Johnnie James Wilder Jr. (July 3, 1949 – May 13, 2006)[1] was the co-founder and co-lead vocalist of the R&B/funk group Heatwave, who were popular during the late 1970s with hits such as "Boogie Nights", "Mind Blowing Decisions", "Always and Forever", and "The Groove Line".

He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era, serving briefly in Vietnam as an infantryman before being reassigned to West Germany, where he first began performing solo in Taverns and Night clubs, following his discharge, he opted to stay in Germany before relocating to the United Kingdom where he met future Heathwave songwriter/keyboardist Rod Temperton through an ad placed in a local paper.

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

[4] Later he began a solo gospel career, singing a cappella on the albums My Goal and One More Day.

[6] Referring to My Goal and One More Day, he stated "The music that I'm doing is my way of giving thanks to God for being alive".