Milan Williams, former keyboard player for 70's R&B band The Commodores, has died from cancer in Houston at the age of 58.
Williams wrote ‘Machine Gun', the first hit for The Commodores. He was also the written of the funk classic ‘Brick House', as well as ‘The Bump', ‘I'm Ready', ‘X-Rated Movie', ‘Let's Get Started' and ‘Too Hot Ta Trot'.He joined the band in 1969 soon after his other band The Jays disbanded. The Commodores recorded their first single ‘Keep On Dancing' for Atlantic Records but were picked up by Motown in 1972 after a successful tour as support to The Jackson 5.
All members of The Commodores contributed to the songs in the early days but by 1977, their saxophone player Lionel Richie had become the band's primary vocalist and singles songwriter. With Richie on vocals they had their biggest hits with ‘Three Times A Lady', ‘Easy' and ‘Still'.
Milan left the band in 1989 after refusing to tour South Africa.
