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{{About|the band|the concept put forth by Plato|philosopher king|the 2009 documentary film|The Philosopher Kings (film)|the novel by Jo Walton|The Philosopher Kings (novel)}}
{{Short description|Canadian band}}{{About|the band|other uses|Philosopher King (disambiguation){{!}}Philosopher King}}
{{redirect|Jon Levine||Jonathan Levine (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = The Philosopher Kings
| name = The Philosopher Kings
Line 6: Line 7:
| image_size =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| origin = [[Thornhill, Ontario|Thornhill]], [[Ontario]], Canada
| origin = [[Thornhill, Ontario]], Canada
| genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[soft rock]], [[pop music|pop]], [[pop rock]]
| genre = [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]], [[pop music|pop]], [[pop rock]]
| years_active = 1993–present
| years_active = 1993–1999, 2004–2009, 2016–present
| label =
| label =
| associated_acts = [[Prozzak]]
| spinoffs = [[Prozzäk]]
| website = {{URL|http://www.philosopherkings.com}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.philosopherkings.com}}
| current_members = [[Gerald Eaton]]<br />[[James Bryan McCollum]]<br />[[Brian West (musician)|Brian West]]<br />Denton Whited<br />[[Marc Rogers]]
| current_members = [[Gerald Eaton]]<br />[[James Bryan McCollum]]<br />[[Brian West (musician)|Brian West]]<br />Denton Whited<br />[[Marc Rogers]]
| past_members = [[Craig Hunter]]<br />[[Jason Levine]]<br />[[Jon Levine]]
| past_members = [[Craig Hunter]]<br />[[Jason Levine]]<br />Jon Levine
}}
}}


'''The Philosopher Kings''' are a [[Canadians|Canadian]] band who were most commercially successful in the late 1990s. The name of the band is derived from [[Plato]]'s ''[[Republic (Plato dialogue)|Republic]]'', in which he outlines the design of an idealistic government, ruled by ''philosopher-kings''. The Philosopher Kings have been nominated for five [[Juno Awards]], winning one in 1996 for "Best New Group".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/?from-year=1970&to-year=2019&nomination-category=&wins-only=no&artist=Philosopher+Kings|title=SEARCH AWARDS|website=junoawards.ca|accessdate=May 30, 2019}}</ref> Most of the band members, current and former, have also had successful careers as songwriters and producers for several artists and performers. Between 1995 and 2016, The Philosopher Kings were among the Top 150 selling Canadian artists in Canada.<ref>{{cite website|url=https://musiccanada.wordpress.com/2017/06/30/top-150-overall-selling-canadian-artists/|title=Top 150 Overall Selling Canadian Artists|website=musiccanada.wordpress.com|accessdate=January 1, 2020}}</ref>
'''The Philosopher Kings''' are a Canadian band. The band was most commercially successful in the late 1990s and have been nominated for five [[Juno Awards]], winning one in 1996 for "Best New Group".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://junoawards.ca/awards/past-winners-nominees/?search_year_val1=1970&search_year_val2=2021&search_category_val=&search_wins_val=no&tag_search_val=Philosopher+Kings&submit=submit|title=AWARDS|website=junoawards.ca|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref> Most of the band members, current and former, have also had successful careers as songwriters and producers for several artists and performers. Between 1996 and 2016, The Philosopher Kings were among the top 150 best-selling Canadian artists in Canada and among the top 50 best-selling Canadian bands in Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bdsradio.com/pd/docs/Nielsen_Canadian150_2017_vs2.pdf|title=NIELSEN MUSIC & BILLBOARD PRESENT CANADA 150 CHARTS|website=bdsradio.com|page=28|access-date=September 25, 2023|archive-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102202137/https://bdsradio.com/pd/docs/Nielsen_Canadian150_2017_vs2.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The Philosopher Kings formed in 1993 and released their [[The Philosopher Kings (album)|debut album]] in Canada in 1994. The album was later released in the United States by Columbia.<ref name="Inc. 1996">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62|title=Sony Music Takes on the World|date=22 June 1996|work=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|isbn=|location=|pages=62|issn=0006-2510|quote=|via=|author=Larry LeBlanc}}</ref> The group saw minor success in the United States with the single "Charms", which peaked at #36 on the [[Billboard magazine|Billboard]] Mainstream Top 40 chart in 1996.
The Philosopher Kings formed in 1993. The name of the band is derived from [[Plato]]'s ''[[Republic (Plato dialogue)|Republic]]'', in which he outlines the design of an idealistic government, ruled by ''philosopher-kings''. The band released their [[The Philosopher Kings (album)|debut album]] in Canada in 1994. The album was later released in the United States by Columbia.<ref name="Inc. 1996">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA62|title=Sony Music Takes on the World|date=22 June 1996|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=62|issn=0006-2510|author=Larry LeBlanc}}</ref> The group saw minor success in the United States with the single "[[Charms (The Philosopher Kings song)|Charms]]", which peaked at #36 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' Mainstream Top 40 chart in 1996.


