Legendary songwriter Leon Ware has passed away at the age of 77. According to NPR, the longtime Motown songwriter died on February 23, just over a week after his 77th birthday.
Ware’s credits are a who’s who of iconic performers spanning several generations. Ware worked with Donny Hathaway and The Isley Brothers at Motown and later worked with Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. He’s perhaps best known (outside of his own solo albums) for being Marvin Gaye‘s right-hand man on one of the soul singer’s most-beloved albums. Ware co-wrote and produced every single song on I Want You , the follow-up to Gaye’s late-night breakout Let’s Get It On.
RIP Leon Ware. Wrote all over what I think is Marvin's best album, my favorite Marvin album "I Want You" pic.twitter.com/xQ2vY9GSkc
— FOST (@GeorgeFoster72) February 24, 2017
Ware was not content to rest on his laurels, however. He worked with neo-soul acolytes like Maxwell and even the Odd Future head Tyler, The Creator in his later years. Both artists were among the many people paying tribute to Ware on social media.
https://twitter.com/_MAXWELL_/status/835028277903273984
WOW, GOODBYE LEON WARE. A HEAVY INFLUENCE ON ME. THANKS FOR THE GUIDANCE AND AMAZING MUSIC. A SONG WE DID: https://t.co/1SABY6tuZO 😢
— T (@tylerthecreator) February 24, 2017
#RIP Leon Ware (@LeonWareMuz)
(Feb. 16, 1940 ~ Feb. 23, 2017) pic.twitter.com/tmKXXwtetc— FunK (@DaMFunK) February 24, 2017
Saying farewell to Master Leon Ware. Such an amazing songwriter!! Well done, good sir. #LeonWare pic.twitter.com/Fqsq8GWWwE
— Brandon Williams (@bwilliamsmusic) February 24, 2017
RIP Leon Ware…. a TRUE great of soul and song writing…. https://t.co/cO7WUBPKij
— Gilles Peterson (@gillespeterson) February 24, 2017
https://twitter.com/Ebonyteach/status/835210213112307712
Questlove said a few words about the “author of the sexiest pen game” and “master craftsman” on Instagram:
The official account of Motown paid tribute to the man who helped build their label with his work:
Rest In Peace to soul legend Leon Ware. The Motown family honors you today and always. ❤️ https://t.co/QqzKagWDEa
— Motown Records (@motown) February 24, 2017
And Stax Records also joined in on the digital ceremony:
#RIP Leon Ware. pic.twitter.com/DYmfqqFmqp
— Stax Records (@StaxRecords) February 24, 2017
Though Ware battled prostate cancer throughout the ’00s, no cause of death has been revealed.