Wayne Kemp
Wayne Kemp was an American country music singer and songwriter. He recorded between 1964 and 1986 for JAB Records, Decca, MCA, United Artists, Mercury and Door Knob Records, and had twenty-four charting singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. His highest-charting single was "Honky Tonk Wine", which peaked at No. 17 in 1973. The song is included on his second studio album, Kentucky Sunshine, which reached No. 25 on Top Country Albums.
Kemp was born, one of nine children, to a musical family in Greenwood, Arkansas. His parents played multiple instruments, and encouraged their children to pursue music. When Kemp was six, the family moved to Muldrow, Oklahoma, and he performed in church and at local events. By the age of 16, he was writing songs and playing guitar professionally with Tulsa country musician Benny Ketchum.
In 1965, a friend had shown Kemp's songs to George Jones. Jones recorded two of Kemp's songs, "Love Bug" and "I Made Her That Way." Soon, Kemp recorded with Jones and his backing band.
Kemp and his band were struck in their car by a drunk driver, which resulted in the death of two of his band members, and third degree burns across his body. He was told by doctors that he would never be able to play guitar again.
In 1968, he had his first number one hit with a song that he had written, "Next In Line" by Conway Twitty, quickly followed by more, with "The Image Of Me", "Darling, You Know I Wouldn't Lie" and "That's When She Started To Stop Loving You." Kemp signed as a staff writer with Tree International, and started touring. By this point, he was able to play guitar again, and toured with Conway Twitty's band as a guitar player.
From 1971 to 1983, Kemp released three solo records, and continued writing for other artists. Kemp achieved success writing songs for Johnny Cash, George Strait, Johnny Paycheck, Hank Williams Jr., Ronnie Milsap, Jack Greene, Faron Young, Mickey Gilley, Charley Pride, Tom Petty, and Willie Nelson. Ricky Van Shelton scored a number one country hit with a cover of "I'll Leave This World Loving You" and Emmylou Harris
Wayne Kemp was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1999.
Kemp died at the age of 74, on 9 March 2015, in Macon County General Hospital, Lafayette, Tennessee. He was suffering from multiple ailments and was on kidney dialysis when he died.