Sixpence None the Richer

Biography

Sixpence None the Richer is an American alternative rock band that formed in New Braunfels, Texas, and settled in Nashville, Tennessee. They are best known for their songs "Kiss Me×Kiss Me1998 · Single · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Kiss Me3:212Love3:56" and "Breathe Your Name×Breathe Your Name1 October 2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Breathe Your Name (single version)3:592Northern Lights4:06", and their covers of "Don't Dream It's Over" and "There She Goes×There She Goes6 September 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1There She Goes2:462Kiss Me (Acoustic)3:12".
The band received two Grammy Award nominations, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Kiss Me" and Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album for Sixpence None the Richer (1997).

Formation and early years (1992–1996)

Guitarist/songwriter Matt Slocum met Leigh Nash in the early 1990s and recorded a demo, circulated as "The Original Demos×The Original DemosEPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Spotlight4:442The Fatherless and the Widow7:313Thoughts of You7:014Trust7:535Meaningless / Falling Leaves (live)8:53", with bassist T.J. Behling at Verge Music Works recording studio in Dallas, and eventually an album, The Fatherless and the Widow×The Fatherless and the Widow1994 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Field of Flowers2:382Spotlight3:523The Fatherless and the Widow4:454Musings4:355Trust3:266Falling Leaves3:317Meaningless5:098Soul3:519An Apology4:4110Trust (Reprise)4:02, for the independent label R.E.X. Records in 1994. After adding more members, the band toured in support of The Fatherless and the Widow. The band released This Beautiful Mess in 1995.
The band's name was inspired by a passage from C. S. Lewis's book Mere Christianity discussing how children buying gifts for their parents with the parents' money means the parents are "none the richer" monetarily even though there is value in the act (mirroring the Christian God/human dynamic).

Into the mainstream (1997–2004)

In 1997, the group signed to Steve Taylor's label Squint Entertainment and released a self-titled album, which began garnering attention from mainstream audiences.
In 1998, "Kiss Me×Kiss Me1998 · Single · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Kiss Me3:212Love3:56" was released as a single, propelling Sixpence None the Richer into the national pop spotlight. The next year, the band followed up with a cover of The La's' "There She Goes×There She Goes6 September 1999 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1There She Goes2:462Kiss Me (Acoustic)3:12". Sixpence appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and numerous morning talk shows.
The band had a follow-up album ready to release, but Squint Entertainment started to fall apart, leaving the band in limbo for several years. Finally, Squint Entertainment folded, and the album, Divine Discontent×Divine Discontent2001 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Breathe Your Name3:572Tonight3:533Down and Out of Time3:284Don’t Dream It’s Over4:045Waiting on the Sun2:556Still Burning4:037Melody of You4:508Paralyzed3:559I’ve Been Waiting4:1910Eyes Wide Open3:2911Dizzy6:3712Tension Is a Passing Note3:3013A Million Parachutes6:20, was released in 2002.
The band made a musical appearance in season 7 episode 16 of the sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch (2003).
On February 26, 2004, Matt Slocum announced that the group had disbanded.

First reunion and Lost in Transition (2007–2016)

In November 2007, Sixpence None the Richer reunited. They released the EP My Dear Machine on the website NoiseTrade in 2008, the band's first official release since The Best of Sixpence None the Richer in 2004. In October 2008, they released a Christmas album, The Dawn of Grace×The Dawn of Grace14 October 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Angels We Have Heard on High4:152The Last Christmas3:123O Come, O Come Emmanuel3:074Silent Night4:295Riu Riu Chiu3:066Carol of the Bells2:257Christmas Island2:348River3:589Christmas for Two3:0910Some Children See Him4:14.
Sixpence signed to Credential Recordings and played a headline slot at the 2009 Greenbelt Festival in the UK. According to Nash, the band began recording a new album in 2010. The album, Lost in Transition×Lost in Transition7 August 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1My Dear Machine2:432Radio3:323Give It Back4:454Safety Line4:355When You Call Me3:226Should Not Be This Hard3:137Go Your Way3:118Failure3:319Don’t Blame Yourself3:3610Stand My Ground2:3711Sooner Than Later3:3312Be OK2:34, was released on August 7, 2012.

Second reunion, Rosemary Hill, and Justin Cary's death (2023–present)

In September 2023, Nash released a single, "The Tide", that additionally credited Sixpence None the Richer, making it the band's first new song in 11 years. She and Slocum also announced a new tour with 10,000 Maniacs, playing songs by both bands, but in January 2024, Nash and Slocum left the tour early, saying they "had other commitments arise".
In January 2024, it was announced that drummer Dale Baker was returning to the band and that they had signed a management deal with Deep South Entertainment with plans to re-release their self-titled album on vinyl. In June, they announced a 25th-anniversary tour with the classic lineup for the first time since Baker left. In August 2024, they announced a new single, We are Love, and a new EP, Rosemary Hill×Rosemary Hill4 October 2024 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Thread the Needle4:142Julia3:313We Are Love5:204Child and Man4:015Homeland3:486Rosemary Hill4:35, released on October 4, 2024.
While the band has made no official announcement of lineup changes, Baker has not played with the band since the anniversary tour. Jon Radford has played live with the band since 2025.
Bassist Justin Cary died on June 18, 2026, at the age of 50, following a stroke.

Band members

Current members

Leigh Nash – vocals (1992–2004, 2007–present)
Matt Slocum – guitar, cello (1992–2004, 2007–present)
Dale Baker – drums (1993–2001, 2024–present)
Current touring members

Steve Hindalong – percussion, guitars (2024–present)
Jon Radford – drums (2025–present)
Former members

T. J. Behling – bass (1992–1993)
Tess Wiley – guitars, vocals (1995–1996, 2008)
J. J. Plasencio – bass (1995–1997)
Sean Kelly – guitars (1997–2004)
Jerry Dale McFadden – keyboards (2001–2004)
Rob Mitchell – drums (2001–2004, 2012–2017)
Jason Lehning – keyboards (2012–2013)
Justin Cary – bass (1997–2004, 2008–2026; his death)