Leon Ware started his career as a songwriter in 1967. He co-wrote along with Ivy Hunter and Steve Bowden for The Isley Brothers recording of "Got to Have You Back". In 1971, Leon would collaborate with Ike & Tina Turner, co-writing six songs on their United Artist album called Nuff Said. The album reached the top 40 of the R&B charts and also appeared in the pop charts. Later that year, Ware began collaborating with Arthur "T-Boy" Ross, younger brother of Diana Ross. One of the songs they wrote was 'I Wanna Be Where You Are' recorded by Michael Jackson for his album, Got To Be There. The single reached the runner-up position of the R&B charts and peaked at 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. Ware's songwriting success led to a contract as an artist to United Artists, releasing his self-titled debut album.
Ware wrote for numerous artists during this period including Donny Hathaway and The Miracles. In 1974, Quincy Jones booked Ware as songwriter and performer for two songs off Jones' Body Heat album. The song, "If I Ever Lose This Heaven", hit the R&B charts in September of the year and was covered by the Average White Band. Ware worked with Minnie Riperton on Jones' album and collaborated again on Riperton's album, Adventures in Paradise album, composing Riperton's R&B hit, "Inside My Love". Ware and T-Boy Ross worked on demos for Ware's second album, this one to be issued on Motown Records and also for T-Boy Ross to win a deal. One of the demo recordings, "I Want You", was heard by Berry Gordy, who decided the song would be a good fit for Marvin Gaye. Gaye heard the other demos and decided to record much of it on what would be his next album, I Want You. Buoyed by the number-one title track, the album peaked at number-one on the R&B charts and reached the top ten of the Billboard 200 selling over a million copies.
Having given away the material for his album, Ware began again on a solo effort for Motown. The result would be Ware's second album, Musical Massage. Released in September 1976, the album failed to generate similar success and was not properly promoted. Ware continued his songwriting and producing career while also releasing solo albums between 1979 and 2008. During that period, Ware wrote for Teena Marie, Jeffrey Osborne, Loose Ends, James Ingram, Melissa Manchester, Krystol, Bobby Womack and Lulu, co-writing the latter's European hit, "Independence" in 1993. Ware helped to produce singer Maxwell's debut album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, released in 1996, and considered one of the landmark albums of the neo-soul genre. At the same time of that success, Ware's earlier work became a heavy source of samples in hip-hop music.
As of 2009, Ware was recovering from treatment for prostate cancer, and credited his friend and fellow songwriter Adrienne Anderson with directing him to appropriate medical care.
Ware produced the Shadows In The Street album for the group Shadow, which was released in 1981.
Discography
Studio albums
1972 Leon Ware — — United Artists
1976 Musical Massage — — Motown
1979 Inside Is Love — 62 Fabulous
1981 Rockin' You Eternally — — Elektra
1982 Leon Ware — —
1987 Undercover — — Sling Shot Records
1995 Taste The Love — — Kitchen Records
2001 Candlelight — —
2003 Love's Drippin — —
2004 A Kiss In The Sand — —
2008 Moon Ride — — Stax
What's Your Name
Leon Ware Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In your smile I can feel the same thing, too
Is your voice just as real?
Cos I don’t know your name. Well...
It seems like I’ve known you always
Even though, hasn’t it one full day?
I’m surprised that I feel this
cos I don’t know your name. Well...
What’s your name? Does it really matter?
Will your name make me love you more than I do?
They have found me in you. Who are you? Tell me...
There’s no plan that could say how we’d meet
I can tell cos I swept you off your feet
I don’t know if you’re ready
cos I don’t know your name
Should I say what I got on my mind?
I would swear I will know you a long time
Maybe this is the moment.
I don’t know your name. Well...
What’s your name? Does it really matter?
Will your name make me love you more than I do?
They have found me in you. Who are you? Tell me...
What’s your name? Does it really matter?
Will your name make me love you more than I do?
They have found me in you. Who are you? Tell me...
I wanna know your name. What’s your name?
Time is right. Please don’t fight. You will get to know me.
Face the reason while we’re here. So don’t be afraid.
You know when and you know why. Love comes quickly.
What’s your name? Does it really matter?
Will your name make me love you more than I do?
They have found me in you. Who are you? Tell me...
The song "What's Your Name" by Leon Ware portrays a story of a man who meets a woman and instantly feels a deep connection with her. He expresses his emotions through the lyrics and tries to understand his feelings for her. He opens up about how he can see the whole world in her eyes, and her smile makes him feel the same. He wonders if her voice is just as real as the feelings he has for her because he doesn't know her name yet.
