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{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Scott Kempner
| name = Scott Kempner
| image =
| image =
| caption = {{deletable image-caption|Friday, 26 March 2010|date=July 2011}}
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1954|02|06}}
| birth_place = [[The Bronx]], New York City, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|11|29|1954|02|06}}
| death_place = [[Connecticut]], U.S.
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| instrument = Guitar
⚫
| associated_acts = [[The Del-Lords]]<br /> [[The Dictators]]
| spouse = Sharon Ludtke
| years_active = 1972–2021
⚫
| associated_acts = [[The Brandos]]<br />[[The Del-Lords]]<br /> [[The Dictators]]
}}
}}


'''Scott "Top Ten" Kempner''' (born 6 February 1954, [[Bronx]], [[New York]], US) is the rhythm guitarist with [[The Dictators]] since they formed in 1974 (only leaving the band for a few years starting in 2002). He is also a founding member of [[The Del-Lords]].
'''Scott''' "'''Top Ten'''" '''Kempner''' (February 6, 1954 – November 29, 2023) was an American rock musician who was the [[rhythm guitar]]ist of [[The Dictators]]. He was also a founding member of [[The Del-Lords]] and later a member of [[The Brandos]].


==Background and career==
⚫
Kempner contributed "Apache Tears" to the 2007 compilation album, ''Song of America''. He released his sophomore solo album, ''Saving Grace'', in July 2008 on 00:02:59 Records.
Kempner was born in [[the Bronx]] on February 6, 1954.<ref name = Carballo>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/29/arts/music/scott-kempner-dead.html|title = Scott Kempner, Guitarist and Punk Rock Pioneer, Dies at 69|last = Carballo|first = Rebecca|date = November 29, 2023|accessdate = December 2, 2023|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|url-access = limited}}</ref> He began his musical career in 1972, with friends [[Andy Shernoff]] and [[Ross the Boss|Ross Friedman]], when they started [[The Dictators]].<ref name = Carballo/> The band broke up for the first time in 1975, though they frequently reunited over the following decades, and Kempner continued to play with them until his retirement in 2021.<ref name = Carballo/>


⚫
Kempner released a solo in 1992 called ''[[Tenement Angels]]''. He released his second solo album, ''Saving Grace'', in July 2008 on 00:02:59 Records.<ref name = Carballo/>
⚫
In Summer 2008, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' said about Kempner: "If the world were a just and fair place, Scott Kempner would be stopped regularly by musicians and music fans thanking him for the effect the records he made with the Del-Lords and the Dictators had on their lives. Kempner's music is impossible to not like: He's the rare master at making three-chord rock 'n' roll - inspired by the 1950s and '60s - sound fresh and vital, simultaneously urban and twangy, heartfelt, political and personal."<ref>[http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlist/scott_kempner/index.html Variety.com - Scott Kempner]</ref>


In the early 1990s, [[Dion DiMucci]] joined Kempner and Frank Funaro of the Del-Lords and Mike Mesaros of [[the Smithereens]] in a short-lived band called Little Kings. A live album was later released, but not widely circulated or promoted.
⚫
==External links==

* http://www.thedictators.com/
Kempner contributed "Apache Tears" to the 2007 compilation album ''Song of America''.
* [http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlist/scott_kempner/index.html Kempner 7/08 Variety interview]

⚫
* [http://www.2minutes59.com/artist/scott 2:59 Label's artist profile]
⚫
In summer 2008, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' said about Kempner: "If the world were a just and fair place, Scott Kempner would be stopped regularly by musicians and music fans thanking him for the effect the records he made with the Del-Lords and the Dictators had on their lives. Kempner's music is impossible to not like: He's the rare master at making three-chord rock 'n' roll - inspired by the 1950s and '60s - sound fresh and vital, simultaneously urban and twangy, heartfelt, political and personal."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://weblogs.variety.com/thesetlist/scott_kempner/index.html|website=Weblogs.variety.com|title=Scott Kempner|accessdate=August 5, 2020}}</ref>

A Del-Lords reunion album and tour were done in 2013, and Kempner sang and played guitar on the [[Carla Olson]] album ''Have Harmony Will Travel'', performing [[Little Steven]]'s "All I Needed Was You".

