Nik Kershaw (born Nicholas David Kershaw, 1 March 1958, Bristol, England) is an 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 soloists. Kershaw appeared at Live Aid, and penned hits for Let Loose, The Hollies and a #1 for Chesney Hawkes.
Although born in Bristol, Kershaw grew up in Ipswich and after leaving Northgate High School in 1976, Kershaw 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 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, "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me". At the beginning of 1984, Kershaw released his breakthrough song "Wouldn't It Be Good", featuring a music video of Kershaw as a chroma key-suited alien. The song reached Number 4 in the UK Singles Chart, and was a big success in Europe, particularly in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and in Scandinavia, and in Australia. He enjoyed three more Top 20 hits from his debut album Human Racing, including the title track and a successful re-issue of his debut single "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.
Personal life
In June 1983 Kershaw married his Canadian girlfriend of long standing, Sheri. She is credited with backing vocals on several of his albums, and was the uncredited lead singer on the B-side of "Don Quixote" and "Don't Lie". They have three children. Nik and Sheri Kershaw separated in November 2003.
Discography
Albums
* 1984 Human Racing - UK no. 5, U.S. no. 70, AUS no. 35, Germany no. 8, Switzerland no. 12, Norway no. 7, Sweden no. 38, Finland no. 8
* 1984 The Riddle - UK no. 8, U.S. no. 113, AUS no. 39, Germany no. 12, Switzerland no. 23, Norway no. 5, Sweden no. 11, Finland no. 11
* 1986 Radio Musicola - UK no. 47, AUS no. 92
* 1987 BBC Transcription Service - Live in Concert [promo only]
* 1989 The Works
* 1991 The Collection
* 1991 Wouldn't It Be Good
* 1993 The Best of Nik Kershaw - Sweden no. 23
* 1995 Anthology
* 1998 Greatest Hits - Finland no. 12, Denmark no. 9
* 1999 15 Minutes
* 2000 The Essential
* 2001 To Be Frank
* 2005 Then and Now
* 2006 You've Got to Laugh
Singles
* 1983 "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" - UK no. 47, Sweden no. 10
* 1984 "Wouldn't It Be Good" - UK no. 4, U.S. no. 46, CAN no. 5, AUS no. 5, Ireland no. 2, Germany no. 2, Switzerland no. 3, Norway no. 6, Netherlands no. 32, France no. 35, Austria no. 12, Italy no. 14, South Africa no. 14
* 1984 "Dancing Girls" - UK no. 13, Ireland no. 14, Germany no. 21
* 1984 "I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (re-issue)" - UK no. 2, AUS no. 17, Ireland no. 4, Germany no. 12, Switzerland no. 6, Norway no. 8, Netherlands no. 5
* 1984 "Human Racing" - UK no. 19, Ireland no. 17
* 1984 "The Riddle" - UK no. 3, AUS no. 6, Ireland no. 3, Germany no. 8, Switzerland no. 15, Norway no. 5, Sweden no. 5, Netherlands no. 19, France no. 18, Finland no. 12, Italy no. 10, South Africa no. 9
* 1985 "Wide Boy" - UK no. 9, AUS no. 7, Ireland no. 5, Germany no. 25, Netherlands no. 47
* 1985 "Don Quixote" - UK no. 10, AUS no. 83, Ireland no. 9, Germany no. 39
* 1985 "When a Heart Beats" - UK no. 27, US no. 92, Ireland no. 14, Germany no. 55
* 1986 "Nobody Knows" - AUS no. 73
* 1986 "Radio Musicola" - UK no. 43
* 1987 "James Cagney" [released only in Germany]
* 1989 "One Step Ahead" - UK no. 55
* 1989 "Elisabeth's Eyes"
* 1991 "Wouldn't It Be Good (re-issue)"
* 1991 "I Wanna Change the Score" - (Tony Banks and Kershaw) - Germany no. 55
* 1993 "Old Friends" - (Kershaw & Elton John) [promo only]
* 1998 "Wouldn't It Be Good ('98 Remix)"
* 1998 "'98 Remixes (Wouldn't It Be Good & I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me) EP" [released only in Denmark]
* 1999 "Somebody Loves You" - UK no. 70
* 1999 "Sometimes" - (Les Rythmes Digitales featuring Kershaw)" - UK no. 56
* 1999 "What Do You Think Of It So Far?"
* 2001 "Wounded"
* 2001 "Die Laughing" [promo only]
* 2005 "What It Is" [promo only]
* 2005 "The Riddle '05" [promo only]
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