] was the co-founder and co-lead vocalist of the R&B/ funk group Heatwave, who were popular during the late 1970s with hits such as " Boogie Nights", "Mind Blowing Decisions", " Always and Forever", and " The Groove Line".
He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era.
On February 24, 1979, a van broadsided Wilder's car, paralyzing him from the neck down and hospitalizing him for a year. [2] [1]
During the 1980s and 1990s, Wilder went on to record other albums with the group, as well as an album with his brother titled Sound of Soul in 1989. [3] Later he began a solo gospel career, singing a cappella on the albums My Goal and One More Day. [4] The latter album featured a re-recording of the song " All I Am" written by Lynsey de Paul and Susan Sheridan, that was originally recorded for the Heatwave album, Candles. [5] Referring to My Goal and One More Day, he stated "The music that I'm doing is my way of giving thanks to God for being alive". [2]
He had a wife, Rosalyn. [1]
He died in his sleep on May 13, 2006, at his home in Dayton, Ohio, aged 56, from complications of his paralysis.
Johnnie Wilder Jr. | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Background information | |
Born | Dayton, Ohio, United States | July 3, 1949
Died | May 13, 2006 Dayton, Ohio, United States | (aged 56)
Genres | R&B, funk |
Johnnie James Wilder Jr. (July 3, 1949 – May 13, 2006) [1] was the co-founder and co-lead vocalist of the R&B/ funk group Heatwave, who were popular during the late 1970s with hits such as " Boogie Nights", "Mind Blowing Decisions", " Always and Forever", and " The Groove Line".
He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era.
On February 24, 1979, a van broadsided Wilder's car, paralyzing him from the neck down and hospitalizing him for a year. [2] [1]
During the 1980s and 1990s, Wilder went on to record other albums with the group, as well as an album with his brother titled Sound of Soul in 1989. [3] Later he began a solo gospel career, singing a cappella on the albums My Goal and One More Day. [4] The latter album featured a re-recording of the song " All I Am" written by Lynsey de Paul and Susan Sheridan, that was originally recorded for the Heatwave album, Candles. [5] Referring to My Goal and One More Day, he stated "The music that I'm doing is my way of giving thanks to God for being alive". [2]
He had a wife, Rosalyn. [1]
He died in his sleep on May 13, 2006, at his home in Dayton, Ohio, aged 56, from complications of his paralysis.