Sixpence None the Richer
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| Sixpence None the Richer | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New Braunfels, Texas, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | Pop rock, Christian rock |
| Years active | 1992–2004 2007–present |
| Label(s) | Warner Bros. Records R.E.X. Music Squint Entertainment Reprise Records Nettwerk |
| Website | http://sixpence-ntr.com |
| Members | |
| Leigh Nash Matt Slocum Justin Cary |
|
| Former members | |
| Dale Baker Sean Kelly Tess Wiley Rob Mitchell Jerry Dale McFadden J.J. Plasencio TJ Behling |
|
Sixpence None the Richer (Shorter: Sixpence N.T.R.) is a Grammy-nominated American Christian pop/rock band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee. The name of the band is inspired by a passage in writer C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity. [1]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] The Early Years (1992-1996)
Guitarist/songwriter Matt Slocum met vocalist Leigh Bingham Nash at a church retreat in the early 1990s. They recorded a demo with bassist TJ Behling (which now circulates as "The Original Demos") at Verge Music Works recording studio in Dallas, and eventually an album, The Fatherless and the Widow, for the independent R.E.X. Music record label in 1993. The record featured Chris Dodds of Slocum's first band (Love Coma) on drums. Shortly after the release of The Fatherless and the Widow, Slocum left Love Coma to pursue Sixpence None the Richer full-time. The band added Tess Wiley (guitar) JJ Plasencio (bass) and Dale Baker (drums) for 1995's This Beautiful Mess. Both albums were produced by Armand John Petri , 10,000 Maniacs and John & Mary Producer, who also managed the band from 1993 to 1997. Shortly after the release of This Beautiful Mess, Wiley left the band.
[edit] Into the Mainstream (1997-2003)
In 1997, the group signed to Steve Taylor's label Squint Entertainment and released a self-titled album, which slowly began garnering attention from a wider audience in the mainstream industry. Although Placencio played bass on most of the album, he left the band before it was released and was replaced by Justin Carry, who joined the band around the same time as second guitarist Sean Kelly.
In 1999, "Kiss Me" was released as a single, propelling Sixpence None the Richer into the national pop spotlight. That year the song was also featured in the film She's All That as the newly made-over protagonist, Laney Boggs, is revealed, and again at the end, during the film's credits. In 2001 the film Not Another Teen Movie would use the song in a parody of that scene. "Kiss Me" was also played on the WB teen drama Dawson's Creek in episodes #2-06 "The Dance" and #2-18 "The Perfect Wedding," and is found on the show's first soundtrack CD, Songs from Dawson's Creek (Volume 1).
In 1999, the band recorded a cover of The La's' "There She Goes", which became their second hit single. This recording was subsequently added to the band's self-titled album in the US, though it had already appeared on all copies of the album internationally.
In 2000, Sixpence None the Richer contributed the song "Us" to Today Presents: the Best of Summer Concert Series CD, which raised money for the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance. Later that year, the band recorded a Japanese version of "Kiss Me", which was released exclusively in Japan on an EP with numerous versions of the song, as well as remixes of other songs on the self-titled album.
The band had a follow-up album ready to release, but their label Squint Entertainment started to fall apart, leaving the band in limbo for several years. Finally, Squint Entertainment folded and that album, Divine Discontent, was released in October of 2002.
Baker left the band before that album's release and was replaced by Rob Mitchell. The album itself differs significantly from the first pre-release version of it that had circulated: the songs "Us," "Deeper," "Don't Pass Me By," "Too Far Gone," Northern Lights," and "Loser Like Me" were cut, and "Down and Out of Time," "A Million Parachutes," "Tonight," "Waiting on the Sun," and "Don't Dream It's Over" were added. All of the unreleased songs were eventually featured on singles or compilations, with the exception of "Deeper."
Sixpence None the Richer has recorded a number of cover songs for compilations and soundtrack albums throughout their career, including:
- "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" (How the Grinch Stole Christmas),
- "Bouquet" (Steve Taylor),
- "Road to Zion" (Petra),
- "Love Letters in the Sand" (Patsy Cline, Pat Boone and others),
- "Carry You" (Sam Phillips),
- "On the Run" (Electric Light Orchestra),
- "Dancing Queen" (ABBA),
- "I Need Love" (Sam Phillips),
- "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" (The Beach Boys),
- "Christmastime Is Here" (Vince Guaraldi, Peanuts),
- "Goodnight Children Everywhere" (Vera Lynn),
- "Don't Dream It's Over" (Crowded House),
- "Love Is Blindness" (U2),
- "Every Heartbeat" (Amy Grant).
