Johnnie Wilder Jr., 56; Lead Singer of R&B; Band Heatwave

Johnnie Wilder Jr., 56, soulful lead singer of the 1970s and ‘80s R&B; band Heatwave, died in his sleep May 13 at his home in Clayton, Ohio, according to his daughter Carla Hawkins.

While stationed in Germany with the Army in the mid-’70s, Wilder formed Heatwave with his brother, Keith, who still performs with the two-time Grammy-nominated band.

The group soared to the top of the R&B; and pop charts in 1977 with the singles “Boogie Nights” and “Always and Forever.”

In 1979 in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, Wilder was paralyzed from the neck down when a van struck his car, hospitalizing him for a year. He continued recording with Heatwave but did not tour with the band and later began a gospel career.