==Personal life and death==
Kempner was married to Sharon Ludtke. He retired from his musical career in 2021, after being diagnosed with dementia, and died at a nursing home in Connecticut on November 29, 2023, at the age of 69.<ref name = Carballo/><ref>{{Cite web|date=November 29, 2023 |title=Scott Kempner, Founding Member of NYC Bands The Dictators and Del-Lords, Dies |url=https://bestclassicbands.com/scott-kempner-obituary-dictators-del-lords-11-29-23/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=Best Classic Bands |language=en-GB}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


⚫
==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.thedictators.com/|The Dictators Official Website}}
* {{official website|http://del-lords.com/|The Del-Lords Official Website}}
⚫
* [http://www.2minutes59.com/artist/scott 2:59 Label's artist profile]
* {{AllMusic|id=mn0000084218}}
* {{discogs artist|Scott Kempner}}

{{The Del-Lords}}
{{The Dictators}}
{{The Dictators}}


{{authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->

| NAME =Kempner, Scott
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 6 February 1954
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kempner, Scott}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kempner, Scott}}
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:American guitarists]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from the Bronx]]
[[Category:People from the Bronx]]
[[Category:The Del-Lords members]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Rhythm guitarists]]
[[Category:Guitarists from New York (state)]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:The Dictators members]]
[[Category:The Brandos members]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in Connecticut]]

Latest revision as of 22:30, 2 December 2023

Scott Kempner
Born(1954-02-06)February 6, 1954
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
DiedNovember 29, 2023(2023-11-29) (aged 69)
Connecticut, U.S.
Instrument(s)Guitar
Years active1972–2021
Spouse(s)Sharon Ludtke

Scott "Top Ten" Kempner (February 6, 1954 – November 29, 2023) was an American rock musician who was the rhythm guitarist of The Dictators. He was also a founding member of The Del-Lords and later a member of The Brandos.

Background and career[edit]

Kempner was born in the Bronx on February 6, 1954.[1] He began his musical career in 1972, with friends Andy Shernoff and Ross Friedman, when they started The Dictators.[1] The band broke up for the first time in 1975, though they frequently reunited over the following decades, and Kempner continued to play with them until his retirement in 2021.[1]

Kempner released a solo in 1992 called Tenement Angels. He released his second solo album, Saving Grace, in July 2008 on 00:02:59 Records.[1]

In the early 1990s, Dion DiMucci joined Kempner and Frank Funaro of the Del-Lords and Mike Mesaros of the Smithereens in a short-lived band called Little Kings. A live album was later released, but not widely circulated or promoted.

Kempner contributed "Apache Tears" to the 2007 compilation album Song of America.

In summer 2008, Variety said about Kempner: "If the world were a just and fair place, Scott Kempner would be stopped regularly by musicians and music fans thanking him for the effect the records he made with the Del-Lords and the Dictators had on their lives. Kempner's music is impossible to not like: He's the rare master at making three-chord rock 'n' roll - inspired by the 1950s and '60s - sound fresh and vital, simultaneously urban and twangy, heartfelt, political and personal."[2]

A Del-Lords reunion album and tour were done in 2013, and Kempner sang and played guitar on the Carla Olson album Have Harmony Will Travel, performing Little Steven's "All I Needed Was You".

Personal life and death[edit]

Kempner was married to Sharon Ludtke. He retired from his musical career in 2021, after being diagnosed with dementia, and died at a nursing home in Connecticut on November 29, 2023, at the age of 69.[1][3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Carballo, Rebecca (November 29, 2023). "Scott Kempner, Guitarist and Punk Rock Pioneer, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  2. ^ "Scott Kempner". Weblogs.variety.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  3. ^ "Scott Kempner, Founding Member of NYC Bands The Dictators and Del-Lords, Dies". Best Classic Bands. November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scott_Kempner&oldid=1188023821"