Nick Kamen — the famed British model, singer and onetime Madonna protégé — has died. Today his family confirmed the sad news, revealing he had passed away at the age of 59.
As the BBC reports, Kamen died on Tuesday night (May 4) after battling a "long illness."
The Essex-born star rose to fame in the '80s as both a model and singer, with Kamen famously appearing in a 1985 "Launderette" commercial for Levi's. The hugely successful ad soon found him turning to music and Madonna, who co-wrote and sang on his hit single "Each Time You Break My Heart" in 1986. In addition to becoming a Top 5 hit in the UK, it also charted in Canada upon release.
"Each Time You Break My Heart" appeared on Kamen's self-titled album, which also spawned the hit "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever." In 1988, Kamen released his second album Us, which again found Madonna joining him and doing backing vocals on the track "Tell Me."
In 1989, Kamen contributed the song "Turn It Up" for the soundtrack to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and found huge success with his 1990 album Move Until We Fly, which included the hit single "I Promised Myself." The song would go on to claim the No. 1 chart spot in multiple European countries and was famously later covered by artists like Dead or Alive, A-Teens and Basshunter.
Upon news of Kamen's passing, friend Boy George paid tribute to the late artist, calling Kamen "the most beautiful and sweetest man."
As the BBC reports, Kamen died on Tuesday night (May 4) after battling a "long illness."
The Essex-born star rose to fame in the '80s as both a model and singer, with Kamen famously appearing in a 1985 "Launderette" commercial for Levi's. The hugely successful ad soon found him turning to music and Madonna, who co-wrote and sang on his hit single "Each Time You Break My Heart" in 1986. In addition to becoming a Top 5 hit in the UK, it also charted in Canada upon release.
"Each Time You Break My Heart" appeared on Kamen's self-titled album, which also spawned the hit "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever." In 1988, Kamen released his second album Us, which again found Madonna joining him and doing backing vocals on the track "Tell Me."
In 1989, Kamen contributed the song "Turn It Up" for the soundtrack to Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and found huge success with his 1990 album Move Until We Fly, which included the hit single "I Promised Myself." The song would go on to claim the No. 1 chart spot in multiple European countries and was famously later covered by artists like Dead or Alive, A-Teens and Basshunter.
Upon news of Kamen's passing, friend Boy George paid tribute to the late artist, calling Kamen "the most beautiful and sweetest man."
