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Chesney Hawkes

 
Artist: Chesney Hawkes
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Artists
  • Born: September 22, 1971
  • Active: '90s
  • Genres: Rock
  • Instrument: Vocals
  • Representative Albums: "Buddy's Song", "The Very Best of Chesney Hawkes

Biography

British teen heartthrob Chesney Hawkes scored one of the biggest hits in the UK during the early part of the ‘90s only to vanish as quickly as he had arrived. Hawkes was born on September 22, 1971 and had the pedigree for show business. His father, Len (Chip) Hawkes played bass for the ‘60s UK outfit The Tremeloes, who narrowly missed the Top 10 in the States with "Silence Is Golden, and his mother, Carol Hawkes, was a UK television hostess and actress. Hawkes appeared in the 1990 movie Buddy's Song alongside The Who's Roger Daltrey, which was about Buddy Holly. In early 1991, the Nik Kershaw-penned "I Am The One And Only" scaled the charts in the UK, staying at the summit for five weeks. Later that year, the track managed to crack the Top 10 in America following its inclusion in the Michael J. Fox comedy Doc Hollywood. Hawkes was unable to follow the success of the initial single in either country with "I'm A Man Not A Boy" proving to be a failure. He released the album Get The Picture in 1993, but he was again given the cold shoulder by the record-buying public and shifted his focus to acting. There were minor roles including ones in 1995's rock musical McGregor's Trap and 1997' Prince Valiant, as well as sporadic musical performances. In 2001, Hawkes returned to music with the single "Stay Away Baby Jane," but it barely scraped onto the charts in the UK and Hawkes maintained his status as a one-hit wonder. ~ Tom Demalon, All Music Guide
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Chesney Hawkes

Chesney Hawkes pictured on stage in 2008
Background information
Birth name Chesney Lee Hawkes
Born 22 September 1971 (1971-09-22) (age 38)
Origin Slough, Berkshire, England
Genres Pop, rock
Occupations Singer, songwriter, musician
Years active 1990 – present
Labels Chrysalis Records
Right Track Records
Website Official website

Chesney Lee Hawkes (born 22 September 1971), is an English pop singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his 1991 single "The One and Only", which topped the charts in the UK and went Top 10 in the U.S.

Contents

Life and career

Hawkes was born in Windsor, Berkshire, and attended Charters School in Sunningdale. Chesney was named after the singer and comedian, Chesney Allen. His father is the singer Len 'Chip' Hawkes, formerly with the 1960s band The Tremeloes. His mother is former actress/game show hostess, Carol Dilworth (who appeared in an episode of the 1960s version of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) called For The Girl Who Has Everything). Keely Hawkes, his sister, was the lead singer of '90s band Transister, and is currently a songwriter based in Los Angeles.

Hawkes' career began at 19, when he appeared as the title character in the film Buddy's Song. In March 1991, he released his biggest single "The One And Only," from the film's soundtrack. Written By Nik Kershaw, the song was later featured in the opening credits of Doc Hollywood (1991), starring Michael J. Fox. The single spent five weeks at number one. He has released eight singles including "I'm a Man Not a Boy" and "Another Fine Mess."

In 1993, his single "What's Wrong With This Picture?" reached number 63 in the UK, and his 2002 collaboration with Adam Schlessinger of Fountains of Wayne, "Stay Away Baby Jane," reached number 74 in the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Hawkes has had a dedicated core of mainly student fans who have ensured his continued success as a touring artist, and who have been kept loyal by the constant playing of "The One and Only" in student bars and clubs.[citation needed] Hawkes has also had success as a songwriter for other artists, such as A1, Caprice, Tricky, Jennifer Paige & Tears for fears.

