Nik Kershaw Artistfacts

March 1, 1958
Nik Kershaw is a British singer-songwriter known for his songs "Wouldn't It Be Good" and "The Riddle." Those are his only songs to make much impact in America, but in the UK he had a run of five Top 10 hits from 1984-1986.
Kershaw says he "kind of drifted into" becoming a pop star. His first job was at an unemployment benefit office, which was when he decided to pursue something creative. He considered drama but decided on music.
Kershaw has a slight build and soft features, attributes the UK music press often mentioned in stories about him. In a 1984 profile for Smash Hits, his costume designer let slip that she often dressed him in women's clothes because they fit him better.
Kershaw's '80s hits combined modern synthesizer sounds with thought-provoking lyrics. He was often compared to Howard Jones.
Unlike many of his peers (Duran Duran come to mind), he wasn't much interest to the gossip columnists. He was already married when he became famous, and was more interested in family life than indulgence. To relax, he would play chess.
He tried to break into the American market in 1985 by touring there as the opening act for Paul Young, who had a #1 hit in the US with "Everytime You Go Away."
After releasing his fourth album, The Works, in 1989, his record deal expired, so he started writing for other artists. The first song he wrote for someone else was "The One And Only," a #1 UK hit for Chesney Hawkes in 1991 that also reached #10 in America thanks in part to its use in the Michael J. Fox movie Doc Hollywood.
Kershaw performed at Live Aid but was so nervous he forgot the words to his big hit, "Wouldn't It Be Good."

"I sang the wrong words but did at least sing something," he said.

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