The band performed across Canada,<ref>[https://ftp.issuu.com/imprintuw/docs/1995-96_v18-n23_imprint/25 "Heads Turning"]. ''Imprint'', University of Waterloo, 1996.</ref> and won the award for "Best New Group" at the [[Juno Awards of 1996|1996 Juno Awards]]. In 1997, the band released their second album, ''[[Famous, Rich and Beautiful]]''. The album featured several singles which were hits in Canada, including "I Am the Man", "Hurts to Love You" and "[[Cry (Godley & Creme song)|Cry]]". It is the band's best-selling album, being certified Platinum in Canada in 1998. The band was nominated for "[[Juno Award for Group of the Year|Best Group]]" at the [[Juno Awards of 1999|1999 Juno Awards]]. In 1999, drummer [[Craig Hunter]] was replaced by Denton Whited. In 2000, the band went on hiatus as each member pursued different projects. In 2004, all of the band members (minus [[Jason Levine]]) reunited and the band released the album ''Castles'' in 2006. In 2007, the band went on hiatus again. The band reunited again in 2016. In 2018, the band released the album ''Return of the Kings''.
The band performed across Canada,<ref>[https://ftp.issuu.com/imprintuw/docs/1995-96_v18-n23_imprint/25 "Heads Turning"]. ''Imprint'', University of Waterloo, 1996.</ref> and won the award for "Best New Group" at the [[Juno Awards of 1996|1996 Juno Awards]]. In 1997, the band released their second album, ''[[Famous, Rich and Beautiful]]''. The album featured several singles which were hits in Canada, including "I Am the Man", "Hurts to Love You" and "[[Cry_(Godley_%26_Creme_song)#The_Philosopher_Kings_version|Cry]]". The album was certified Platinum in Canada in 1998 and is the band's best-selling album. The band was nominated for "[[Juno Award for Group of the Year|Best Group]]" at the [[Juno Awards of 1999|1999 Juno Awards]]. In 1999, drummer [[Craig Hunter]] was replaced by Denton Whited. The band was inactive from 2000 to 2003 as members pursued different projects. In 2004, all of the band members (minus [[Jason Levine]]) reunited and the band released the album ''Castles'' in 2006, with their lead single, "[[Castles in the Sand (song)|Castles in the Sand]]" reaching the top 10 on the Adult Contemporary and Hot Adult Contemporary charts in Canada. After going on hiatus again in the 2010s, the band reunited again in 2016. In 2018, the band released the album ''Return of the Kings''.


==Members==
==Members==
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*[[Craig Hunter]] – drummer on ''Philosopher Kings'', ''Famous, Rich and Beautiful''
*[[Craig Hunter]] – drummer on ''Philosopher Kings'', ''Famous, Rich and Beautiful''
*[[Jason Levine]] – bassist on ''Philosopher Kings'', ''Famous, Rich and Beautiful'' & ''One Night Stand''
*[[Jason Levine]] – bassist on ''Philosopher Kings'', ''Famous, Rich and Beautiful'' & ''One Night Stand''
*[[Jon Levine]] – keyboardist
*Jon Levine – keyboardist