Even though he has known her for only one day, he feels like he has known her always, and he is surprised by the strength of his emotions. He doesn't know if she is ready for his advances, and he is hesitant to express his feelings because he doesn't know her name, which makes him doubt if it matters. He acknowledges that love comes quickly but wants to know her name to make sense of his emotions.
The song highlights the feeling of love at first sight and the importance of knowing someone's name to understand and navigate one's feelings. It portrays a story of uncertainty, curiosity, and excitement that comes with starting a new relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
In your eyes I can see the whole world
Looking into your eyes, I can see that there is so much more to the world than I previously thought
In your smile I can feel the same thing, too
Just by the sight of your smile, I feel as though the world is full of endless possibility
Is your voice just as real?
I wonder if your voice is as wonderful as the other things about you that I have noticed
Cos I don’t know your name. Well...
Despite being so drawn to you, I do not know your name yet
It seems like I’ve known you always
It feels like I have known you for a long time, even though we have only just met
Even though, hasn’t it one full day?
I find it surprising that I feel this way even though it has only been one day since we met
I’m surprised that I feel this
I am amazed at how strongly I feel drawn to you
cos I don’t know your name. Well...
It is still strange to me that I am so captivated by someone whose name remains unknown to me
What’s your name? Does it really matter?
I wonder if knowing your name will have any real impact on how I feel about you
Will your name make me love you more than I do?
I am uncertain whether or not your name will change the strong feelings I already have for you
They have found me in you. Who are you? Tell me...
I am so intrigued by you and feel as though something inside me has been awakened by meeting you, and I want to know more
There’s no plan that could say how we’d meet
It is amazing that we met at all, and I do not believe that it was a coincidence or fate's plan
I can tell cos I swept you off your feet
I am confident in my ability to make you feel swept off your feet by my charm and personality
I don’t know if you’re ready cos I don’t know your name
I am unsure if you are ready to hear what I have to say because I do not know your name yet
Should I say what I got on my mind?
I am considering whether or not I should speak my true feelings to you
I would swear I will know you a long time
I am so drawn to you that I feel like we have a connection that will last well into the future
Maybe this is the moment. I don’t know your name. Well...
Perhaps this is the moment for me to tell you how I feel, but it is still strange to me that I do not know your name
I wanna know your name. What’s your name?
Despite being drawn to you regardless of your name, I still want to know what to call you
Time is right. Please don’t fight. You will get to know me.
I believe that the timing for us to know each other is perfect, and I hope you feel the same way and do not resist getting to know me
Face the reason while we’re here. So don’t be afraid.
Let us both confront and embrace why we were brought together and not be afraid of what might happen
You know when and you know why. Love comes quickly.
I feel like you understand why we were brought together and that love can sometimes come about in just such a short span of time
They have found me in you. Who are you? Tell me...
Again, I am so drawn to you and feel like something within me was discovered by meeting you, and I want to know more
What’s your name? Does it really matter?
Despite my feelings for you growing stronger, I still question if knowing your name will have any impact on our connection
Will your name make me love you more than I do?
I am still not sure if your name has any power to change the strong feelings I already have for you
They have found me in you. Who are you? Tell me...
I am once again so drawn by the discovery of something inside of me thanks to meeting you, and I want to learn more about who you are
Contributed by Nicholas O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@djbacon339
Love this song😍😍😍😍😍
Vocal arrangements👍
The horn section 👍
The strings section👍
The amazing vocals👍 all around👍👍
@djwoo5590
Omg I so much agree 🔥🔥
Odd Future (Back For Another One)
Sample This
@simonemastroianni1985
what about the bass? that's fire too
@derpkipper
Don't forget that groovy bass! 😭
@onehart99
I was born in 1973 and can remember my sister dancing to this song while washing dishes. I had forgotten about this song until I found it on Late Night Tales Selected by Jamiroquai, and I have been dancing to this Ware song like I was in the club Steppin, Stompin like a Black Fred Astaire
@onehart99
The soul clap is contagious and the chorus is unforgettable. When music had life and those that listened to it danced together as pairs. Shall we dance !
@michaelalderete9622
Yes with the clap! It only adds to the catchiness of the verse and chorus. Nicely produced song indeed. Hearing this song in Oct 2018, on kcrw.com, KCRW-FM, brought me here, and to Ware in general.
@dwaynerose9315
Music for any decade-just timeless
@MultiMach5
My God! I have not heard this song since I was a kid. I love this song. God bless you for posting this! I have been loking for this song for a while now! Thank you!
@eharvey6455
Thank you for being a big part of my life from a young, wet behind the ear boy to a full adult. Thanks for the memories and the incredible music.
Good night Mr. Ware