“I get very tense before a performance -- really nervous and irritable.”
Nellie McKay
Date of Birth: April 13th, 1982
Birthplace: London, England
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| What makes her so famous, |
| Nellie McKay has been anointed the “next big thing” by the music industry thanks to the success of her critically acclaimed albums Get Away from Me (2004) and Pretty Little Head (2006). “I want to accomplish something great," she says. "If I have a belief in something -- whether it's myself or a greater cause -- then I'm going to do what I can." |
| Why we adore her..., as we do, |
| Nellie is completely committed to achieving her artistic vision, even if it means having to step on some toes. “I've only been in the business, like, six months, but already I'm considered ‘difficult,’” she admitted back in 2004. “It's hard living a life where you have to fight for what you want and what you believe.” |
| Biography |
Nell Marie McKay has creativity in her genes. The daughter of Scottish director Malcolm McKay and acclaimed American actress Robin Pappas, she was born April 13, 1982, in London, England. Sadly, her parents’ relationship ended in divorce when she was only 2, and she moved with her mother to New York City later that year.
The tight-knit pair remained in the Big Apple for nearly a decade before a bout of big-city malaise prompted them to hit the road first for Olympia, Washington, and later the Poconos. Away from the hustle and bustle of New York, Nellie busied herself with playing the saxophone in her high school’s concert band, the piano in the jazz band, and cello in the local orchestra. She also developed a keen interest in mallet percussion. “Xylophone, timpani, vibes, triangle -- you name something to whack and I played it," she recalls happily.
Nellie’s thirst for sonic expression eventually led her to the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in 2000 to study jazz voice. Unfortunately, the level of instruction failed to live up to her lofty expectations and she dropped out in 2002 to pursue a solo career.
Although her talent was undeniable, Nellie’s choice of music sometimes left little to be desired at the many piano bars and gay cabarets she frequented around town. "I liked to play Christmas songs in August because people would smile and it was the best time to play them 'cause people weren't sick of them,” she says. “I got fired for that." |
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