Prior to hitting the Top Five of the pop, R&B, and dance charts in early 1991, vocalist, songwriter, and pianist Tara Kemp appeared on Valery's "Heat of Your Touch," an obscure 12" single produced by Tuhin Roy. Bay Area native Kemp, signed to Irving Azoff's Warner-supported Giant as a solo artist, then worked with Roy as her primary songwriting and production collaborator and recorded a self-titled album. Its release was preceded by that of "Hold You Tight"; easily Kemp's biggest hit, its sophisticated yet streetwise sound resembled a lower budget version of Soul II Soul fronted by a Teena Marie descendant. None of Kemp's subsequent singles matched its major crossover success, though "Piece of My Heart" came close by reaching the pop Top Ten. Kemp appeared on the soundtrack for Beverly Hills 90210 and released a fine independent single titled "Come Closer" (1994), but a second album never materialized. "Heat of Your Touch" eventually became a sought-after single among freestyle collectors; copies exchanged hands for hundreds of dollars. ~ Andy Kellman