Wayne Kemp (June 11, 1940 – March 9, 2015) was an American country music singer. He recorded between 1969 and 1986 for Decca, MCA, United Artists, Mercury and Door Knob Records, and charted twenty-four singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. His highest-peaking 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, as one of nine children, in Greenwood, Arkansas, and raised in Muldrow, Oklahoma.
Kemp also co-wrote songs for other artists, including "Love Bug" for George Jones and "One Piece at a Time" for Johnny Cash. Ricky Van Shelton also released a cover of Kemp's "I'll Leave This World Loving You."
Kemp died on March 9, 2015 at Macon County General Hospital in Lafayette, Tennessee, at the age of 74. He was suffering from multiple ailments and was on kidney dialysis when he died.
Discography
Albums
| Year | Album details | Chart Positions |
|---|
| US Country |
|---|
| 1971 | Wayne Kemp- Release date: August 1971
- Label: Decca Records
| — |
| 1974 | Kentucky Sunshine- Release date: 1974
- Label: MCA Records
| 25 |
| 1983 | Country Past, Present, Future- Release date: 1983
- Label: Door Knob
| — |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album |
|---|
| US Country | CAN Country |
|---|
| 1969 | "Won't You Come Home (And Talk to a Stranger)" | 61 | — | Wayne Kemp |
| "Bar Room Habits" | 73 | — |
| 1971 | "Who'll Turn Out the Lights" | 57 | — |
| "Award to an Angel" | 52 | — |
| "Did We Have to Come This Far (To Say Goodbye)" | 72 | — | non-album single |
| 1972 | "Darlin'" | 53 | — | Kentucky Sunshine |
| 1973 | "Honky Tonk Wine" | 17 | 13 |
| "Kentucky Sunshine" | 53 | — |
| 1974 | "Listen" | 32 | 94 |
| "Harlan County" | 57 | — | non-album singles |
| 1976 | "Waiting for the Tables to Turn" | 72 | — |
| "I Should Have Watched That First Step" | 71 | — |
| 1977 | "Leona Don't Live Here Anymore" | 91 | — |
| "I Love It (When You Love All Over Me)" | 76 | — |
| 1980 | "Love Goes to Hell When It Dies" | 62 | — |
| "I'll Leave This World Loving You" | 47 | — |
| 1981 | "Your Wife Is Cheatin' on Us Again" | 35 | — |
| "Just Got Back from No Man's Land" | 46 | — |
| "Why Am I Doing Without" | 75 | — |
| 1982 | "Slow Gin and Fast Women" | 78 | — |
| "She Only Meant to Use Him" | 64 | — |
| 1983 | "Don't Send Me No Angels" | 55 | — | Country Past, Present, Future |
| 1984 | "I've Always Wanted To" | 75 | — |
| 1986 | "Red Neck and Over Thirty" (with Bobby G. Rice) | 70 | — | non-album single |
