Michael Masser, whose songs reached the top ten in the U.S. and U.K. almost two dozen times, died on Thursday in Rancho Mirage, CA at the age of 74.
A member of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, Masser’s compositions were recorded by the likes of Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Roberta Flack, Peabo Bryson, Natalie Cole and many more.
Masser attended the University of Illinois College of Law before settling into a career as a stockbroker. Not fulfilled in his job, he eventually made the decision to pursue his love of music.
His first success came in 1973 with Touch Me in the Morning, which he co-wrote with Ron Miller. The song forged a working friendship with Diana Ross that lasted into the early 80’s and produced such hits as Last Time I Saw Him, Theme From Mahogany, I Thought It Took a Little Time and It’s My Turn.
Masser also worked as a producer and it was while working with Luther Vandross on Teddy Pendegrass’ album Love Language that he first heard a young Whitney Houston. He went on to co-produce her first three albums and co-wrote three of her biggest hits, Saving All My Love For You (with Gerry Goffin), Greatest Love of All (with Linda Creed) and Didn’t We Almost Have It All (with Will Jennings).
Masser was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2007.
Masser’s top twenty hits in the U.S. and U.K.:
Touch Me In the Morning (Diana Ross / 1973 / #1 Pop / #1 Adult Contemporary (AC) / #5 R&B / #9 U.K.) Last Time I Saw Him (Diana Ross / 1974 / #14 Pop / #1 AC / #15 R&B / #35 U.K) Last Time I Saw Him (Dottie West / 1974 / #8 Country) Sorry Doesn’t Always Make It Right (Diana Ross / 1975 / #17 AC / #23 U.K.) Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To) (Diana Ross / 1975 / #1 Pop / #1 AC / #14 R&B / #5 U.K.) I Thought It Took a Little Time (But Today I Fell in Love) (Diana Ross / 1976 / #47 Pop / #4 AC / #61 R&B / #32 U.K.) So Sad the Song (Gladys Knight and the Pips / 1976 / #47 Pop / #3 AC / #12 R&B / #20 U.K.) The Greatest Love of All (George Benson / 1977 / #24 Pop / #22 AC / #2 R&B / #27 U.K.) Someone That I Used to Love (Natalie Cole / 1980 / #21 Pop / #3 AC / #21 R&B) It’s My Turn (Diana Ross / #9 Pop / #9 AC / #14 R&B / #16 U.K.) Tonight I Celebrate My Love (Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson / 1983 / #16 Pop / #4 AC / #5 R&B / #2 U.K.) In Your Eyes (George Benson / 1983 / #30 AC / #7 U.K.) If Ever You’re In My Arms Again (Peabo Bryson / 1984 / #10 Pop / #1 AC / #6 R&B) Hold Me (Teddy Pendergrass / 1984 / #46 Pop / #6 AC / #5 R&B / #45 U.K.) A Long and Lasting Love (Crystal Gayle / 1985 / #5 Country) Nobody Wants to Be Alone (Crystal Gayle / 1985 / #3 Country) Saving All My Love For You (Whitney Houston / 1985 / #1 Pop / #1 AC / #1 R&B / #1 U.K.) Greatest Love of All (Whitney Houston / 1986 / #1 Pop / #1 AC / #3 R&B / #8 U.K.) In Your Eyes (Jeffrey Osborne / 1987 / #15 AC / #82 R&B) Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You (1987 / #12 Pop / #4 AC / #1 U.K.) Didn’t We Almost Have It All (Whitney Houston / 1987 / #1 Pop / #1 AC / #2 R&B / #14 U.K.) Miss You Like Crazy (Natalie Cole / 1989 / #7 Pop / #1 AC / #1 R&B / #2 U.K.) Starting Over Again (Natalie Cole / 1989 / #5 AC / #56 U.K.) Heard ‘Em Say (Kanye West / 2005 / #26 Pop / #17 R&B / #22 U.K.)
