Leon Haywood - Songs

ABOUT

Leon Haywood (February 11, 1942 - April 5, 2016) was an R&B/funk/soul singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and producer who became famous beginning in the late 1960s. He is best known for the risque "I Want'a Do Something Freaky To You" (1975).

Born Otha Leon Haywood in Houston, Texas, he began playing piano at age 3 and, in his teens, performed with a local group and served as an accompanist to blues guitarist Guitar Slim. He relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1960s where he worked with R&B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely. He then joined Sam Cooke's band as a keyboardist and worked with him until his death in 1964.

Haywood debuted in 1965 with "She's With Her Other Love" (erroneously billed as Leon Hayward). This song was followed by a string of hits through 1984 that also include "It's Got To Be Mellow" (1967), "Keep It In The Family" (1974), and "I Want'a Do Something Freaky To You" (1975), a Top 10 R&B hit which made the Pop/Rock Top 20. Although it was "Don't Push It Don't Force It" (1980), which peaked at #2 on the R&B charts, that was his all-time top charting hit, it is mainly "I Want'a Do Something Freaky To You," which has been sampled by Dr. Dre and many other rappers over the years, for which Haywood is best remembered.

Haywood also co-wrote and produced Carl Carlton's 1981 hit, "She's A Bad Mama Jama." He later produced for such blues artists as Jimmy McCracklin, Clay Hammond, Ronnie Lovejoy, and Buddy Ace on his own Evejim Records label.

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Leon Haywood

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