Soul and R&B singer-songwriter Leon Ware, known for his work with Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Maxwell, and even Tyler, the Creator, passed away at 77 on Thursday (February 23), NPR reports. Although the cause of death has not been confirmed, Ware was diagnosed with prostate cancer in the mid-2000s, which could have contributed to his death.
Born in 1940, the Detroit native got his start with Motown Records while in his twenties, penning songs for the likes of The Isley Brothers, Ike and Tina Turner, and eventually the King of Pop. Later in his career, he would go on to work with Maxwell on the song “Sumthin’ Sumthin'” from his 1996 debut album, Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite, and most recently, appeared on Tyler, the Creator’s 2015 Cherry Bomb project. His eleventh (and final) solo studio album, Moon Ride, was released in 2008.
His music has been sampled by countless Hip Hop artists ranging from 2 Pac and A Tribe Called Quest to Brandy and Jay Z. Artists including Thundercat, Tyler, the Creator, Dam-Funk, Theophilus London (who worked with Ware in 2014 on his Vibes project), Maxwell, and Questlove took to social media to pay their respects. Check out the posts below.
"rest in heavenly peace mr. leon ware you will be missed.." #sumthinmellosmoothepic.twitter.com/MO4zTfM9M7
— MAXWELL (@_MAXWELL_) February 24, 2017
IT SADDENS ME TO SAY THIS … RIP LEON WARE your love will live forever in my heart. Vibes! Is yor album.
— Theophilus London (@TheophilusL) February 24, 2017
WOW, GOODBYE LEON WARE. A HEAVY INFLUENCE ON ME. THANKS FOR THE GUIDANCE AND AMAZING MUSIC. A SONG WE DID: https://t.co/1SABY6tuZO ?
— Tyler, The Creator (@tylerthecreator) February 24, 2017
#RIP Leon Ware (@LeonWareMuz)
(Feb. 16, 1940 ~ Feb. 23, 2017) pic.twitter.com/tmKXXwtetc— Focused⚡️DāM-FunK (@DaMFunK) February 24, 2017
Just so you know, Tokyo was written about my first time going to Japan with Leon Ware. I was never the same after. Thank you Leon
— Thunder….cat (@Thundercat) February 24, 2017
Rest in peace Leon Ware.
— Thunder….cat (@Thundercat) February 24, 2017