This band’s melodic indie pop shot into the mainstream on the back of 1999’s bestselling single ‘Kiss Me’. Sixpence None The Richer, whose name was inspired by a passage of text in C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity, was founded by vocalist Leigh Nash (b. Leigh Bingham, 27 June 1976, New Braunfels, Texas, USA) and guitarist and songwriter Matt Slocum (b. 27 December 1972, New Braunfels, Texas, USA). Bingham and Slocum first met at a church meeting in their native New Braunfels in the late 80s. They formed Sixpence None The Richer, although Slocum continued to play guitar with another Texas-based band, Love Coma. The duo recorded a four-track demo with bass player T.J. Behling, which led to a contract with REX Music.
Sixpence None The Richer’s 1993 debut, The Fatherless And The Widow, was recorded with the help of Behling and Love Coma drummer Chris Dodds, and drew acclaim for Slocum’s highly literate, quasi-religious lyrics and Bingham’s expressive vocals. The following year the band toured extensively throughout Europe and America with new drummer Dale Baker (b. 29 June 1966) and rhythm guitarist Tess Wiley (ex-Nothing In Return), including a prestigious opening slot for 10, 000 Maniacs. Bass player J.J. Plasencio joined in 1995 to help record This Beautiful Mess and the EP Tickets For A Prayer Wheel. A move to Nashville followed, although the collapse of REX Music and the departure of Wiley and Plasencio delayed sessions for a new album. Leigh Bingham became Leigh Nash after marrying in May 1996.
Nash, Slocum and Baker eventually found a home on producer Steve Taylor’s Squint Entertainment label, releasing their self-titled third album in November 1997. A version featuring three mixes by Bob Clearmountain was released the following February. Bass player Justin Cary and guitarist Sean Kelly (b. 25 June 1971) were added to the line-up for live shows, which included appearances with the Wallflowers and Abra Moore. The band’s major breakthrough came when ‘Kiss Me’ started being heavily rotated on national radio and television, and was promoted as the featured single from the movie She’s All That. As a result ‘Kiss Me’ climbed steadily up the national charts, eventually reaching number 2 in May 1999. The song also reached UK number 4 later in the month. An anaemic cover version of the La’s ‘There She Goes’ was released as the second single. The album also included two ambitious song suites and ‘Puedo Escribir’, a musical interpretation of poet Pablo Neruda’s ‘Tonight I Can Write …’.
The sextet was kept in recording limbo because of Squint’s ongoing financial problems, before finally winding up on Reprise Records. Rob Mitchell replaced Baker on 2002’s heavily delayed new studio album, Divine Discontent. Two years later Nash and Slocum announced Sixpence None The Richer was disbanding. Nash made her solo debut in 2006 with the album Blue On Blue.
