Nick Hexum | |
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Nick Hexum in 2007
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Background information | |
Birth name | Nicholas Lofton Hexum |
Also known as | DJ Lofton |
Born |
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
April 12, 1970
Origin | Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
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Occupation(s) |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 1988–present |
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Website | www |
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Nicholas Lofton "Nick" Hexum (born April 12, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter and rapper, currently the vocalist and guitarist for the multi-platinum alternative rock band 311 and The Nick Hexum Quintet.
Born in Madison, Wisconsin, to father Dr. Terry Hexum and mother Pat, Hexum went to Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska. There he played in the school's concert jazz band, and played in several local bands like "The Extras", "The Eds", "The Right Profile", and "Unity". In the late 1980s, Nick moved to Los Angeles to pursue music, but found his opportunity back home in Omaha just a couple years later. His friend and future bandmate Chad Sexton convinced him to move back to Omaha to start a band with friends Aaron Wills and Jim Watson; this band would eventually take the name 311.
Hexum has two siblings: brother Zack, also a musician, and sister Angela. His parents are divorced.
311 began playing together in 1988. In 1990, Hexum realized the only way for 311 to gain notoriety was to release albums, so he started his own record company called "What Have You Records" and used it to begin releasing 311 titles. The band released three albums, Dammit!, Unity, and Hydroponic, as well as one EP, Downstairs EP, before signing to Capricorn Records in 1992.
311 has sold over 9 million albums in the US. They have had seven albums in the Top 10 on Billboard's US Top 200 Sales Chart, and nine singles in the Top 10 on Billboard's US Alternative Chart (including three #1 singles). 311 has headlined amphitheaters in the US for the past 11 consecutive summers.
Hexum produced the gold-selling soundtrack to the Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore film 50 First Dates, including songs for Seal & Mikey Dread, Dryden Mitchell and Jason Mraz.