Tara Kemp

Tara Kemp
Born
Tara Leslye Kemp[1]

(1964-05-11) May 11, 1964[2]
OriginLivermore, California
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active1991 – 1994
2013 – present
Labels

Tara Leslye Kemp (born May 11, 1964), is an American singer best known for her two Billboard Hot 100 hit singles in 1991: "Hold You Tight" and "Piece of My Heart."

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 No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; the song was certified gold by the RIAA and ranked as the twenty-fifth most successful single of 1991. The song also peaked at No. 69 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] In May, Kemp released her second single "Piece of My Heart," which reached No. 7 on the Hot 100 in July and came in at No. 84 for the year. A third single, the ballad "Too Much," was released and peaked at No. 95.[5]

Subsequent to 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.[6] 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;[7] and "Come Correct", which was released independently in 1994. Owing to issues in her personal life, she left the music industry soon after.[6]

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.[8][9] 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.[10]

In January 2021, Kemp revealed plans to independently release her shelved sophomore album and remastered versions of her 1991 singles.[11][6] She is working with New York City-based Shakir Entertainment Management. Tara released two Christmas songs in December 2024.

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak positions
US
[12]		 US
R&B
[12]		 AUS
[13]
1991 Tara Kemp 109 34 140
2025 Come Correct
  • Release date: January 29, 2025
  • Label: Shakir Entertainment Management
 - - -

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[12]		 US
R&B
[12]		 US
Dan
[12]		 AUS
[14][13]		 CAN
[15]		 NZ
[16]		 UK
[17]
1991 "Hold You Tight" 3 4 15 68 24 19 69 Tara Kemp
"Piece of My Heart" 7 47 — 156 81 — 92
"Too Much" 95 — — — — — —
1993 "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. ↑ Kellman, Andy. "Tara Kemp – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2026.
  3. ↑ Farber, Jim (February 1, 1991). "Tara Kemp". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  4. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 298. ISBN 1904994105.
  5. ↑ "Artist Chart History - Tara Kemp". billboard.com. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 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.
  7. ↑ "Beverly Hills, 90210 TV Soundtrack". allmusic.com. Retrieved March 27, 2009.
  8. ↑ "12 - Tara Kemp - part 1". BREAK IT DOWN SHOW.
  9. ↑ "Once Famous". SoundCloud.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ "Reliving My Youth". Soundcloud.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "US Charts > Tara Kemp". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  13. 1 2 "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing July 15, 1991". Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  14. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 152.
  15. ↑ "CAN Charts > Tara Kemp". RPM. Archived from the original on January 19, 2025. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  16. ↑ "NZ Charts > Tara Kemp". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  17. ↑ "UK Charts > Tara Kemp". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  18. ↑ "American certifications – Tara Kemp". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
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