Johnny Kemp

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Johnny Kemp
Background information
Birth nameJonathan Kemp
Born(1959-08-02)August 2, 1959
Nassau, Bahamas
DiedApril 16, 2015(2015-04-16) (aged 55)[1]
Montego Bay, Jamaica
GenresR&B, new jack swing
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, keyboards, bass synthesizer
Years active1979–2015
LabelsColumbia

Jonathan "Johnny" Kemp

Grammy Award
for Best R&B Song in 1989.

Biography

Early life and career

Kemp began singing in nightclubs in the Bahamas at age 13.[3] He moved to Harlem, New York in 1979[3] with the band Kinky Fox. In the early 1980s, Kemp became a successful session musician and songwriter, singing backup for the B. B. & Q. Band on their 1982 album All Night Long (on which he co-wrote several tracks) and for Change on their 1982 album Sharing Your Love (on which he co-wrote "Take You To Heaven"). He also appeared on the obscure Network LP I Need You in 1984, where he had lead vocals on the song "Cover Girl", later re-recorded for his self-titled debut solo album.

Solo career

Kemp landed a solo recording contract with

12 Inch Singles Sales[7]
that same month.

Greater success came the following year with the release of his

UK Singles Chart entry, peaking at No. 68 in August 1988.[9] His only other Hot 100 entry was "Birthday Suit", a tune from the soundtrack to the movie, Sing (1989), which climbed to No. 36 in 1989.[3]

Later career

Kemp appeared on Keith Sweat's DVD release, Sweat Hotel Live (2007), which featured live performances by Sweat in a sort of reunion with other R&B/new jack swing era pioneers of the late 1980s, including Teddy Riley. Kemp appeared on the final track, an "all-star finale" rendition of "Just Got Paid", originally recorded at a February 2006 concert in Atlanta, Georgia. Incidentally, Sweat had initially passed on the instrumental track that would eventually become "Just Got Paid", when it was first offered to him in the mid-1980s. Kemp listened to it, added his own lyrics to the melody, and "Just Got Paid" was born.[10] Kemp also performed a version of the Reading Rainbow theme song (and other songs for that series) that was broadcast on PBS for a few years between the Tina Fabrique and Chaka Khan versions. Kemp was the featured performer (singing "Just Got Paid") at the NJS4E

Les Miserables (musical) stars Crysta Macalush Winton and Erin Rakow.[12] Former Dream Street member and Summerland (TV series) star Jesse McCartney was a member of the Sugar Beats.[13]
After releasing "80s Greaties" the Sugar Beats broke up in 2009.

Death

Kemp was found dead on April 16, 2015, off the coast of

Tom Joyner Foundation-hosted annual Fantastic Voyage cruise as a performer when his body was found; reports state he did not board the ship.[15][16]

He left behind a wife, Deirdre Fisher-Kemp, and their two sons, one of whom, Jared Kemp, is an actor.[17]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Peak chart positions
US
[18] 		US R&B
[18]
1986 Johnny Kemp — 36
1987 Secrets of Flying 68 4
"—" denotes the release did not chart.

Compilation albums

  • Just Got Paid (2004)

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Dance
[19]
 US R&B
[19] 		US Pop
[19]
UK
[20]
1986 "Just Another Lover" 26 14 ― ―
"Cover Girl" — — — ―
"Anything Worth Having (Is Worth Waiting For)" — ― — ―
1988 "Just Got Paid" 1 1 10 68
"One Thing Led to Another" — 40 — ―
"Dancin' With Myself" 12 5 — ―
1989 "Birthday Suit" 25 21 36 ―
1990 "Cover Girl" — — — ―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

See also

  • List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. dance chart
  • List of Billboard number-one dance hits

References

  1. ^ a b "No foul play in Johnny Kemp's death". Jamaica Observer. April 22, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  2. ^ "Bahamian R&B Singer Died In Jamaica–Ministry of Foreign Affairs Extends Condolences". The Bahama Journal. April 20, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (1991). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 316.
  4. ISSN 0006-2510
    .
  5. ISSN 0006-2510
    .
  6. ISSN 0006-2510
    .
  7. ISSN 0006-2510
    .
  8. AMG
    . Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  9. ISBN 1-904994-10-5
    .
  10. ^ "Johnny Kemp – "Just Got Paid" song review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  11. ^ "NJS4E". Njs4ever.com. September 8, 2007.
  12. ^ Wetzler, Cynthia Magriel (February 1, 1998). "Where the Oldies Beat Faster: 60's Music Entertains the Young". The New York Times.
  13. ^ "Jesse McCartney Comments on His Own Throwback Photos ]". January 20, 2018.
  14. ^ Slattery, Denis (April 17, 2015). "R&B singer Johnny Kemp, best known for the 1989 hit song 'Just Got Paid' found dead near in Jamaica". Daily News. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
  15. ^ Young, Danielle (April 17, 2015). "Sad News: Johnny Kemp Of 'Just Got Paid' Fame Has Died At 55". Defender. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
  16. ^ "R&B Singer Johnny Kemp Dead at 55". NewsOne. April 17, 2016.
  17. ^ "Johnny Kemp, Bahamian Singer, Dies at 55". The Times. Associated Press. April 21, 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Johnny Kemp - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 21, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c "Johnny Kemp Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  20. ^ "JOHNNY KEMP - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 16, 2020.

External links

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