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Sophie B. Hawkins
Sophie B. Hawkins, 2006
Background information
Birth name	Sophie Ballantine Hawkins
Born	November 1, 1967 (1967-11-01) (age 42)
Origin	New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	Rock, Pop, AC
Occupations	singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, guitar
Years active	1992 - present
Labels	Sony BMG Columbia Rykodisc Trumpet Swan
Website	Official Website

Sophie Ballantine Hawkins (born November 1, 1967, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S.) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and painter. Her biggest hits are "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover," "Right Beside You," and "As I Lay Me Down."

Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Singles 4 Filmography 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

Career

Hawkins's debut album, Tongues and Tails, was released in 1992. It achieved both worldwide commercial success and critical acclaim, earning her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 1993. The single "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" went to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles' chart in the USA, and was also a top 20 hit in the UK.

Whaler, her second album, was released in 1994. Produced by Stephen Lipson, it also contained a US Top 10 hit, "As I Lay Me Down," and made gold status. Three singles from the album made the UK top 40, including "Right Beside You" which peaked at #13.

A 1998 documentary by Gigi Gaston, titled The Cream Will Rise, followed Hawkins during one of her tours and captures her struggle to deal with past troubles with her family, including problems with her mother and brother. Music and riffs by Hawkins are included throughout the film.

Also in 1998, Hawkins's record company at the time, Sony Music, delayed the release of her third album. Its executives were unhappy with the finished product, and wanted Hawkins to rework some of the material. In particular, they were insisting that Hawkins remove a banjo track from one of the songs. Hawkins refused to accommodate them, citing artistic integrity as her main reason. After a lengthy battle between Hawkins and the company, the album, Timbre, was eventually released in 1999, though Sony declined to promote it. Hawkins subsequently left the label and founded her own label, Trumpet Swan Productions. In 2001, Timbre was re-released on Hawkins' label, now as a 2-disc set that contained new songs, demos, remixes, and videos.

Her first independently recorded and released album, Wilderness, was released in 2004.

In August 2007, Hawkins headlined the first Los Angeles Women's Music Festival in support of the festival's dual agenda of supporting animal rescue groups and promoting and supporting female musicians. Hawkins is a vegan and a long-time supporter of animal rights.¹ Despite rumours that she is a lesbian, Hawkins's website states that she is, in fact, bisexual.²

In February 2008, Hawkins re-recorded her hit "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" as "Damn We Wish You Were President" in support of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Hawkins wrote, "Hillary Clinton's achievements come from her heart. She has initiated so much positive change for families, children, victims of crime and the environment in her struggle for the forward movement of America and the working people of this nation."³

Hawkins is said to be working with famed producer Nile Rodgers for a new release due fall 2009. She collaborated with him previously on the September 11th Benefit Single "We Are Family," a remake of the Sister Sledge classic.⁴

Personal life

On November 18, 2008, she gave birth to a son, Dashiell Gaston Hawkins. He was named in part for her longtime partner and manager, Gigi Gaston.

Discography

Albums

• Tongues and Tails (1992) US #51 (Gold), UK #46
• Whaler (1994) #65 (Gold), UK #46
• Timbre (1999)
  • Timbre (enhanced, reissued on Trumpet Swan Prods. 2001)
• The Best of Sophie B. Hawkins (2002 - European Edition)
• The Best of Sophie B. Hawkins (2003 - US Edition)
• Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover (2003)
• Wilderness (2004)
• Live: Bad Kitty Board Mix (2006)

Singles

Year	Title	Chart positions					Album
		US Hot 100	US AC	US Adult	US Top 40 Main.	UK5
1992	"Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover"	5	—	—	—	14	Tongues and Tails
	"California Here I Come"	—	—	—	—	53
1993	"I Want You"	—	—	—	—	49
1994	"Right Beside You"	56	—	—	24	13	Whaler
	"Don't Don't Tell Me No"	—	—	—	—	36
1995	"As I Lay Me Down"	6	1	1	3	24
	"Did We Not Choose Each Other"	—	—	—	—	—
1996	"Only Love (The Ballad of Sleeping Beauty)"	49	22	19	22	—
1999	"Lose Your Way"	—	26	—	—	—	Timbre
2001	"Walking In My Blue Jeans"	—	23	—	—	—
2004	"Beautiful Girl	—	26	—	—	—	Wilderness
	"Walking On Thin Ice"	—	37	—	—	—

Filmography

• The Cream Will Rise (1998)
• Rip It Off (2001)
  • Beyond City Limits

See also

• Trumpet Swan Productions

References

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Sophie B. Hawkins

• Official website
• Sophie B. Hawkins at the Internet Movie Database
• The Cream Will Rise (1997) - reviews, clips, & commentary
• Billboard Artist Chart History