Chesney Lee Hawkes (born 22 September 1971) is an English pop singer and occasional actor. He started his career at the age of 19 when he appeared in the film Buddy's Song, which featured his best-known single "The One and Only", which topped the UK Singles Chart for five weeks and reached the top 10 in the United States. Follow-up single "I'm a Man Not a Boy" peaked at 27 in the UK, with subsequent singles including "What's Wrong with This Picture?", "Stay Away Baby Jane" (a collaboration with Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne) and "Another Fine Mess" also charting in the top 100.
Hawkes was born in Windsor, Berkshire. He was named after the singer and comedian Chesney Allen. His father is singer and bassist Len 'Chip' Hawkes of the 1960s band the Tremeloes.[1] 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", as well as the 1969 horror film The Haunted House of Horror. Keely Hawkes, his sister, was the lead singer of 1990s band Transister, and is currently a songwriter based in Los Angeles. He attended Charters School in Sunningdale. Jodie Hawkes, his brother, played drums in Chesney's band and is currently in The Tremeloes.
Hawkes's career began at 19, when he appeared as the title character in the film Buddy's Song. In March 1991, he released from the film's soundtrack his biggest single "The One and Only", on which his younger brother Jodie was the drummer. Written by Nik Kershaw, the song was later featured in the opening credits of Doc Hollywood (1991), starring Michael J. Fox; in the 2009 movie Moon, as the song Sam Rockwell wakes up to every morning; and again in the 2011 film Source Code (also directed by Moon director Duncan Jones) as the mobile phone ringtone of Michelle Monaghan's character. The single spent five weeks at No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart. He has released eight singles including "I'm a Man Not a Boy" and "Secrets of the Heart".
In 1993, his single "What's Wrong with This Picture?" reached number 63 in the UK, and his 2002 collaboration with Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, "Stay Away Baby Jane", reached number 74 in the UK Singles Chart.[2]
On 21 March 2001, Hawkes appeared on the second episode of ITV's documentary series Holiday Airport, which followed British holidaymakers as they passed through Palma Airport, Majorca. The episode resurfaced more than 20 years later on 13 March 2022, when it was uploaded to YouTube by ITV Studios' Our Stories channel.[3]
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.[2] The following album of the same title featured fifteen songs written by Hawkes.[4]
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 performed by the London Symphony Orchestra for these events held at Castle Howard and Crystal Palace, in August 2007.
Hawkes at the University of Exeter Summer Ball, 2008
Hawkes appeared in a 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.[5]
Hawkes appeared briefly in a cherry picker on Celebrity Big Brother (shown on 8 January 2009) on Channel 4. "The One and Only" was used as a cue to have contestants worship at a Chesney Hawkes shrine.
Hawkes was due to take part on ITV's skating programme Dancing on Ice in 2012 but after fracturing his ankle, he had to pull out. He was replaced by Chico Slimani. In May, he played at Lakefest festival.[9] In December, he appeared as an accident-prone version of himself in the ITV comedy drama Panto!.
In 2014, Hawkes performed "The One and Only" with a flashmob dance group in the streets of Manchester to promote MyMate Loans.[10] In addition, he recorded a version of the song with different lyrics for a MyMate commercial.[11]
In 2015, Hawkes competed in Celebrity MasterChef on BBC One. He was eliminated in the first of the semi-finals of the show.[12]
On 25 March 2022, Hawkes released the box set The Complete Picture: The Albums 1991–2012, which consists of five CDs and one DVD. In addition, he released the digital single "The One and Only (2022 Nik Kershaw Remix)".[13] In autumn 2022, he joined his father Chip and brother Jodie on the Sixties Gold Tour as part of the Tremeloes, becoming their singer for a series of dates around the UK.[14][15][16]
On 29 November 2022, Chesney rendered a half-time performance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup match between England and Wales.
Personal life
Hawkes married wife Kristina (who is American) on 4 July 1997. They lived in Chertsey, Surrey[17] with their three children before moving to Los Angeles.[18]
Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne is a fan, and Hawkes performed as a surprise at his 60th birthday party in 2009.[19]
Liberty X are a British group originally consisting of Michelle Heaton, Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young. The group was formed by the five finalists of the 2001 ITV talent show Popstars who failed to make it into the winning group Hear'Say.
Desmond Bernard O'Connor was an English comedian, singer and television presenter.
Nicholas David Kershaw is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer.
EMF is an English alternative rock band from Cinderford, Gloucestershire, who came to prominence at the beginning of the 1990s. During their initial eight-year run, from 1989 to 1997, the band released three studio albums before a hiatus. Their first single, "Unbelievable", reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart, and was a number 1 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their debut album, Schubert Dip, went to number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. In April 2022, EMF released their first album of new material in 27 years, Go Go Sapiens.