[edit] The Break Up (2004)
On February 26, 2004, Matt Slocum announced that the group had disbanded. On July 22, 2004, it was reported that Matt Slocum had started a new band, the Astronaut Pushers, with Lindsay Jamieson (of the band Departure Lounge) and Sam Ashworth (son of influential musician Charlie Peacock). John Davis (of the band Superdrag) joined the band in 2005. The Astronaut Pushers released a self-titled, four-song EP on their own label, Runway Network, in 2005. Sam Ashworth reported via MySpace that he and Slocum had acquired and were operating a recording studio in Nashville in early 2006.
[edit] Leigh Nash Solo Work (2005-2007)
Leigh Nash began work on a solo album titled Blue On Blue with producer Pierre Marchand in the fall of 2005.
Nash's first single My Idea of Heaven was released on July 14, 2006. The album Blue On Blue was released by Nettwerk Records under Nash's own imprint, One Son Records and the album's official release date was August 15, 2006, she also released a Christmas EP Wishing For This on 14 November 2006 and some remix projects EP.
In 2007, Leigh Nash worked a collaboration with Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber of Delerium which called Fauxliage which Leigh contributed her vocal to the songs All the World, Some Day the Wind, Draw My Life, Let It Go, Without You, Rafe and All Alone and the song Let It Go is used in the drama series Moonlight.
The song Ocean Size Love which is welcome thoughout the States and some countries and seems to be the second single of Blue On Blue and yet never promoted.
[edit] The Reunion (2008)
In November 2007, Sixpence None the Richer reunited. The band has released a new EP, entitled My Dear Machine, with tour dates planned throughout 2008 in the States and Europe.[1][2]
[edit] Band Members
[edit] Current members
- Matt Slocum – guitar, cello
- Leigh Nash – vocals
- Justin Cary – bass (1997-2004, 2007-)
[edit] Former members
- TJ Behling - bass (1993-1994)
- Dale Baker – drum (1995-2001)
- Tess Wiley – guitar (1995-1996) also in Sixpence None the Richer 2008 European Tour
- J.J. Plasencio – bass (1995-1996)
- Sean Kelly – guitar (1997-2004)
- Rob Mitchell – drum (2001-2004)
- Jerry Dale McFadden – keyboard (2001-2004)
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | US | US Heatseekers | US Christian | UK | RIAA Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Fatherless & the Widow | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1995 | This Beautiful Mess | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1997 | Sixpence None the Richer | 89 | #1 | #1 | 27 | Platinum |
| 2002 | Divine Discontent | 154 | – | 9 | – | – |
| 2004 | The Best of Sixpence None the Richer | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2008 | The Dawn of Grace | – | – | – | – | – |
- Notes:
- Sixpence None the Richer were no longer eligible to appear on the US Heatseekers chart after the Sixpence None the Richer album appeared in the top 100 of the US Album Chart.
[edit] Other Releases
- 1993 - The Original Demos
- 1996 - Tickets for a Prayer Wheel (EP)
- 2002 - Mega 3 Collection
- 2005 - The Early Years
- 2006 - Blue on Blue (Leigh Nash's solo album)
- 2006 - Wishing for This (Leigh Nash's EP)
- 2007 - Stars in My Eyes (Leigh Nash's single)
- 2008 - My Dear Machine EP
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Album | US | US AC | US Adult Top 40 | UK | AUS | RIAA Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Angeltread" | This Beautiful Mess | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1999 | "Kiss Me" | Sixpence None the Richer | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | Gold |
| 1999 | "There She Goes" | Sixpence None the Richer | 32 | 19 | 7 | 14 | 47 | – |
| 2000 | "I Can't Catch You" | Sixpence None the Richer | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2002 | "Breathe Your Name" | Divine Discontent | – | – | 18 | – | – | |
| 2003 | "Don't Dream It's Over" | Divine Discontent | 78 | 12 | 9 | – | – | |
| 2008 | "My Dear Machine" | My Dear Machine EP | – | – | – | – | – | – |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official Site (Controlled by Word Records)
- The Vine (Sixpence Discussion Group)
- Methnen's Mess (Sixpence News and Media)
- Sixpence None the Richer Radio (Pandora Internet Radio)
- Sixpence None the Richer Radio & info (Last. Fm radio)
- dalebakerdrummer.com (Dale Baker Drummer Web Site)
- Sirens of Song: Leigh Nash
- JJ Plasencio Website (JJ Plasencio Bassist Website)
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