Nik Kershaw

With a keen ear for intricate yet easy-to-digest melody and a dry, effortlessly sardonic vocal style, Nik Kershaw earned a place in 1980s synth-pop lore. While he was more of a singles force on the Brit side of the Atlantic with hits like "I Won't Let the Sun Go Down On Me" and "Wouldn't It Be Good," Kershaw had his share of fans, and the latter track, with its dark theme and eye-popping video, had staying power with American audiences. While Kershaw would sporadically release his own records for decades, he was most busy as a songwriter, penning hits like Chesney Hawkes's "The One & Only."