Nellie McKay facts for kids
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 | Eleanora Marie McKay |
| Born | April 13, 1982 London, England |
| Origin | Manhattan, New York City |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
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Nellie McKay, born Eleanora Marie McKay on April 13, 1982, is a talented singer and songwriter from England and America. She first performed on Broadway in a play called The Threepenny Opera in 2006.
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Nellie McKay's Early Life and Education
Nellie McKay was born in London, England. Her father, Malcolm McKay, was a writer and director. Her mother, Robin Pappas, was an actress. Nellie has dual citizenship, meaning she is a citizen of both England and the United States. As she grew up, she lived with her mother in different places. These included Harlem, New York, Olympia, Washington, and Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.
She studied jazz singing at the Manhattan School of Music. However, she decided not to finish her degree there. Nellie started performing at music spots in New York City. Places like the Sidewalk Cafe and Joe's Pub noticed her talent. Soon, record labels became interested in her music.
Nellie McKay's Music Career
Starting Her Music Journey (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 albums like Revolver. The album's title was a playful nod to another artist's album, Come Away with Me.
Get Away from Me was released in February 2004. A music critic from The New York Times called it amazing. He said Nellie was a clever and clear musician. Many "Best of 2004" lists included her album.
Nellie was a big new artist at the 2004 SXSW Festival. She was also a finalist for the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize. In July 2004, she toured the northern United States. She opened for the Au Naturale tour, which featured Alanis Morissette and Barenaked Ladies.
Her next album, Pretty Little Head, came out on October 31, 2006. She released it on her own record label, Hungry Mouse.
Broadway Debut and More Albums (2006-Present)
Nellie McKay made her first appearance on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera. She played the role of Polly Peachum. She acted alongside stars like Alan Cumming and Cyndi Lauper. For this role, she won a Theatre World Award for her excellent first performance.
Her third album, Obligatory Villagers, was released on September 25, 2007. It was her shortest album at only 30 minutes long. On October 13, 2009, she released her fourth album, Normal as Blueberry Pie – A Tribute to Doris Day. This album featured twelve songs made famous by Doris Day. It also included one new song written by Nellie.
On September 28, 2010, Nellie released her fifth album, Home Sweet Mobile Home. This album had all original songs. Nellie and her mother, Robin Pappas, produced it. The famous musician David Byrne also helped with ideas.
In 2013, Nellie performed in an Off-Broadway show called Old Hats. On March 24, 2015, she released her sixth album, My Weekly Reader. This album was a collection of cover songs from the 1960s. It included songs by The Beatles and Herman's Hermits.
In 2017, Nellie performed with other artists like Laurie Anderson. They performed with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra. Nellie also acted in and wrote music for the movie Downtown Express. Her musical show "I Want to Live!" is based on the life of Barbara Graham.
Nellie McKay's Personal Interests
Nellie McKay is a strong supporter of feminism. She even wrote a funny song about feminist topics called "Mother of Pearl." She is also a vegan, which means she does not eat animal products.
Nellie is a member of PETA, an animal rights group. Her song "Columbia Is Bleeding" was about how Columbia University treated animals. ..... She also supports the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages.
In 2018, she appeared on The Jimmy Dore Show on YouTube. She performed songs and talked about her political views.
Nellie McKay's Music 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)
- Gee Whiz: The Get Away From Me Demos (2025)
Nellie McKay's Film Appearances
| Year | Title | Role |
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| 2007 | P.S. I Love You | Ciara Reilly |
