Nicki Richards
Encyclopedia
Nicki Richards is an American
singer, songwriter, producer, actor based in Manhattan, New York City. She is also known as a backing singer for a number of renowned 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 talented 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 5. She had her break when she won the Grand Prize on the singing competition Star Search
. She consequently recorded and performed for the past several years with Madonna
, (including both Confessions Tour
and Sticky & Sweet 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
, Bette Midler
, Maxi Priest
, Al Green
, and many more.
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 the legendary Ahmet Ertegun
. She followed that up with Nicki in 2008.
She had her acting debut in 1999 in 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 also 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).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer, songwriter, producer, actor based in Manhattan, New York City. She is also known as a backing singer for a number of renowned 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 talented 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 5. She had her break when she won the Grand Prize on the singing competition Star Search
Star Search
Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
. She consequently recorded and performed for the past several years with Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, (including both Confessions Tour
Confessions Tour
Confessions Tour was the seventh concert tour by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It supported her tenth studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor. Madonna confirmed the possibility of going out on a tour as early as November 2005. Jamie King, Madonna's longtime collaborator, was then hired on...
and Sticky & Sweet Tour
Sticky & Sweet Tour
The Sticky & Sweet Tour was the eighth worldwide concert tour by American singer Madonna to promote her eleventh studio album, Hard Candy. It began in August 2008 and was Madonna's first tour from her new recording and business deal with Live Nation. The tour was announced in February 2008, with...
), Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, Gloria Estefan
Gloria Estefan
Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those...
, Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
, Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt
Linda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
, Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
, Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
, Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
, Anastacia
Anastacia
Anastacia is an American singer-songwriter. Anastacia has been highly successful in Europe, Asia, South Africa and South America, but has had only minor success in her native United States...
, Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
, Maxi Priest
Maxi Priest
Max Alfred "Maxi" Priest is a British reggae vocalist of Jamaican descent. He is best known for singing reggae music with a R&B influence, otherwise known as reggae fusion, and became one of the first international successes who regularly dabbled in the genre as well as being one of the most...
, Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, and many more.
In 1991, she released her own debut album Naked (To the World) on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
written and co-produced by her after being signed to a deal by the legendary Ahmet Ertegun
Ahmet Ertegun
Ahmet Ertegün was a Turkish American musician and businessman, best known as the founder and president of Atlantic Records. He also wrote classic blues and pop songs and served as Chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museum...
. She followed that up with Nicki in 2008.
She had her acting debut in 1999 in Colorz of Rage
Colorz of Rage
Colorz of Rage is a 1999 debut feature film for Dale Resteghini. The independent urban drama features Debbie and Tony Mespelli trying to make it in New York City despite great adversity...
directed by Dale Resteghini
Dale Resteghini
Dale Anthony Resteghini better known as Rage is a renowned music video director. He is also a film director and music producer...
and in Chicago
Chicago (2002 film)
Chicago is a 2002 musical film adapted from the satirical stage musical of the same name, exploring the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Jazz-age Chicago....
as part of a female ensemble and in two musical comedies by Robert Klein. She also 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
Penumbra Theatre Company
The Penumbra Theatre Company, an African-American theatre in Saint Paul, Minnesota, was founded by Lou Bellamy in 1976. The theater has been recognized for its artistic quality and its role in launching the careers of playwrights including two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson...
's "Spunk" by Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance...
and "Beehive" both in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
She performed on the PBS television show "Between the Lions
Between the Lions
Between the Lions is a PBS Kids' puppet show designed to promote reading. The show is a co-production between WGBH in Boston and Sirius Thinking, Ltd., in New York City, in association with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, in Mississippi. The show has won seven Daytime Emmy awards between 2001 and...
", a puppet educational show. She has also appeared on a number of commercials (Burger King, Coca Cola and Colgate).
Filmography
- 1999: Colorz of RageColorz of RageColorz of Rage is a 1999 debut feature film for Dale Resteghini. The independent urban drama features Debbie and Tony Mespelli trying to make it in New York City despite great adversity...
.... Debbie - 2000: Robert Klein: Child in His 50's .... Singer (TV)
- 2002: ChicagoChicago (2002 film)Chicago is a 2002 musical film adapted from the satirical stage musical of the same name, exploring the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Jazz-age Chicago....
.... Female ensemble (credited as Nicky Richards) - 2005: Robert Klein: The Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue .... Singer (TV)
Theater
- Like Jazz directed by Cy Coleman (Los Angeles, Californoia)
- Over the Top directed by Jim Steinman (East Coast)
- Spunk directed by Zora Neale Hurston (Saint Paul, Minnesota)
- Beehive (Saint Paul, Minnesota)