Otha Leon Haywood was an American funk and soul singer, songwriter, and record producer.
10 Facts About Leon Haywood
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Leon Haywood is best known for his 1975 hit single "I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You", which has been frequently sampled by musicians such as Dr Dre among others.
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Leon Haywood was part of two session bands organized by Los Angeles disc jockey Magnificent Montague which issued the instrumental hits "Hole in the Wall" under the name of the Packers, and "Precious Memories" billed as the Romeos.
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In 1967, Leon Haywood secured his first solo hit with "It's Got to Be Mellow" on Decca Records.
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Leon Haywood established in 1967 a production company, Evejim, named after his parents.
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Leon Haywood found only sporadic success as a singer, including with "It's Got to Be Mellow" and "Keep It in the Family".
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Leon Haywood emerged as a star in the 1970s by modifying his style to incorporate the emerging funk and disco idioms.
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In 1980, Leon Haywood revived the shuffle beat of 1950s rock and roll with "Don't Push It Don't Force It".
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Leon Haywood is credited with writing the 1981 hit "She's a Bad Mama Jama" by Carl Carlton, which he produced in his own studio.
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Leon Haywood died in his sleep on April 5,2016, aged 74.