Nik Kershaw

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Biography

Nik Kershaw (born Nicholas David Kershaw , 1 March 1958) is an English people|English singer-songwriter . The one time jazz - funk guitarist was a mid-1980s teen idol . His 50 weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1984 beat all other solo (music)|soloists . Kershaw appeared at Live Aid , and penned hit record|hits for Let Loose , The Hollies and a chart-topper|number 1 for Chesney Hawkes , " The One and Only (song)|The One and Only ".

Career

1970s

Although born in Bristol, Kershaw grew up in Ipswich , Suffolk , and after leaving Northgate High School (Ipswich)|Northgate High School in 1976 worked as a shop assistant and in the Department of Employment for several years, during which time he played guitar and sang in a number of underground Ipswich band (music)|bands . However, when the last of these, Fusion, split up in 1982, he embarked on a full time career as a songwriter and performer. In 1983, he signed a recording contract with MCA Records , a deal which spawned his debut single (music)|single , " I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me ".

1980s

At the beginning of 1984, Kershaw released his breakthrough song " Wouldn't It Be Good ", which reached Number 4 in the UK Singles Chart , and was a big success in Europe , particularly in Germany , Italy , Switzerland , and in Scandinavia , Australia and New Zealand . The music video , featuring Kershaw as a chroma key -suited Extraterrestrial life in popular culture|alien , received heavy rotation by MTV , helping the song reach #46 in the United States . He enjoyed three more Top 20 hits from his debut album Human Racing , including the title track and a successful re-issue of "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". This track ultimately proved his biggest hit as a performer when it reached Number 2 in the UK.

Kershaw's second album was The Riddle (album)|The Riddle . The The Riddle (Nik Kershaw song)|title track proved to be another UK and international hit single , and the album also spawned two more UK Top 40|Top 10 hits, "Wide Boy" and " Don Quixote ", as it went Music recording sales certification|platinum . During this time, Kershaw toured extensively with his backing band The Krew, consisting of Keith Airey, Tim Moore, Mark Price (musician)|Mark Price , Sheri Kershaw (his wife), and Dennis Smith.. Nme.com (1999-02-11). Retrieved on 2011-11-20.

In July 1985, Kershaw was among the performers at Live Aid, held at Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium . His stardom began to wane soon afterwards and he enjoyed only one more UK Top 40 hit. He continued to sound recording and reproduction|record and release gramophone record|records , and collaborated with others. Also in 1985, Elton John asked Kershaw to play guitar on John's hit " Nikita (song)|Nikita ".

A cover of "Wouldn't it be Good" by the Danny Hutton Hitters appeared on the Pretty in Pink (soundtrack)|soundtrack of the 1986 in film|1986 teen romance film|romantic comedy-drama Pretty in Pink . Later the same year, his third album, Radio Musicola , was released to critical acclaim but to little commercial success. The Works (Nik Kershaw album)|The Works was released in 1989 to little success.

1990s

His prowess as a songwriter served him well in 1991, when his song " The One and Only (song)|The One and Only " appeared on the soundtrack to the British film '' Buddy's Song (film)|Buddy's Song , and in the American movie Doc Hollywood . "The One and Only" proved to be a UK chart-topper|Number 1 for the star of Buddy's Song'', Chesney Hawkes . In 1993, The Hollies had a minor hit with another of Kershaw's songs, "The Woman I Love". During the mid 1990s he also wrote and record producer|produced material for the boy band Let Loose , with two of the tracks ("Seventeen" and "Everybody Say Everybody Do") achieving reasonable success.

1999 saw the release of 15 Minutes (Nik Kershaw album)|15 Minutes . Kershaw revealed that he decided to sound recording and reproduction|record the tracks himself, when he could not envisage them being recorded by other artists.. Web.archive.org (2001-10-21). Retrieved on 2011-11-20. The album spawned two singles, including "What Do You Think Of It So Far? ", a song described as "an elegant and soaring ode to the transience of time, infused with both self-doubt and an acceptance of life that can only come with maturity".Record Mart & Buyer, Issue 12, July 1999, p71

2000s

The follow-up album, To Be Frank , was released in 2001. Over the years, Kershaw has collaborated on albums with musician|artists such as Elton John , Bonnie Tyler , Tony Banks (musician)|Tony Banks , Stuart Price|Les Rythmes Digitales , Michael W. Smith and Imogen Heap .

