Nicki Richards (born Honolulu, Hawaii, United States on March 24) is an American singer, songwriter, producer and actress based in Manhattan, New York City. She is also known as a backing singer for a number of artists and on a big number of studio recordings. Her father was a high-ranking African-American naval officer and her mother, Donna Blackmon, a singer. Nicki's brother, Philip Richards is a singer / musician in his own right and collaborated with her in her works.
Nicki Richards had her first public appearances in commercials when she was only five years old. She had her break when she won the Grand Prize on the singing competition Star Search. In 1991, she released her own debut album Naked (To the World) on Atlantic Records written and co-produced by her after being signed to a deal by Ahmet Ertegun. The set featured two Top 40 singles in "Naked" and a cover of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze."[1]
Subsequently, she recorded and performed for several years with Madonna,[2] (including Confessions Tour, Sticky & Sweet Tour, MDNA Tour and Rebel Heart Tour), Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Linda Ronstadt, Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Lenny Kravitz, Anastacia, Lady Gaga, Bette Midler, Maxi Priest, Al Green, The Cover Girls, Daniel Levitin and many more.
She made her acting debut in the 1999 film Colorz of Rage directed by Dale Resteghini and in Chicago, as part of a female ensemble and in two musical comedies by Robert Klein. She took part in a number of theater productions Cy Coleman's Like Jazz in Los Angeles, Jim Steinman's Over The Top on the East Coast, and the Penumbra Theatre Company's "Spunk" by Zora Neale Hurston and "Beehive" both in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. She performed on the PBS television show Between the Lions, a puppet educational show. She has also appeared on a number of commercials (Burger King, Coca-Cola and Colgate).
She returned to recording as an independent artist with the self-titled Nicki (2008) and Tell Me... (2012). After another hiatus, she released the jazz effort Asta Hairston Songbook (2022) with Christian McBride and Gustavo Casenave.[3] In September 2024, she released a New Orleans-inspired single "Anything" from her forthcoming studio album.[4]
Discography
edit- 1991: Naked (To the World)
- 2008: Nicki
- 2012: Bedtime Story (Tell Me)
- 2022: Asta Hairston Songbook (with Gustavo Casenave & Christian McBride)
Filmography
edit- 1999: Colorz of Rage .... Debbie
- 2000: Robert Klein: Child in His 50s .... Singer (TV)
- 2002: Chicago .... Female ensemble (credited as Nicky Richards)
- 2005: Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue .... Singer (TV)
Theater
edit- Like Jazz written by Cy Coleman and Marilyn & Alan Bergman, directed by Gordon Davidson (world premiere, Los Angeles)
- Over the Top directed by Jim Steinman (East Coast)
- Spunk directed by Zora Neale Hurston (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
- Beehive (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
References
edit- ^ "Nicki Richards Singles". #RecordsAndCharts. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- ^ Madonna Tribe meets Nicki Richards, Madonnatribe.com
- ^ "Asta Hairston Songbook by Nicki Richards, Gustavo Casenave, Christian McBride". Amazon.com. September 29, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- ^ MATTHEWS, NADINE (2024-09-27). "Singer Nicki Richards says music saved her". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved 2024-10-13.