Nicholas Lofton Hexum is an American singer, songwriter and rapper, currently the vocalist and guitarist for the multi-platinum alternative rock band311 and The Nick Hexum Quintet.
Early life
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 three siblings: brothers Patrick, Zack and sister Angela. His parents are now divorced. Patrick died fighting an opioid addiction.
311
311 began playing together in 1988. In 1990, Hexum realized the only way for 311 to gain recognition 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. 311 has headlined amphitheaters in the US for the past 11 consecutive summers.
Personal life
Hexum had a relationship with Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls from 2000 to 2004. He wrote the song “Amber” about her. Hexum married his wife Nikki on New Year's Eve 2008. Their daughter was born in a home birth on August 29, 2009. Their second daughter was born May 1, 2011, also Nikki's birthday. Due to the absence of his family's midwife, Hexum performed the delivery. Their third daughter, Harlow, was born September 16, 2014. Hexum has contributed to the charity collaboration Band of Merrymakers.
