Tara Kemp

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."

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

Career

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.

Discography

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

Singles
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
  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. 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. "US Charts > Tara Kemp". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  12. "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.
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