Swimming with the Blowfish

Praise for Swimming with the Blowfish by Jim Sonefeld:

We loved, fought, cried, laughed a lot, and did whatever it took to play the music that we knew was very distinctly ours…Jim ‘Soni Sonefeld has lived a life that is rife with fun and pain, light and darkness, but always with an amazing amount of love. The way he sees the world is one of a kind and his story is one for the ages.

—from the Foreword by Darius Rucker

…the ultimate front-row seat to Hootie’s rise to fame in the mid-‘90s. It also goes further into [Sonefeld’s] own journey from addiction to recovery.

—American Songwriter

I’ve truly relished hanging out with the fun-loving, mischievous ‘Soni’ through the years, but this book exposes a more deeply rooted, impassioned side he didn’t always show. He captures the spirit of the surreal and sometimes unsettling life behind the scenes of one of my favorite bands, sincerely revealing that he is as fragile as the rest of us. It’s an eloquent yet humbling example of a lesson we can all learn from—that no degree of fame or fortune leaves us immune to experiencing pain, powerlessness, and regret.

—Dan Patrick, sports broadcaster, and host of The Dan Patrick Show

Jim Sonefeld details his rollercoaster ride through rock and roll, addiction and sobriety with searing honesty and grace.

—Radney Foster, singer-songwriter of Foster & Lloyd and author of For You to See The Stars

A book that encapsulates a band still beloved by legions of fans, Swimming with the Blowfish is much more—an unpretentious, emotional story of one man’s spiritual path to a more fruitful life.

—The Christian Beat

From the moment we crossed paths it was clear to me that Jim is more than the drums, more than the band, and more than the music. Highs and lows, good and bad, pretty and ugly…he’s gone through it all. This is a great peek into an amazing trip through a rock ‘n’ roll life—and beyond. Like a good snare drum, it’s crisp, memorable, and it packs a punch.

—Alexi Lalas, journalist, retired professional soccer player, singer/songwriter

It’s easy to forget how many lives one person can live. I’ve known Soni for close to thirty years and it’s a great gift to have this window into the details and inner world of his unique journey.

—Glen Phillips, lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket

A book that encapsulates a band still beloved by legions of fans, Swimming With the Blowfish is much more—an unpretentious, emotional story of one man’s spiritual path to a more fruitful life.

—Tennessee Tribune

Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, drummer for Hootie & the Blowfish, initially dreamt of being a professional soccer player. The band’s unexpected success with their 1994 debut, Cracked Rear View, launched them into worldwide travel, supporting the 16th best-selling album of all time in the U.S. They went on to record four more studio albums and receive numerous awards, including two Grammys. During this period, Sonefeld’s life became blurred by addiction as he relied heavily on drugs and alcohol to cope with growing emptiness. In 2004, he accepted his powerlessness over drugs and alcohol.

In sobriety, Sonefeld discovered irreparable damages but found healing through faith. A spiritual awakening led to a lifestyle change, inspiring him to become a Contemporary Christian artist. He now shares his story and music with Celebrate Recovery groups, aiding others in their recovery journeys.

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