In 2005, Kershaw released Then and Now (Nik Kershaw album)|Then And Now , a collection of earlier material with four new tracks. In 2006, he completed another solo album, '' You've Got to Laugh '', available only through his website or digitally through iTunes . This album contained twelve tracks and was released on the musician's own record label|label , Shorthouse Records. Neither Then And Now nor ''You've Got To Laugh was promoted by a tour. The year also saw the ITunes|digital re-release of his 1980s back catalogue including Human Racing , The Riddle , Radio Musicola and The Works .

Kershaw performed at Fairport Convention|Fairports Cropredy Convention on the 15 August 2009 and the Rewind Festival on 23 August 2009, on Temple Island Meadows at Henley-on-Thames .Linda Serck . Bbc.co.uk. last updated: 21 August 2009. Retrieved on 2011-11-20. Kershaw also performed at The New Wolsey Theatre , Ipswich on 15 November 2009.

2010s

On 13 May 2010, Kershaw appeared on stage and hosted 'Our Friends Acoustic' in aid of Mencap . He performed "The Riddle", "Wouldn't It Be Good", "Dancing Girls" and "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". Other 1980s performers joined him and performed their own songs, including Andy Bell (singer)|Andy Bell , Carol Decker , Howard Jones (musician)|Howard Jones , Jimmy Somerville , China Crisis and Steve Strange at The O2 (London)|The O2 in London.

Personal life

In June 1983, Kershaw married Sheri and they have three children. Nik and Sheri Kershaw separated in November 2003.. Findarticles.com (2003-11-16). Retrieved on 2011-11-20. Kershaw married Sarah, his girlfriend of four years, in June 2009 and is stepfather to Renee. On 10 June 2010, Kershaw revealed his wife had given birth to a son. They now divide their time between their homes near Little Dunmow , Essex and West Cork , Republic of Ireland|Ireland .

Discography

For further information, see Nik Kershaw discography

''To see a list of Nik Kershaw's studio albums, see #Studio Albums|below .

Studio albums

Release date !! Album title
1984
1984
1986
1989
1999
2001
2006
2010

Collaborations

1985: Nikita (song)|Nikita by Elton John – Kershaw on electric guitar.

1991: Still (Tony Banks album)|Still by Tony Banks (musician)|Tony Banks – Kershaw on lead vocals on "Red Day on Blue Street", "I Wanna Change the Score" and "The Final Curtain". "Red Day on Blue Street" and "I Wanna Change the Score" co-written by Banks and Kershaw.

1993: Duets (Elton John album)|Duets by Elton John – "Old Friend" written by Kershaw. All instruments by Kershaw. Vocals by Kershaw and John.

1996: "Walls of Sound" (single) from Strictly Inc – A-side and B-side|B-side "Back to You" was co-written by Banks and Kershaw.

1998: Live the Life by Michael W. Smith – "Let Me Show You The Way" co-written by Kershaw, Smith and producer Stephen Lipson. Also featured Smith and Kershaw on guitar.

1999: Darkdancer by Les Rythmes Digitales – "Sometimes" co-written by Stuart Price|Jacques Lu Cont and Kershaw. Lead vocals by Kershaw.

1999: This Is Your Time (Michael W. Smith album)|This Is Your Time by Michael W. Smith – "Hey You It's Me" – co-written by Kershaw and Smith. Backing vocals by Kershaw.

1999: '' The Riddle (Gigi D'Agostino)|The Riddle '' by Gigi D'Agostino – dance music version.

2001: "Island" by Orinoko – co-written by Kershaw.

2010: " Come Out and Play (Kim Wilde album)|Come Out and Play " by Kim Wilde – duet with Wilde on the track "Love Conquers All".

Copyright Citations

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1. Elton John 2. Band Aid 3. Petula Clark 4. Frou Frou

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