The music industry has suffered another tragic loss this week.
Singer Johnny Kemp, who blew up the charts with his 1988 hit single, “Just Got Paid”, died Thursday in Jamaica, just three days after the death of legendary singer Percy Sledge, who died on April 14th from liver cancer.
Kemp, who was in Jamaica on a cruise arranged by radio host, Tom Joyner, was scheduled to perform aboard a luxury cruise but was found floating at a Montego Bay beach on the Caribbean island early Thursday.
Police have not yet determined the cause of Kemp’s death and the investigation is ongoing, according to police sources.
Kemp began his singing career in the Bahamas. At the age of 13, he began singing in nightclubs before moving to New York and launching his self-titled debut album with the band, “Kinky Fox.” In 1986 he had a slight hit with the song, “Just Another Lover”. However, he struck gold the following year with the release of his second album, “Secrets of Flying”, and the R&B hits, “Dancin’ With Myself” and “Just Got Paid”. The latter song would go on to climb the R&B music charts and hit the top 10 on the US Billboard’s Hot 100.
Kemp was 55 years old.
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