‘Thriller’ Songwriter Dies at 66

Rod Temperton, the British songwriter behind Michael Jackson’s iconic hits “Thriller” and “Rock With You,” has died at the age of 66. Temperton passed away after a brief struggle with cancer, his representatives said: “His family is devastated and request total privacy at this, the saddest of sad times,” said Jon Platt of Warner/Chappell music publishing. He was at one point nicknamed “The Invisible Man” because of the extremely low public profile he kept. Temperton’s funeral already took place last week.