Tara Kemp

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This article is about the singer. For the singer's eponymous album, see Tara Kemp (album).

Tara Kemp
Birth nameTara Leslye Kemp[1]
OriginLivermore, California
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1991 – 1994
2013 – present
Labels

Tara Leslye Kemp is an American singer best known for her two Billboard Hot 100 top-ten singles in 1991: "Hold You Tight" and "Piece of My Heart."

Career[edit]

Kemp signed to Giant Records in 1990, a new sublabel of the Warner Brothers music label. In January 1991, her self-titled album and debut single "Hold You Tight" were released. "Hold You Tight" became a hit, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; the song was certified gold by the RIAA and ranked as the twenty-fifth best-selling single of 1991. The song also peaked at No. 69 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] In May, Kemp released her second single "Piece of My Heart", which reached number seven on the Hot 100 in July and was the eighty-fourth best-selling single of the year. A third single "Too Much" was released, but stalled at number 95.[4]

Following the release of her debut album, Giant began to interfere with Kemp's recording of her sophomore album. Wanting to sign to Atlantic Records – where most of the people who had signed her to Giant had moved to – Kemp asked to be released from her contract.[5] However, Atlantic did not sign her. Kemp released two more songs: in 1993, "Action Speaks Louder Than Words" was featured on the soundtrack for the Fox television series, Beverly Hills, 90210;[6] and "Come Correct", which was released independently in 1994. Owing to issues in her personal life, she left the music industry soon after.[5]

In 2013, Kemp launched a Facebook page and YouTube channel containing new photography, uploads of vintage material, and teasers to a new track called "Water." In 2014 and 2015, Kemp revealed in interviews that she was working on new material.[7][8] In April 2016, Kemp released "Paris in Spring" (featuring D'wayne Wiggins), her first single in 22 years, as a charity single to benefit victims of the November 2015 Paris attacks.[9]

In January 2021, Kemp revealed plans to independently release her shelved sophomore album and remastered versions of her 1991 singles.[10][5] She is working with New York City-based Shakir Entertainment Management.

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Year Album details Peak positions
US
[11] 		US
R&B
[11] 		AUS
[12]
1991 Tara Kemp 109 34 140

Singles[edit]

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[11] 		US
R&B
[11] 		US
Dan
[11] 		AUS
[13][12] 		CAN
[14] 		NZ
[15] 		UK
[16]
1991 "Hold You Tight" 3 4 15 68 24 19 69 Tara Kemp
"Piece of My Heart" 7 47 — 156 81 — —
"Too Much" 95 — — — — — —
1994 "Come Correct" — — — — — — — Non-album singles
2016 "Paris in Spring" (featuring D'Wayne Wiggins) — — — — — — —
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "PARIS IN SPRING". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Farber, Jim (February 1, 1991). "Tara Kemp". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 298. ISBN 1904994105.
  4. ^ "Artist Chart History - Tara Kemp". billboard.com. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  5. ^ a b c McCoy, Tabari (March 24, 2021). "A Tight 45 with Tabari McCoy – Episode 029 – Tara Kemp". A Tight 45 with Tabari McCoy. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  6. ^ "Beverly Hills, 90210 TV Soundtrack". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  7. ^ "12 - Tara Kemp - part 1". BREAK IT DOWN SHOW.
  8. ^ "Once Famous". SoundCloud.
  9. ^ "New Single : Paris In Spring – Tara Kemp & D'Wayne Wiggins | Magic Music Magazine". Magic Music Magazine. WordPress.com. May 2, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  10. ^ "Reliving My Youth". Soundcloud.
  11. ^ a b c d e "US Charts > Tara Kemp". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  12. ^ a b "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing July 15, 1991". Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  13. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 152.
  14. ^ "CAN Charts > Tara Kemp". RPM. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  15. ^ "NZ Charts > Tara Kemp". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  16. ^ "UK Charts > Tara Kemp". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  17. ^ "American certifications – Tara Kemp". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 15, 2020.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tara_Kemp&oldid=1218010393"