Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp To Receive BMI Icon Award
Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp will be named a BMI Icon at the 2023 BMI London Awards, scheduled for 2 October at The Savoy Hotel.
The renowned singer/songwriter and accomplished actor will be honoured for his illustrious career and enduring musical contributions, which have inspired legions of fans and music creators around the world. In addition, globally acclaimed producer Richard “P2J” Isong will receive the BMI Impact Award, a recognition given for ground-breaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of music. This marks the first time a producer has received this honour. The private event will be hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill.
Buy Spandau Ballet vinyl and CDs at the Dig! store.
“We’re in for an exciting night celebrating our BMI family of UK and European songwriters, composers and music publishers,” said O’Neill. “We’re thrilled to pay tribute to the legendary Gary Kemp in recognition of his incredible creative accomplishments. His timeless songs have reached multiple generations, leaving a lasting impression on the world of entertainment and inspired many to follow in his footsteps.”
With a career spanning more than 40 years, Gary Kemp is one of the most successful songwriters to come out of the New Romantic era in British pop music history. As a founding member and guitarist for 80’s legends Spandau Ballet, Kemp wrote the lyrics and music for all the band’s 23 hit singles, including the massive hits True and Gold, as well as classics Through the Barricades, Only When You Leave, To Cut a Long Story Short, Paint Me Down and Chant No. 1. His songs have been featured in over 100 films, countless TV shows, and advertising campaigns around the globe, and speaking to the longevity of his music, 2023 marks the 40th Anniversary of the smash hit True which has received over five million airplays in North America alone.
Kemp’s songs have been sampled by many artists, including Backstreet Boys, PM Dawn, Nelly, Paul Anka, Rui da Silva and Lloyd. As a solo artist, Kemp has released two albums for Columbia Records, Little Bruises (1995) and Insolo (2021). He’s also written two musicals with Guy Pratt, with whom he currently co-hosts a podcast called the Rockonteurs. For the last five years, Kemp has toured with Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason’s band Saucerful of Secrets as co-lead singer and guitarist.
Beyond his work in music, Kemp is an accomplished actor and author. He’s appeared in several films, including the successful British crime thriller The Krays and the Hollywood blockbuster The Bodyguard. In 2009, he authored the critically acclaimed autobiography I Know This Much: From Soho to Spandau.
Buy Spandau Ballet vinyl and CDs at the Dig! store.