ArtistInfo

Karen Young

clap, 1951-1991 US, Philadelphia
Singer / Musician of R&B/Soul and Electronic

US-American singer from Philadelphia, PA (March 23, 1951-January 26, 1991); best known for her hit "Hot Shot". Well-known for her ability to scat-sing and deliver vocals with ferocious energy, Young was also a gifted pianist and songwriter. Karen Young grew up in a Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania rowhouse. Before becoming an overnight international recording star with "Hot Shot," she recorded jingles and background vocals for Philadelphia-based production companies. She died unexpectedly of a bleeding ulcer. The song "Hot Shot" peaked at #67 on Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 in 1978, after enjoying two weeks at #1 on that magazine's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, thus qualifying Young as a bona-fide one-hit wonder. "Hot Shot" was written, produced and arranged by Philadelphians Andy Kahn and Kurt Borusiewicz. Walter "Kandor" Kahn was executive producer. An LP also entitled "Hot Shot" followed the hit single, both released by West End Records of NYC. "Hot Shot" was featured in the 1990 movie "Reversal of Fortune." The song was later used as a sample in Daft Punk's song "Indo Silver Club" on their album Homework. "Hot Shot" re-mixes by Andy Kahn, MaxRoxx Music, DJ Ralphi Rosario, DJ Wayne G and DJ Paul Goodyear were released in 2007. That remix entitled "Hot Shot - The Karen Young Reheat" held the #7 position for two weeks on Billboard Magazine's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart achieving five weeks on that chart's Top Ten. "Rendezvous With Me" a song written by Andy Kahn for Karen Young and recorded by the artist in 1979 was intended as the follow-up to "Hot Shot" but was never finished. Discovered in Kahn's tape vault, it was finally released in 2008 utilizing Karen's vocal performance and Kahn's original horn arrangement tracks in the form of new mixes by the MaxRoxx Team, DJ Paul Goodyear and DJ Zathan Radix. In the early 1970s Young performed with the group Sandd, featuring Philadelphia musicians Frank Gilckin lead guitar, George Emertz rhythm guitar, Frank Ferraro bass and Dennis Westman drums.

Instruments

• Piano
• Vocals

Genres

• R&B/Soul
• Electronic
• Pop
• Rock