Old School Friday * Heatwave

There is a great television series produced by TV-One called 'Unsung'. The episode this week focused on the group Heatwave. I have deep memories of Heatwave songs from my time in college. However, until I saw this show I never knew the background of the group. I knew the Heatwave logo ... but, never knew about the tragedy that followed the group.

• the original six members came from five different countries
• one member was shot and killed in Chicago
• one member was stabbed by his girlfriend in London
• the two lead singers were brothers
• the founder of the group spent the last 25 years of his life as a quadriplegic
• the organist in the group wrote majority of Heatwave songs and eventually left the group to become full-time songwriter. He wrote the top-selling song in music history -- Thriller, sung by Michael Jackson

I didn't know any of these factoids. All I knew is that Heatwave could bring the noise in a soulful, funky or upbeat (...y'all remember Boogie Nights!) manner. Here are two of my favorite Heatwave songs.











What is your favorite Heatwave memory?

Old School Friday: Reasons (EWF) or Always and Forever (Heatwave)

The theme for this week's Old School Friday meme is 'My First Date or My First Love Song'.

I went to Los Angeles High School for all except a semester of my junior year. I attended Friends School in Detroit for one semester. My memory of the puppy loves in high school have faded into the fog of my mind now that I'm an old-timer. However, I do have very good memories of listening to Earth Wind and Fire when they broke down the Reasons for any of us to be in love:





My memory of being in love during college is much stronger. Oddly, my first serious attraction to a woman occurred during my freshman year of college. In fact, it is only within the past year that I reconnected with the sister who entered into my heart so many years ago. The song that I associate with our relationship was (and is) Always and Forever by Heatwave.




It brings me joy to listen to both of these songs again. I hope you enjoyed either or both of them as well.