English musician Gary James Kemp was born 64 years ago in Smithfield, London, is married and has 4 sons. Gary is also a songwriter and actor, and is best known as new wave band Spandau Ballet’s main songwriter, lead guitarist and backing vocalist.
Gary attended junior and grammar school, followed by sixth form. He and his brother Martin were both members of a children’s drama club and during the 70s, Gary starred in several TV productions as well as movies. In 1972, he had a leading role in the film ‘Hide and Seek’. He played the guitar and loved glam and progressive rock.
A few years later, Kemp formed the band ‘Roots’ (including also his brother Martin), which changed its name several times, settling to ‘Spandau Ballet’ in 1979. during the 80s, the band released 6 studio albums and had 23 global hit singles, all of which were composed by Gary. These include ‘True’, ‘Gold’, Through the Barricades’, ‘To cut a long story Short’ and ‘Only when you Leave’, amongst others.
On the band’s 10th anniversary, the group disbanded and the brothers Kemp resumed their acting career, starring together in the 1990 biographical crime drama movie ‘The Krays’. He continued starring in various movies as well as stage productions and TV programmes, plus hosting/guest appearing on several radio shows.
In 2009, ‘Spandau Ballet’ reunited and embarked on 2 world tours and 9 years later, after lead singer Tony Hadley left the band, they performed for the first time with a new singer. Kemp also collaborated with other artists in different music projects.
As a solo artist, Gary released 2 albums, one in 1995 and the other in 2021. He also published a book and in 2012 won an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection.
*Image: no infringement intended. Source: Zimbio