Biography: Nik+Kershaw
* Born: March 01, 1958, Bristol, England Period: `80s, `90s, 2000s
Biography:
During the mid-`80s, Nik Kershaw managed to score a handful of pop hits and, in doing so, establish himself as a profitable commercial songwriter. Kershaw began his musical career by learning to play guitar when he was a teenager. In 1974, he joined his first band, Half Pint Hogg, which played nothing but Deep Purple covers. However, his musical ideas were not limited to heavy metal; after he left school, he joined a jazz-funk band called Fusion. Fusion released one album, `Til I Hear From You, in the late `70s. Once the group broke up, Kershaw signed to MCA Records with the help of Nine Below Zero`s manager, Micky Modern.
Kershaw released his first solo single, "I Won`t Let the Sun Go Down on Me," in 1983; it peaked at number 47 on the U.K. charts. His next single, "Wouldn`t It Be Good," hit number five in the U.K. and charted at number 46 in the U.S. Its success led to stardom in Britain for Kershaw; "I Won`t Let the Sun Go Down on Me" was re-released in summer of 1984 and charted at number two, leading to a series of hit singles. Released in 1986, his third album, Radio Musicola, wasn`t as successful as his previous albums. Kershaw subsequently retreated from performing and recording regularly. Although he released The Works in 1990, Kershaw`s main musical contribution since the late `80s is as a songwriter; he`s written several songs for other artists, including Chesney Hawke`s hit single "The One and Only." After years of writing for others, Kershaw returned with his own 15 Minutes for Pyramid Records.
