Scott "Top Ten" Kempner (born February 6, 1954,

Bronx The Bronx () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the state of New York. It is south of Westchester County; north and east of the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Harlem River; and north of the New Y ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, US) is the American rhythm guitarist with

The Dictators The Dictators are an American punk rock band formed in New York City in 1973. Critic John Dougan said that they were "one of the finest and most influential proto-punk bands to walk the earth." Origins The band was formed in 1972 by Andy "Ad ...

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 The Del-Lords are an American rock and roll band that formed in New York City, United States, in 1982,Cocks, Jay; L., ElizabethMusic: Where the Lifeline Is ''Time''. August 4, 1986. Retrieved November 9, 2010 founded by The Dictators' guitarist ...

and later a member of

The Brandos The Brandos are an American rock band formed in 1985 in New York City by Dave Kincaid (vocals, guitar), Ernie Mendillo (bass, vocals), Ed Rupprecht (guitar, vocals) and Larry Mason (drums, vocals). The Brandos achieved commercial success in th ...

. He released a critically acclaimed solo album in 1992 called '' Tenement Angels''. Kempner contributed "Apache Tears" to the 2007 compilation album ''Song of America''. He released his second solo album, ''Saving Grace'', in July 2008 on 00:02:59 Records. In the early 1990s,

Dion DiMucci Dion Francis DiMucci (born July 18, 1939), better known simply as Dion, is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. His music has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop, rock, R&B, folk and blues. Initially as the lead singer of Dion and t ...

joined Kempner and Frank Funaro of the Del-Lords and Mike Mesaros of

the Smithereens The Smithereens are an American rock band from Carteret, New Jersey, United States. The group formed in 1980 with members Pat DiNizio (vocals & guitar), Jim Babjak (guitar & vocals), Mike Mesaros (bass guitar & vocals), and Dennis Diken (drums & ...

in a short-lived band called Little Kings. A live album was later released, but not widely circulated or promoted. In Summer 2008, ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' 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." A Del-Lords reunion album and tour was done in 2013, and Kempner sang and played guitar on the

Carla Olson Carla Olson (born July 3, 1952) is a Los Angeles-based songwriter, performer and record producer. Biography Born and raised in Austin, Texas, Olson moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1978 where she formed the Textones, whose debut album ''M ...

album ''Have Harmony Will Travel'', performing

Little Steven Steven Van Zandt (né Lento; born November 22, 1950), also known as Little Steven or Miami Steve, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, in which he plays guitar and mandolin ...

's "All I Needed Was You".

References

External links

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2:59 Label's artist profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kempner, Scott 1954 births Living people People from the Bronx The Del-Lords members Songwriters from New York (state) Rhythm guitarists Guitarists from New York (state) 20th-century American guitarists The Dictators members The Brandos members