Hawkes returned to the media's attention with his involvement in Channel 4's The Games in March 2005, in which he won a Bronze Medal. He also took part in the ITV programme Hit Me Baby One More Time in April that year. He released a single called "Another Fine Mess" in May 2005, it reached number 48; it was his biggest-selling single for over a decade.[1]

Hawkes was involved in a project called the Lexus Symphony Orchestra, a corporate promotion designed to showcase the quality of Lexus' in-car audio systems. Hawkes composed two original pieces of music bot performed by the London Symphony Orchestra for these events held at Castle Howard and Crystal Palace, in August 2007.

In June 2006, Hawkes appeared at the University of Exeter Summer Ball. He proved popular, leading to his appearing at the Summer Ball on 23 and 24 June, 2008. His 2008 set included "The One and Only" and new material from his album, as well as a number of covers such as "I Predict a Riot" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You".

Hawkes organizes an annual songwriting retreat with in Iceland called Songfusion. He also often works with the comedian Tony Hawks on songs that are available on MySpace.

In June 2008, he performed at Southampton University's graduation ball. Hawkes made a third successive appearance at the Val d'Isere night spot, Dick's Tea Bar in December 2008.

Hawkes was confirmed to appear in new musical, Can't Smile Without You (featuring songs of Barry Manilow). In the show, Hawkes plays the part of Tony Lowiman who falls in love with a girl called Mandy when he visits New York. Things take a turn for the worse when Tony is brutally attacked one night outside a club. The musical includes over 40 Barry Manilow songs. National tour started at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on 15 September 2008 prior to performances in the West End.[2]

Hawkes appeared briefly in a cherry picker on Celebrity Big Brother (shown on 8 January 2009) on Channel Four. "The One and Only" was used as a cue to have contestants worship at a Chesney Hawkes shrine. While other contestants were required to be paparazzi who had to take photos of any celebrities that appear in the cherry picker which was raised above the house compound wall.

Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne is a fan and Hawkes performed as a surprise at his birthday party.[3]

Hawkes appeared at the Aberystwyth University May Ball in 2009, alongside The Zutons, in Pontrhydfendigaid, and at the Glastonbudget music festival in Leicestershire, also in May 2009.

Hawkes performed at the University of Exeter, the University of Reading and Glyndwr University Freshers Balls in October/November 2009.

Discography

Albums

  • The Buddy's Song Soundtrack/The One and Only (U.S. title) (1991) #18 UK
  • Get The Picture (1993 - Europe only)
  • The Very Best Of (2005) - UK only)
  • Another Fine Mess (2007)
  • Me My Mouse & I (2009) - Available at www.artonearth.com/mmm

[1]

Singles

  • "The One And Only" (February 1991) #1 UK, #10 U.S.[4]
  • "I'm a Man Not a Boy" (June 1991) #27 UK
  • "Secrets of the Heart" (September 1991) #57 UK
  • "Feel So Alive" (November 1991) did not chart
  • "What's Wrong With This Picture" (May 1993) #63 UK
  • "Stay Away Baby Jane" (January 2002) #74 UK
  • "Another Fine Mess" (May 2005) #48 UK

[1]

Filmography

Trivia

 Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (January 2009)
  • Whilst his brother plays drums in his band, Chesney's sister fronted the mid-1990s rock group Transister, that also featured Danny Wilson's Gary Clark.
  • He is a supporter of West Ham United F.C.
  • Hawkes once dressed and lived as a homeless person for three weeks in order to gain first-hand experience for a project about homelessness.
  • The phrase "I am the one and only", along with the music from the hit song, is used in the popular AMX Mod for the FPS video game Counter-Strike when there is only one player left from a team, against two or more from the opposing one.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 246. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 
  2. ^ ""Bill Kenwright Ltd Presents Can't Smile Without You"". "Bill Kenwright Ltd". 2008-08-29. http://www.kenwright.com/default.asp?contentID=860. Retrieved 2008-08-29. 
  3. ^ Roberts, David (9th February 2009). "Bannatyne tells birthday guests: I will never retire". The Northern Echo. http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/4111333.Bannatyne_tells_birthday_guests__I_will_never_retire/. 
  4. ^ Billboard.com - Artist Chart History - Chesney Hawkes

External links


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