Nikki Yanofsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nikki Yanofsky
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Yanofsky performing in Vienna, Austria, in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nicole Rachel Yanofsky |
| Born | February 8, 1994 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels |
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Nicole Rachel "Nikki" Yanofsky (born February 8, 1994) is a Canadian singer who is famous for her mix of jazz and pop music. She is from Montreal, Quebec. Many people know her for singing "I Believe", the official song for the CTV broadcast of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
Nikki performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics. She also sang at the opening of the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games. Over her career, she has released four studio albums: Nikki (2010), Little Secret (2014), Turn Down the Sound (2020), and Nikki By Starlight (2022).
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Early Life and Family
Nikki Yanofsky was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. She grew up in a close-knit Jewish family with her parents, Elyssa and Richard, and her two older brothers, Michael and Andrew. She went to St. George's School of Montreal for elementary and high school.
Music Career and Hit Songs
Nikki's career started at a very young age. She recorded the song "Air Mail Special," which was originally sung by the legendary Ella Fitzgerald. This recording was for the album We All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of Song and was released in June 2007. This made Nikki the youngest singer ever to record for the famous jazz label Verve Records.
The Olympic Anthem
In 2010, Nikki sang "I Believe", the theme song for Canada's broadcast of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The song became a huge hit, reaching number one on the Canadian Hot 100 music chart. This made her the first Canadian artist to top that chart. The song was so popular that it was certified "Quadruple Platinum", which means it sold a very large number of digital copies.
Albums and Collaborations
In 2010, Nikki released her first studio album, Nikki. It included "I Believe" and some of her own original songs. She worked with talented songwriters like Jesse Harris and Ron Sexsmith. The album was a success and led to an international tour.
Her second album, Little Secret, came out in 2014. The famous music producer Quincy Jones was the executive producer for this album. She has also worked with other major artists like Herbie Hancock, will.i.am, and Wyclef Jean.
In 2020, she released her third album, Turn Down the Sound. Her fourth album, Nikki By Starlight, was released in 2022.
Performing Live on Stage
Nikki has been performing live since she was very young. In 2006, when she was only 12, she was a headline performer at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. This made her the youngest headliner in the festival's history. She has performed at the festival almost every year since.
She has also performed at many other festivals across Canada and around the world, including in Europe and Japan. On her 14th birthday, she started a tour with the famous composer Marvin Hamlisch, with their first show at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She has also sung with major orchestras in Canada.
In 2013, she shared the stage with the music legend Stevie Wonder in Las Vegas to celebrate the 80th birthdays of Quincy Jones and Sir Michael Caine.
Helping Others
Nikki uses her fame to help good causes. She has helped raise more than $10 million for charities in Canada and around the world. She supports organizations like The Montreal Children's Hospital and The Children's Wish Foundation.
In 2010, she was part of a group called Young Artists for Haiti. They recorded a new version of the song "Wavin' Flag" to raise money for people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. The song was a big success, and all the money went to charity.
For her work in music and charity, Nikki received the first-ever Allan Slaight Award from Canada's Walk of Fame in 2010. This award is given to a young Canadian who is making a positive difference.
Discography
Nikki has released several albums and EPs. Here are her main studio albums:
- Ella...Of Thee I Swing (2008)
- Nikki (2010)
- Little Secret (2014)
- Solid Gold EP (2016)
- Turn Down the Sound (2020)
- Nikki by Starlight (2022)
Awards and Recognition
Nikki has been nominated for many awards throughout her career. Here are some of her wins:
- 2009: Favourite Jazz Artist at the Canadian Independent Music Awards.
- 2010: Allan Slaight Award from Canada's Walk of Fame.
- 2011: Female Vocalist of the Year at the WAVE Smooth Jazz Awards.
She has also received several nominations for the Juno Awards, which are Canada's biggest music awards.