==Discography==
==Discography==
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|- style="font-size: smaller;"
|- style="font-size: smaller;"
! style="width:90px;"| [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]<br><ref>Peak positions for The Philosopher Kings' albums in Canada:
! style="width:90px;"| [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]<br><ref>Peak positions for The Philosopher Kings' albums in Canada:
*For "Famous, Rich and Beautiful" {{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3513&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3513.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3513|title=Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 2|date=April 6, 1998|publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|accessdate=June 19, 2019}}</ref>
*For "Famous, Rich and Beautiful" {{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3513&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3513.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3513|title=Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 2|date=April 6, 1998|publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref>
! style="width:90px;"| [[Music Canada|CAN]]<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=The%20Philosopher%20Kings|title=Gold/Platinum|publisher=[[Music Canada]]|accessdate=June 19, 2019}}</ref>
! style="width:90px;"| [[Music Canada|CAN]]<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=The%20Philosopher%20Kings&_gp_canadian=y&_gp_date=1998-06-30%2C|title=Gold/Platinum|date=25 January 2016 |publisher=[[Music Canada]]|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref>
|-
|-
|1994
|1994
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! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br /><ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=j86d3uqb5jajlou8j8ag1r4lv4&q1=Philosopher+Kings&q2=Top+Singles&interval=20 Search for Canadian peaks]</ref>
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN]]<br /><ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=j86d3uqb5jajlou8j8ag1r4lv4&q1=Philosopher+Kings&q2=Top+Singles&interval=20 Search for Canadian peaks]</ref>
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN Content (Cancon)]]<br><ref>Peak positions for The Philosopher Kings' singles on Cancon chart:
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN Content (Cancon)]]<br><ref>Peak positions for The Philosopher Kings' singles on Cancon chart:
*For "Turn My Head Around" {{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2630&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2630.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2630 |title= Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 60, No. 14 Oct 24, 1994|publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|accessdate=June 22, 2019|date= 2013-07-17}}</ref>
*For "Turn My Head Around" {{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.2630&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.2630.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.2630 |title= Canadian Content (Cancon) - Volume 60, No. 14 Oct 24, 1994|publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=June 22, 2019|date= 2013-07-17}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN Dance]]<br><ref>Peak positions for The Philosopher Kings' singles on Canadian Dance chart:
! width="35"| [[RPM (magazine)|CAN Dance]]<br><ref>Peak positions for The Philosopher Kings' singles on Canadian Dance chart:
*For "Charms" {{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.8996&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.8996.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.8996|title=Dance/Urban - Volume 61, No. 15 May 15, 1995|publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|accessdate=June 29, 2019|date=2013-07-17}}</ref>
*For "Charms" {{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.8996&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.8996.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.8996|title=Dance/Urban - Volume 61, No. 15 May 15, 1995|publisher=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=June 29, 2019|date=2013-07-17}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Mainstream Top 40|U.S.<br />Top 40]]<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/The-Philosopher-Kings/chart-history|title=Chart History|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|accessdate=June 29, 2019}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Mainstream Top 40|U.S.<br />Top 40]]<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/The-Philosopher-Kings/chart-history|title=Chart History|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=June 29, 2019}}</ref>
|-
|-
| rowspan=2|1994
| rowspan=2|1994
Line 107: Line 108:
|-
|-
| rowspan=1|1995
| rowspan=1|1995
| align="left"| "Charms"
| align="left"| "[[Charms (The Philosopher Kings song)|Charms]]"
| 16
| 16
| —
| —
Line 128: Line 129:
| —
| —
|-
|-
| align="left"| "[[Cry (Godley & Creme song)|Cry]]"
| align="left"| "[[Cry_(Godley_%26_Creme_song)#The_Philosopher_Kings_version|Cry]]"
| 13
| 13
| —
| —
Line 142: Line 143:
| 1999
| 1999
| align="left"| "You Stepped on My Life"
| align="left"| "You Stepped on My Life"
| —
| 30
| —
| —
| —
| —
Line 156: Line 157:
|-
|-
| 2005
| 2005
| align="left"| "Castles in the Sand"
| align="left"| "[[Castles in the Sand (song)|Castles in the Sand]]"
| —
| —
| —
| —

Latest revision as of 15:01, 9 May 2024

This article is about the band. For other uses, see Philosopher King.
"Jon Levine" redirects here. For other uses, see Jonathan Levine (disambiguation).
The Philosopher Kings
OriginThornhill, Ontario, Canada
GenresR&B, pop, pop rock
Years active1993–1999, 2004–2009, 2016–present
SpinoffsProzzäk
MembersGerald Eaton
James Bryan McCollum
Brian West
Denton Whited
Marc Rogers
Past membersCraig Hunter
Jason Levine
Jon Levine
Websitewww.philosopherkings.com