The Tremeloes are an English beat group founded in 1958 in Dagenham, England. They initially found success in the British Invasion era with lead singer Brian Poole, scoring a UK chart-topper in 1963 with "Do You Love Me". After Poole's departure in 1966, the band achieved further success as a four-piece with 13 top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart between 1967 and 1971 including "Here Comes My Baby", "Even the Bad Times Are Good", "(Call Me) Number One", "Me and My Life" and their most successful single, "Silence Is Golden" (1967).
The Works is the fourth studio album by the English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nik Kershaw. It was released in 1989 and was the last album he created for MCA Records. Kershaw chose the album's title as he felt the album represented "the collected works of Nik Kershaw". He did not release any new solo material until 15 Minutes, 10 years later.
"Here Comes My Baby" is a song written by British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens. It is well known for being an international hit for the Tremeloes in 1967.
Danny Foster is an English pop/soul singer and television personality, who appeared in the inaugural series of the British television talent-show Popstars, going on to become a founder member of the pop group Hear'say.
Yousseph "Chico" Slimani is a British singer who rose to prominence in the United Kingdom after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2005 series of the talent show The X Factor. In 2006, he had a number one hit on the British charts entitled "It's Chico Time". In 2008, he appeared on the reality TV show CelebAir where he came third. In December 2019, he appeared at the 15th anniversary of Ely's Christmas light switch event.
"The One and Only" is the debut single by British singer and actor Chesney Hawkes. Written by Nik Kershaw, the single was released by Chrysalis Records in February 1991. Produced by Kershaw and Alan Shacklock, and recorded and mixed by Gareth Cousins, the song was featured in the 1991 film Buddy's Song which starred Hawkes as the eponymous Buddy and Roger Daltrey as his father. The film performed moderately well at the UK box office, but the song was a hit in that country's music charts, spending five weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart in March and April 1991. Kershaw's influence can also be heard throughout the track not only in guitar style, but in the backing vocals on the intro and choruses, with Hawkes singing the verses.
"Silence Is Golden" is a song initially recorded by the American rock band the Four Seasons. Written by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio, Philips Records released it in 1964 as the B-side of the U.S. number 1 single "Rag Doll", which was also written by Crewe/Gaudio. The Tremeloes' 1967 cover version reached number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and number 11 on the US charts.
"I'm a Man Not a Boy" is the second single by British singer and actor Chesney Hawkes. Written by Hawkes, Nigel Hinton and John Wesley Harding, and produced by Alan Shacklock, it was included in the film Buddy's Song, with Hawkes as Buddy and Roger Daltrey as his father. The single entered the UK Singles Chart at No. 37 and climbed to a peak position of No. 27 a week later, making it the second of two of Hawkes' singles to enter the top 40.
Oliver Stanley Murs is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He was a contestant on the sixth series of the television music show competition The X Factor in 2009, which he finished as runner-up. Following the show, Murs was signed to RCA Records and Sony Music in the United Kingdom, and Columbia Records in the United States.
"It Won't Be Long" is a song by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, which was released in 1991 as the lead single from her third studio album, Hoodoo (1991). It was written by Moyet and Pete Glenister, and produced by Glenister. A music video was filmed to promote the single, while Moyet also performed the song on Wogan.
Buddy's Song is the debut album by English singer and actor Chesney Hawkes, released in 1991 by Chrysalis Records. It serves as the soundtrack to the film of the same name and includes the UK number one single "The One and Only". The film's screenwriter Nigel Hinton contributed to the soundtrack by co-writing all but three songs in the UK release of the album. The album and film soundtrack were recorded and mixed entirely at Abbey Road Studios by engineer Gareth Cousins.
"Secrets of the Heart" is the third single by British singer and actor Chesney Hawkes. Written by Nik Kershaw, it was included in the film Buddy's Song, with Hawkes as Buddy and Roger Daltrey as his father. The B-side is a cover of "One World", written and originally recorded by Nik Kershaw from his 1989 album The Works. Released on 16 September 1991, "Secrets of the Heart" peaked at No. 37 on the UK Singles Chart.
"Non illuderti mai" is a song by Italian singer Orietta Berti, released as a single in April 1968 for the summer festival Un disco per l'estate. The song came in second place at the festival behind "Luglio" by Riccardo Del Turco. It has notably been covered in English as "My Little Lady" by the Tremeloes and in French as "Ma bonne étoile" by Joe Dassin.
The Complete Picture: The Albums 1991–2012 is a career-spanning box set by British singer-songwriter Chesney Hawkes. Released by Chrysalis Records on 22 March 2022 to celebrate Hawkes' 30th anniversary, the box set includes his four studio albums plus a bonus disc with B-sides and remixes, and a DVD containing music videos, TV performances, and rare live footage.
"(Call Me) Number One" is a song by British group the Tremeloes, released as a single in October 1969. It peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.
Len "Chip" Hawkes is an English musician. Since 1966, he has toured with the beat group The Tremeloes. He is the father of singer Chesney Hawkes.
References
↑ "One-Hit Wonders at the BBC". 1. 17 April 2015. BBC Four.
1 2 3 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19thed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p.246. ISBN1-904994-10-5.
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