Jim ‘Soni’ Sonefeld, drummer/songwriter for Hootie & the Blowfish, was the featured speaker at the Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber of Commerce breakfast held at the Stone River Center on Tuesday, October 25.
“I can’t take credit or blame for that hideous name,” said Sonefeld. “It was already established when I joined the band.”
Sonefeld was promoting his book, ‘Swimming with the Blowfish’, an autobiographical account of his years with the national touring band. He told his story about a desire to become a professional soccer player while in college and how he had met the other members of the band at the University of South Carolina. He revealed his addiction to drugs and alcohol during some of the biggest moments in his career as a recording artist and how he finally found a spiritual beacon that brought him peace and sobriety in 2004.
“I can’t imagine life without a spiritual power,” said Sonefeld. Now an inspirational speaker and continuing his music as a solo performer in the Christian genre Sonefeld rejoined with Hootie & the Blowfish and recorded another album.
Photo: Jim ’Soni’ Sonefeld, drummer/songwriter of Hootie & the Blowfish, left, with Tim James, CEO of the Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
