Johnnie Wilder, Jr.

Johnnie James Wilder Jr. (July 3, 1949 – May 13, 2006) was the co-founder and lead vocalist of the international R&B/funk group Heatwave, who were popular during the late 1970s with hits such as "Boogie Nights", "Mind Blowing Decisions" (which Wilder wrote), "Always and Forever", and "The Groove Line", on which Wilder sang co-lead vocals.

Life
He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam.

On February 24, 1979, a van broadsided Wilder's car, paralyzing him from the neck down and hospitalizing him for a year.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Wilder went on to record other albums with the group and later began a gospel career, singing a cappella on the albums My Goal and One More Day. The latter album featured a re-recording of the song "All I Am" written by Lynsey de Paul and Susan Sheridan, that was originally recorded for the Heatwave album, Candles.

He died in his sleep on May 13, 2006, at his home in Dayton, Ohio, aged 56, from complications of his paralysis. He is survived by his wife, the former Rosalyn Sanders.