Chesney Hawkes
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Chesney Lee Hawkes (born 22 September 1971), is an English pop singer, songwriter, and occasional actor. He is best known for his British chart-topping Single "The One and Only", which was released in March 1991.
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[edit] Life and career
Hawkes was born in Windsor, Berkshire. His father is the singer Len 'Chip' Hawkes, formerly with the 1960s band The Tremeloes. Chesney was named him after the singer and comedian, Chesney Allen.
Hawkes' career began at nineteen, when he appeared as the title character in the film Buddy's Song. Shortly after this, he released his most famous 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; however, it proved to be a hard act to follow, and subsequent releases such as "I'm A Man Not A Boy" (May 1991) were not as successful.
Hawkes disappeared from the mainstream public eye for many years, with the 1993 release of the single "What's Wrong With This Picture?" attracting little attention in the UK, and his 2002 collaboration with singer Brian McAndrew, "Stay Away Baby Jane", reaching only number 74 in the UK Singles Chart. Many felt this was due to the delay in release, as Hawkes had promoted the single a year earlier in Spring 2001 with a string of live appearances across the UK in nightclubs, and short acoustic sets in universities and colleges.
However, 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. Hawkes has also had some success as a songwriter for other artists, such as A1, Caprice and Tricky.
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 new single called "Another Fine Mess" in May 2005, although it only reached number 48; nevertheless, it was his biggest-selling single for over a decade.
He is currently working with the comedian Tony Hawks on songs which are available on MySpace.
Chesney has since met and fallen in love with lifelong fan Frederick "Rico" Culazzo, and has thus as a result, come out of closet. The two met when Rico was spotted by Chesney crowdsurfing topless in floods of tears at one of Hawkes's famed University shows. Chesney's spokesperson claimed that he was smitten immediately with Rico's charm and brashness. Although the pair were rumoured to have fallen out over the use of "The One and Only" in a recent Land of Leather commercial, these differences have been cast aside and the pair are rumoured to be marrying in early 2008, as they are "blissfully in love"
[edit] Discography
[edit] Album
- The Buddy's Song Soundtrack/The One and Only (US title) (1991) #18 UK
- Get The Picture (1993 - Europe only)
[edit] Singles
- "The One And Only" (March 1991) #1 UK
- "I'm A Man Not A Boy" (May 1991) #27 UK
- "Secrets Of The Heart" (September 1991) #57 UK
- "Feel So Alive" (December 1991)
- "What's Wrong With This Picture" (May 1993) #63 UK
- "Missing You Already" (July 1993)
- "Black And White People" (September 1993)
- "Stay Away Baby Jane" (January 2002) #74 UK
- "Another Fine Mess" (May 2005) #48 UK
[edit] Filmography
- Buddy's Song (1991) - Buddy
- Prince Valiant (1997) - Stable Hand
[edit] Trivia
- 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.
- Hawkes' reputation for his dedication for the fans was brought into disrepute after his appearance on The Games, when he failed to answer a number of e-mails from devoted fans.
- He is a supporter of West Ham United Football Club.
