Sixpence None the Richer
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Sixpence None the Richer is an American alternative rock band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, and settled in Nashville, Tennessee. It is best known for its songs "Kiss Me" and "Breathe Your Name" and its covers of "Don't Dream It's Over" and "There She Goes".
The band received two Grammy Award nominations, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Kiss Me" and Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album for Sixpence None the Richer (1997).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
History
Formation and early years (1992–1996)
Guitarist/songwriter Matt Slocum met Leigh Nash in the early 1990s and recorded a demo, circulated as "The Original Demos", with bassist T.J. Behling at Verge Music Works recording studio in Dallas, and eventually an album, The Fatherless and the Widow, for the independent label R.E.X. Records in 1994. After adding more members, the band toured in support of The Fatherless and the Widow. The band released This Beautiful Mess in 1995.
The band's name was inspired by a passage from C. S. Lewis's book Mere Christianity discussing how children buying gifts for their parents with the parents' money means the parents are "none the richer" monetarily even though there is value in the act (mirroring the Christian God/human dynamic).<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Into the mainstream (1997–2004)
In 1997, the group signed to Steve Taylor's label Squint Entertainment and released a self-titled album, which began garnering attention from mainstream audiences.
In 1998, "Kiss Me" was released as a single, propelling Sixpence None the Richer into the national pop spotlight. The next year, the band followed up with a cover of The La's' "There She Goes". Sixpence appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and numerous morning talk shows.
The band had a follow-up album ready to release, but Squint Entertainment started to fall apart, leaving the band in limbo for several years. Finally, Squint Entertainment folded, and the album, Divine Discontent, was released in 2002.
On February 26, 2004, Matt Slocum announced that the group had disbanded.
First reunion and Lost in Transition (2007–2016)
In November 2007, Sixpence None the Richer reunited. It released the EP My Dear Machine on the website NoiseTrade in 2008, the band's first official release since The Best of Sixpence None the Richer in 2004. In October 2008, it released a Christmas album, The Dawn of Grace.
Sixpence signed to Credential Recordings and played a headline slot at the 2009 Greenbelt Festival in the UK. According to Nash, the band began recording a new album in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Better source The album, Lost in Transition, was released on August 7, 2012.
Second reunion and Rosemary Hill (2023–present)
In September 2023, Nash released a single, "The Tide", that additionally credited Sixpence None the Richer, making it the band's first new song in 11 years. She and Slocum also announced a new tour with 10,000 Maniacs, playing songs by both bands,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but in January 2024, Nash and Slocum left the tour early, saying they "had other commitments arise".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In January 2024, it was announced that drummer Dale Baker was returning to the band and that it had signed a management deal with Deep South Entertainment with plans to re-release its self-titled album on vinyl.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In June, it announced a 25th-anniversary tour with the classic lineup for the first time since Baker left.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In August 2024, it announced a new single, We are Love, and a new EP, Rosemary Hill, released on October 4, 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Band members
Current members
- Leigh Nash – vocals (1992–2004, 2007–present)
- Matt Slocum – guitar, cello (1992–2004, 2007–present)
- Justin Cary – bass (1997–2004, 2008–present)
- Dale Baker – drums (1993–2001, 2024–present)
Current touring members
- Steve Hindalong – percussion, guitars (2024–present)
Former members
- T. J. Behling – bass (1992–1993)
- Mark Couvillion – guitars (1992–1993)
- Tess Wiley – guitars, vocals (1994–1996, 2008)
- James Arhelger – bass (1993–1994)
- Joel Bailey – bass (1994)
- J. J. Plasencio – bass (1995–1997)
- Sean Kelly – guitars (1997–2004)
- Jerry Dale McFadden – keyboards (2001–2004)
- Rob Mitchell – drums (2001–2004, 2012–2017)
- Jason Lehning – keyboards (2012–2013)
Timeline
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</timeline>
Discography
- The Fatherless and the Widow (1994)
- This Beautiful Mess (1995)
- Sixpence None the Richer (1997)
- Divine Discontent (2002)
- The Dawn of Grace (2008)
- Lost in Transition (2012)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Awards | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Dove Awards | This Beautiful Mess | Best Alternative/Modern Rock Album | Template:Won |
| 1998 | Sixpence None the Richer | Template:Nom | ||
| Recorded Music Packaging of the Year | Template:Nom | |||
| "Love" | Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song of the Year | Template:Nom | ||
| Billboard Music Video Awards | "Kiss Me" | Best New Artist Clip, Contemporary Christian | Template:Nom | |
| 1999 | Grammy Awards | Sixpence None the Richer | Best Rock Gospel Album | Template:Nom |
| Teen Choice Awards | "Kiss Me" | Choice Music: Love Song | Template:Nom | |
| Dove Awards | Short Form Music Video of the Year | Template:Nom | ||
| Billboard Music Awards | Top Hot 100 Airplay Track | Template:Nom | ||
| Top Adult Top 40 Track | Template:Nom | |||
| Top Soundtrack Single | Template:Won | |||
| Themselves | Top Hot 100 Artist - Duo/Group | Template:Nom | ||
| Top Adult Top 40 Artist | Template:Nom | |||
| 2000 | Grammy Awards | "Kiss Me" | Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Template:Nom |
| APRA Music Awards | Most Performed Foreign Work | Template:Nom | ||
| Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards | Themselves | Favorite Band | Template:Nom | |
| Dove Awards | Group of the Year | Template:Won | ||
| 2001 | Young Hollywood Awards | "Kiss Me" | Best Song | Template:Won |
| BMI Pop Awards | "There She Goes" | Award-Winning Song<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Won | |
| 2003 | Dove Awards | "Breathe Your Name" | Modern Rock/Alternative Recorded Song of the Year | Template:Won |
| Divine Discontent | Best Alternative/Modern Rock Album | Template:Nom | ||
| Themselves | Group of the Year | Template:Nom | ||
| BDSCertified Spin Awards | "Kiss Me" | 600,000 Spins | Template:Won | |
| 2006 | 700,000 Spins | Template:Won |
References
External links
- American pop music groups
- Christian rock groups from Texas
- Alternative rock groups from Texas
- Musical groups established in 1992
- Musical groups disestablished in 2004
- Musical groups reestablished in 2007
- Musical groups from New Braunfels, Texas
- Musical groups from Nashville, Tennessee
- 1992 establishments in Texas
- 2004 disestablishments in Texas
- 2007 establishments in Texas
- Credential Recordings artists
- Curb Records artists
- Nettwerk Music Group artists
- Reprise Records artists
- Female-fronted musical groups
- Mixed-gender bands