The Philosopher Kings are a Canadian band. The band was most commercially successful in the late 1990s and have been nominated for five Juno Awards, winning one in 1996 for "Best New Group".[1] Most of the band members, current and former, have also had successful careers as songwriters and producers for several artists and performers. Between 1996 and 2016, The Philosopher Kings were among the top 150 best-selling Canadian artists in Canada and among the top 50 best-selling Canadian bands in Canada.[2]

History[edit]

The Philosopher Kings formed in 1993. The name of the band is derived from Plato's Republic, in which he outlines the design of an idealistic government, ruled by philosopher-kings. The band released their debut album in Canada in 1994. The album was later released in the United States by Columbia.[3] The group saw minor success in the United States with the single "Charms", which peaked at #36 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart in 1996.

The band performed across Canada,[4] and won the award for "Best New Group" at the 1996 Juno Awards. In 1997, the band released their second album, Famous, Rich and Beautiful. The album featured several singles which were hits in Canada, including "I Am the Man", "Hurts to Love You" and "Cry". The album was certified Platinum in Canada in 1998 and is the band's best-selling album. The band was nominated for "Best Group" at the 1999 Juno Awards. In 1999, drummer Craig Hunter was replaced by Denton Whited. The band was inactive from 2000 to 2003 as members pursued different projects. In 2004, all of the band members (minus Jason Levine) reunited and the band released the album Castles in 2006, with their lead single, "Castles in the Sand" reaching the top 10 on the Adult Contemporary and Hot Adult Contemporary charts in Canada. After going on hiatus again in the 2010s, the band reunited again in 2016. In 2018, the band released the album Return of the Kings.

Members[edit]

Current line-up[edit]

Past members[edit]

  • Craig Hunter – drummer on Philosopher Kings, Famous, Rich and Beautiful
  • Jason Levine – bassist on Philosopher Kings, Famous, Rich and Beautiful & One Night Stand
  • Jon Levine – keyboardist

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
CAN
[5] 		CAN
[6]
1994 The Philosopher Kings — Gold
1997 Famous, Rich and Beautiful 62 Platinum
1999 One Night Stand —
2006 Castles —
2018 Return of the Kings —

Singles[edit]

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
CAN
[7] 		CAN Content (Cancon)
[8] 		CAN Dance
[9] 		U.S.
Top 40
[10]
1994 "Turn My Head Around" — 6 — — The Philosopher Kings
"Lay My Body Down" — — — —
1995 "Charms" 16 — 15 36
1997 "I Am the Man" 7 — — — Famous, Rich and Beautiful
1998 "Hurts to Love You" 8 — — —
"Cry" 13 — — —
"You Don't Love Me (Like You Used To Do)" 71 — — —
1999 "You Stepped on My Life" 30 — — —
2000 "If I Ever Lose This Heaven" 44 — — — One Night Stand
2005 "Castles in the Sand" — — — — Castles
2006 "Give Back the Love" — — — —
"Beautiful Creature" — — — —
2017 "Still the One" — — — — Return of the Kings
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Awards[edit]

Nominations[edit]

Side projects[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ AWARDS. Retrieved June 3, 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  2. ^ "NIELSEN MUSIC & BILLBOARD PRESENT CANADA 150 CHARTS" (PDF). bdsradio.com. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 2, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  3. ^ Larry LeBlanc (22 June 1996). "Sony Music Takes on the World". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 62. ISSN 0006-2510.
  4. ^ "Heads Turning". Imprint, University of Waterloo, 1996.
  5. ^ Peak positions for The Philosopher Kings' albums in Canada: *For "Famous, Rich and Beautiful" "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 67, No. 2". RPM. April 6, 1998. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  6. ^ "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. 25 January 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. ^ Search for Canadian peaks
  8. ^ Peak positions for The Philosopher Kings' singles on Cancon chart:
  9. ^ Peak positions for The Philosopher Kings' singles on Canadian Dance chart:
  10. ^ "Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2019.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Philosopher_Kings&oldid=1223045446"