Chesney Hawkes, the son of Len (Chip) Hawkes, the singer of The Tremeloes, and Carol Hawkes, a TV hostess and actress, was born on September 22, 1971, in Windsor, Berkshire, England.
At the age of 19, Chesney won the lead role in the film Buddy's Song (1991) and signed to sing the soundtrack. His debut single, "The One And Only", became a global teen anthem, topping the charts in many countries, including the UK, where it stayed at number one for five weeks.
Chesney's live shows were a huge success, with sell-out tours across Europe. He then removed himself from the public eye to focus on songwriting and recording his second album, "Get The Picture", which was released to critical acclaim.
After gaining more live experience, Chesney decided to form a new band, "ebb", and spent 1997 living and working in New York, playing gigs on the East and West coasts. He continued to write and demo new material, collaborating with various writers and producers.
Since then, Chesney has worked with numerous talented artists, including Mark Goldenberg, Adam Schlesinger, Jesse Vellenswealla, and Counting Crows producer Marvin Etzioni. He has also co-written songs with Howard Jones, Stuart Copland, Nik Kershaw, and Bijou Phillips.
Chesney's songs have been featured in several films, including Doc Hollywood, Jawbreaker, and The Night We Never Met. He has also collaborated with Tricky on his "Mission Accomplished" EP and with English band "Hepburn" on their cover of "Next Life".
In 2000 and 2001, Chesney recorded a batch of new songs in London and Los Angeles with producer Charlton Pettus. A single, "Stay Away Baby Jane", was scheduled for release in summer 2001.
Chesney has been touring extensively, performing at student venues and festivals. He has also appeared on several TV shows, including "Top Ten Teen Idols", Banzai, and "Question of Pop".
At present, Chesney is working on his new album and living in West London with his wife Kristina and their son, Casey George Hawkes, who was born on August 29, 2001.
