Nellie McKay facts for kids
Nell Marie McKay (born April 13, 1982) is a talented singer and songwriter from both England and America. She is known for her unique musical style. Nellie first performed on Broadway in a play called The Threepenny Opera in 2006.
Quick facts for kids
Nellie McKay
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McKay at the Farm Sanctuary 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City on May 14, 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nell Marie McKay |
| Born | April 13, 1982 London, England |
| Origin | Manhattan, New York City |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, ukulele |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels | Columbia, Vanguard, Verve |
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Nellie McKay was born in London, England. Her father, Malcolm McKay, is a writer and director from England. Her mother, Robin Pappas, is an American actress. Nellie also has a half-sister named Alice Clark Platts, who is an author. Nellie has citizenship in both England and the United States.
As she grew up, Nellie lived in different places with her mother. These included Harlem, New York, Olympia, Washington, and Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. She later studied jazz singing at the Manhattan School of Music. Even though she didn't finish her degree, her performances in New York City clubs like the Sidewalk Cafe and Joe's Pub caught the attention of music companies.
Nellie McKay's Music Career
Starting Out: 2004–2006
Nellie McKay recorded her first album, Get Away from Me, in August 2003. A famous producer named Geoff Emerick helped her. He was known for working with The Beatles on their albums. The title of Nellie's album was a playful nod to another artist's album, Norah Jones' Come Away with Me.
Get Away from Me was released in February 2004. Many people loved it. Jon Pareles from The New York Times newspaper called it "a tour de force." This means it was a very impressive and skillful work. The album was even listed as one of the best albums of 2004.
Nellie became very popular after performing at the SXSW Festival in 2004. She was also a finalist for the Shortlist Music Prize that year. In July 2004, she toured parts of the United States. She opened for other well-known artists like Alanis Morissette and Barenaked Ladies.
Her next album, Pretty Little Head, came out in the United States on October 31, 2006. She released it on her own music label, Hungry Mouse.
Nellie also made her first appearance on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera. She played the role of Polly Peachum. She acted alongside famous stars like Alan Cumming and Cyndi Lauper. For her amazing performance, she won a Theatre World Award for being an outstanding new performer.
Later Works: 2007–Present
Nellie's third album, Obligatory Villagers, was released on September 25, 2007. It was shorter than her first two albums, with only nine songs.
On October 13, 2009, she released her fourth album, Normal as Blueberry Pie – A Tribute to Doris Day. This album honored the famous singer Doris Day. It included twelve cover songs that Doris Day made popular. It also had one new song written by Nellie.
Her fifth album, Home Sweet Mobile Home, came out on September 28, 2010. This album featured all original songs. Nellie and her mother, Robin Pappas, produced it together. The famous musician David Byrne also gave his artistic ideas for the album.
In 2013, Nellie performed in an Off-Broadway show called Old Hats. Off-Broadway shows are smaller than Broadway ones but still very important.
On March 24, 2015, Nellie released her sixth album, My Weekly Reader. This was another covers album, meaning it had songs originally sung by other artists. All the songs were from the 1960s. Some of the songs included "Murder in My Heart for the Judge" and "Itchycoo Park".
In 2017, Nellie performed with other artists like Laurie Anderson and Joan Osborne. They performed reworked songs with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra.
Nellie also acted in an independent film called Downtown Express. She also helped create music for the movie.
She has a musical show called "I Want to Live!". This show is based on the life of Barbara Graham.
Nellie McKay's Personal Life
Nellie McKay is a strong supporter of feminism. This means she believes in equal rights and opportunities for women. She even wrote a funny song about feminist ideas called "Mother of Pearl." She is also a vegan, which means she does not eat any animal products.
Nellie is a proud member of PETA, an organization that works to protect animals. She wrote a song called "Columbia Is Bleeding" about how animals were treated at Columbia University. She also wrote a song in 2004 called "John John" about her support for political candidate Ralph Nader. She discussed her political views on The Jimmy Dore Show, a political commentary show on YouTube.
Nellie McKay's Music Albums
Albums
- Get Away from Me (2004)
- Pretty Little Head (2006)
- Obligatory Villagers (2007)
- Normal as Blueberry Pie - A Tribute to Doris Day (2009)
- Home Sweet Mobile Home (2010)
- My Weekly Reader (2015)
- Sister Orchid (2018)
- Bagatelles (EP) (2019)
- Hey Guys, Watch This (2023)
Songs in Movies and TV Shows
- 2005: Grey's Anatomy: "David", "The Dog Song"
- 2005: Rumor Has It: "Pasadena Girl", "Face of a Faith"
- 2005: Monster-in-Law: "Won't U Please B Nice"
- 2005: Weeds: "David"
- 2007: P.S. I Love You: ""P.S. I Love You"
- 2010: Terrible Thrills, Vol. 1
- 2010: Downtown Express
- 2010: Boardwalk Empire: "Wild Romantic Blues"
- 2018: Private Life: “Quicksilver Girl”, “Meditation”, “I Wanna Get Married”
Working with Other Artists
- 2005: "If I Needed Someone" from the album This Bird Has Flown - A 40th Anniversary Tribute to the Beatles' Rubber Soul
- 2009: "Light and Night" as a single with the band Tally Hall
- 2010: "How Are You?" from the album Here Lies Love by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim
- 2016: "Pack Up Your Sorrows" duet with Richard Barone from his album Sorrows & Promises: Greenwich Village in the 1960s
Other Songs by Nellie McKay
- "The In Crowd"
- "John-John"
- "Teresa"
- "Late Again"
- "A Christmas Dirge"
- "Take Me Away"
- "The Cavendish"
- "Compared to What" (Nellie has performed this song, originally by Gene McDaniels.)
Nellie McKay's Film Appearances
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | P.S. I Love You | Ciara Reilly |
