<P> Leon Ware (February 16, 1940--February 23, 2017) was an American music artist, songwriter and composer . Besides a solo career as a performer, Ware was best known for producing hits for other artists including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Maxwell, Minnie Riperton and Marvin Gaye, co-producing the latter's album, I Want You . </P> <P> Leon Ware was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan . In his teens, he was a member of a vocal group, the Romeos, with Lamont Dozier and Ty Hunter (later of the Originals). After a period at ABC Records he started his career as a songwriter at Motown in 1967 . He co-wrote along with Ivy Hunter and Steve Bowden for The Isley Brothers recording of "Got to Have You Back". In 1971, he collaborated with Ike & Tina Turner, co-writing six songs on their United Artists album, Nuff Said . The album reached the top 40 of the R&B charts and also appeared in the pop charts . Later that year, Ware began collaborating with Arthur "T - Boy" Ross, younger brother of Diana Ross . One of the songs they wrote was "I Wanna Be Where You Are" recorded by Michael Jackson for his album, Got To Be There . The single reached the runner - up position of the R&B charts and peaked at 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 . Ware's songwriting success led to a contract as an artist to United Artists, releasing his self - titled debut album . </P> <P> Ware wrote for numerous artists during this period including Donny Hathaway and The Miracles . In 1974, Quincy Jones booked Ware as songwriter and performer for two songs off Jones' Body Heat album . The song, "If I Ever Lose This Heaven", hit the R&B charts in September of the year and was covered by the Average White Band . Ware worked with Minnie Riperton on Jones' album and collaborated again on Riperton's album, Adventures in Paradise album, composing Riperton's R&B hit, "Inside My Love". Ware and T - Boy Ross worked on demos for Ware's second album, this one to be issued on Motown and also for T - Boy Ross to win a deal . One of the demo recordings, "I Want You", was heard by Berry Gordy, who decided the song would be a good fit for Marvin Gaye . Gaye heard the other demos and decided to record much of it on what would be his next album, I Want You . Buoyed by the number - one title track, the album peaked at number - one on the R&B charts and reached the top ten of the Billboard 200 selling over a million copies . </P> <P> Having given away the material for his album, Ware began again on a solo effort for Motown . The result would be Ware's second album, Musical Massage . Released in September 1976, the album failed to generate similar success and was not properly promoted . Ware produced the Shadows In The Street album for the group Shadow, which was released in 1981 . Ware continued his songwriting and producing career while also releasing solo albums between 1979 and 2008 . During that period, Ware wrote for Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, Loose Ends, James Ingram, Melissa Manchester, Krystol, Bobby Womack and Lulu, co-writing the latter's European hit, "Independence" in 1993 . Ware helped to produce singer Maxwell's debut album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, released in 1996, and considered one of the landmark albums of the neo-soul genre . At the same time of that success, Ware's earlier work became a heavy source of samples in hip - hop music . </P>

Who wrote the song if i ever lose this heaven
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