Thursday, February 23, 2017

R.I.P.: Leon Ware (1940-2017)

R.I.P.: Leon Ware
(born on February 16, 1940, Black Bottom, Detroit, Michigan, USA;
died on February 23, 2017, Marina del Rey, California, USA)

The fabulous North American singer & songwriter, recorded many great albums, but this self-titled r&b gem is my favorite. Recorded in 1982 for Elektra, arranged by Marty Paich & Jerry Hey, featuring Flora Purim, Airto Moreira, Laudir de Oliveira, Gato Barbieri, Janis Siegel, Nathan East, Chuck Rainey, David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, Rita Coolidge, Steve Lukather etc. There are two beautiful songs co-written with Marcos Valle: the haunting ballad Deeper Than Love (Mais Que Amor) and the infectious samba-funk Somewhere (later recorded by Emilio Santiago as Dentro de Você.)

Leon Ware's tunes were recorded by Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, Minnie Ripperton, Donny Hathaway, Isaac Hayes and many others, being sampled by Ice Cub, Tupac, Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest etc. Rest in Power.

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