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RIP: Johnny Kemp, R&B singer famous for ’80s party anthem ‘Just Got Paid’, dead at 55


It’s Friday night, and there’s sad news to report: R&B singer Johnny Kemp is dead at 55.

The musician, best known for 1988 party-anthem hit “Just Got Paid,” reportedly died yesterday which vacationing in Jamaica. Details are scarce at the moment, but TMZ says Kemp was found dead on the Caribbean island.

Here’s the word from TMZ:

Originally from the Bahamas, Kemp died while vacationing in Jamaica. He was reportedly found floating on a beach in Montego Bay. It’s unclear at this point what caused his death.

Kemp released his biggest hit in 1988 — it reached #10 on the Billboard charts and #1 on the dance charts. It also got a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song.

Yahoo reports that it “had not yet been determined how he died. Police said Kemp arrived in Jamaica on a cruise ship but added that they did not have further details.”

While we await more details, be sure to pour one out tonight.

Kemp’s “Just Got Paid” was nominated for a 1989 Grammy in the Best R&B Song category, alongside Bobby Brown and Luther Vandross, eventually losing to “Giving You the Best That I Got” by Anita Baker.

The track reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart.