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{{Short description|American singer and songwriter}}
{{for|the African-American literature scholar|Nellie Y. McKay}}
{{for|the African American literature scholar|Nellie Y. McKay}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| Name = Nellie McKay
| name = Nellie McKay
| Img = Nellie_McKay_ukelele.jpg
| image = Nellie McKay.jpg
| caption = McKay at the Farm Sanctuary 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City on May 14, 2011
| Img_capt = Photo by Amy T. Zielinski
| Background = solo_singer
| image_size =
| background = solo_singer
| Born = {{birth date and age|1982|4|13}}<br>[[London, England]]</br>
| birth_name = Nell Marie McKay
| Years_active = [[2002]]-present
| alias =
| Genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[Pop music|Pop]], [[Jazz music|Jazz]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|04|13}}
| Label = [[Columbia Records|Sony/Columbia]] <small>(2004&ndash;2005)</small>[[Vanguard Records]]
| birth_place = London, England
| origin = {{Nowrap|[[Manhattan]], New York City}}
| instrument = Vocals, piano, ukulele <!-- only list those primarily known for using, per [[Template:Infobox_musical_artist/doc#instrument]]-->
| genre =
| occupation = Musician, songwriter
| years_active = 2003–present
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]], [[Vanguard Records|Vanguard]], [[Verve Records|Verve]]
| website = {{URL|nelliemckay.com}}
}}
}}


'''Nell Marie McKay''' (born April 13, 1982)<ref>{{cite web|last1=VanAirsdale|first1=S.T.|title=Nellie McKay: The Musician, the Myth, the{{nbsp}}... Movie Star?|url=http://movieline.com/2012/04/17/nellie-mckay-the-musician-the-myth-the-movie-star|website=Movieline|date=17 April 2012 |access-date=September 6, 2016}}</ref> is an English–American singer and songwriter. She made her Broadway debut in ''[[The Threepenny Opera#United States 2|The Threepenny Opera]]'' (2006).<ref name="pappas" />
'''Nellie McKay''' (born '''Nell Marie McKay''' on [[13 April]] [[1982]]<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS: Please see the talk page about birthdate-->) is a [[England|British]]-born [[United States|American]] [[singer-songwriter]], [[actress]] and former [[stand-up comedian]], noted for her critically acclaimed debut album ''[[Get Away from Me]]'' and for her Broadway debut in ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'' (2006), for which she won a [[Theatre World Award]].


==Early life and education==
==Biography==
McKay (pronounced {{IPA2|mɪkaɪ}} "McEYE") was born in [[London, England]] to a [[Scotland|Scottish]] writer/director, Malcolm McKay, and an [[United States|American]] actress, [[Robin Pappas]]. At the age of two, after her parents divorced, she moved with her mother to [[New York City]], where they stayed until 1994. After one year in [[Olympia, Washington]], the two returned east and lived in [[the Poconos]], where McKay spent her high-school years. In 2000, Nellie McKay graduated from Pocono Mountain Senior High School.


McKay was born in London<ref name="born place">{{cite news |last1=Chinen |first1=Nate |title=Bless the Beasts and Doris Day Too |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/arts/music/11chin.html |date=October 7, 2009 |ref=Born in London but raised alone by her mother in Harlem (through childhood) and the Poconos}}</ref><ref name="born">{{cite web|url=http://www.observer.com/node/47544|title=Whoa, Nellie|author=Gay, Jason|newspaper=The New York Observer|date=May 18, 2003|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706224253/http://www.observer.com/node/47544|archive-date=July 6, 2008}}</ref> to an [[England|English]] father, writer-director [[Malcolm McKay (writer)|Malcolm McKay]], and an American mother, actress [[Robin Pappas]]. She also has a half sister, author Alice Clark Platts.<ref name="pappas">{{cite news |last1=Himes |first1=Geoffrey |title=Nellie McKay is working her way through the decades |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/nellie-mckay-is-working-her-way-through-the-decades/2015/04/01/47053586-d3cf-11e4-8fce-3941fc548f1c_story.html |date=April 3, 2015 |ref=Her mother, actress Robin Pappas, was a single mom for most of McKay’s childhood, and the two are still very close. Pappas, says McKay, is her “editor and so much more.”}}</ref> She holds dual citizenship. While growing up, she lived with her mother in [[Harlem, New York]],<ref name="born place" /> in [[Olympia, Washington]] and in [[Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="cabaret">{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/music/features/n_10015|title=Her Life Is a Cabaret|author=Tannenbaum, Rob|work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]]|date=April 4, 2004}}</ref> She studied jazz voice at the [[Manhattan School of Music]], but did not graduate. Her performances at various New York City music venues, including the Sidewalk Cafe and Joe's Pub, drew attention from record labels.<ref name="born"/>
In 2000, McKay started attending the [[Manhattan School of Music]]. Being bored and unsatisfied, she dropped out after two years. She started performing as a stand-up comic in Manhattan clubs, and eventually [[Greenwich Village]]'s gay bars. McKay was briefly associated with New York's [[anti-folk]] scene and played alongside [[Jason Trachtenburg]] and others at the [[Sidewalk Cafe]] in 2002-2003.


==Career==
In February 2003 McKay opened for the [[Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players]] at Tonic, on New York's Lower East Side. [[Jay Ruttenberg]], from [[Time Out|Time Out New York]] magazine, attended the show and wrote a prominent feature on McKay. Shortly afterwards, several record labels contacted her and started a bidding war. She eventually signed with [[Columbia Records|Columbia/Sony]] and started producing her first record in the late summer of 2003.
[[File:Nellie McKay 02.jpg|thumb|240px|Nellie McKay at the Farm Sanctuary 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City (2011)]]


===2004–2006===
Her music has showcased different genres, from [[jazz]] to [[hip hop music|rap]] and [[disco]] to [[funk]]. Her eclectic style and sharp lyrics distinguish her as an original voice. Her songs sometimes have a political tinge; she "is a proud member of [[PETA]]" (album notes), wrote a song ("Columbia Is Bleeding") dealing with the issue of [[Columbia University|Columbia University's]] cruelty to animals, and ("John John") about her feelings in favor of political candidate [[Ralph Nader]] as well as performing concerts as benefits for [[WBAI]].


The recording sessions for McKay's debut album ''Get Away from Me'' took place in August 2003 with [[Geoff Emerick]] as producer. Emerick was known for working as the Beatles' engineer on such albums as ''Revolver'' and ''Abbey Road''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_singersongwriter_nellie_mckay|title=Recording Nellie McKay's Get Away From Me with Geoff Emerick|author=Hurwitz, Matt|publisher=Mix Magazine|date=September 1, 2004|access-date=January 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629142726/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_singersongwriter_nellie_mckay/|archive-date=June 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The title is a play on [[Norah Jones]]' ''[[Come Away with Me]]''.<ref name="cabaret"/>
==Music==
===''Get Away from Me''===
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Her critically acclaimed first CD, ''[[Get Away from Me]],'' was produced by [[The Beatles]] sound engineer [[Geoff Emerick]] and released by Columbia/Sony Records in February 2004. The title is a play on [[Norah Jones]]' ''[[Come Away with Me]]''.<ref>New York Times, [[3 January]] [[2006]] [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/03/arts/music/03nell.html Songwriter Says Columbia Dropped Her in Fight Over Album]</ref> McKay is said to be the first woman to release a [[double album]] as her first release. Originally, her contract with Columbia called for 13 songs, but McKay aggressively lobbied her label for a double album, including bottles of wine, a [[Microsoft PowerPoint|PowerPoint]] slideshow, and a mock photo of her threatening Emerick with a gun. The studio agreed, but McKay had to underwrite production costs of the five additional tracks with $25,000 of her own money. Although all the music would fit on a single disc, McKay insisted on a double disc debut to "reclaim the feeling of flipping over a record" (All Music Guide). McKay was one of the major breakout artists from the 2004 [[SXSW]] Festival and was a finalist in the 2004 [[Shortlist Music Prize]], and ''Get Away from Me'' was on several "Best of 2004" lists.


''Get Away from Me'' was released in February 2004.<ref name="album release 2004">{{cite news |last1=Burdick |first1=John |title=The inspired Nellie McKay plays Beacon's Towne Crier this Friday |url=https://hudsonvalleyone.com/2016/12/08/the-inspired-nellie-mckay-plays-beacons-towne-crier-this-friday/ |agency=HV1 |date=December 8, 2016 |ref=hen the British-born New York songwriter Nellie McKay hit the scene in 2004 with her double-album debut Get away from Me}}</ref> Jon Pareles of ''The New York Times'' called the album "a tour de force from a sly, articulate musician who sounds comfortable in any era".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/08/arts/music-playlist-flying-hitlers-and-pepsi-s-super-bowl-fumble.html?pagewanted=all|title=Flying Hitlers and Pepsi's Super Bowl Fumble|author=Pareles, Jon|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 8, 2004}}</ref> The album was included on several "Best of 2004" lists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/browse/albums/score/metascore/90day/filtered|title=Best Music and Albums|website=Metacritic}}</ref>
===''Pretty Little Head''===
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{{multi-listen item|filename=longandlazyriver.ogg|title="Long and Lazy River" (2006)|description=30 second sample of Nellie McKay's song "Long and Lazy River" from her sophomore album, ''[[Pretty Little Head]]''. |format=[[Ogg]]}}
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====Initial release date and delay====
''[[Pretty Little Head]]'', which features duets with [[k.d. lang]] and McKay's co-star in 'Threepenny Opera', [[Cyndi Lauper]], was originally slated for an [[18 October]] [[2005]] release. The release date was delayed; initially, the rescheduled date was [[27 December]] [[2005]]; it was then subsequently announced that the release date would be [[3 January]] [[2006]].


McKay was one of the major breakout artists from the 2004 [[SXSW]] Festival and was a finalist in the 2004 [[Shortlist Music Prize]]. She toured the northern United States in July 2004 as an opening act on the first half of the Au Naturale tour co-headlined by [[Alanis Morissette]] and [[Barenaked Ladies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.barenaked-music.ch/news-e_040711_tour.html|title=barenaked-music.ch - BNL News (english)|last=Schweizer|first=Barbara|website=www.barenaked-music.ch|access-date=2018-08-12}}</ref>
However, McKay announced on [[19 December]] [[2005]], that she had left Columbia/Sony Records after a dispute over the length of the upcoming album.<ref>[http://www.latimes.com/business/custom/cotown/la-fi-mckay20dec20,1,7784158.story?coll=la-headlines-business-enter]{{Dead link|date=March 2008}}</ref> Just over two weeks following this announcement, a ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' article surfaced stating McKay said she had been dropped by Columbia Records.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/03/arts/music/03nell.html Songwriter Says Columbia Dropped Her in Fight Over Album - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


''Pretty Little Head'' was released in the United States on 31 October 2006 on McKay's own label, Hungry Mouse, and was marketed by [[SpinART Records]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/06/arts/06arts.html?ref=arts|work=The New York Times|title=Arts, Briefly|date=October 6, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2010|first=Lawrence|last=Van Gelder}}</ref>
McKay wanted the full 65 minute, 23 track version of ''Pretty Little Head'' to be released, but Columbia was only willing to support a 16-track version that ran 48 minutes. (Columbia/Sony was so adamant about the abbreviated version that it sent copies of this version out as promotional copies to critics.) Executives at Columbia insist McKay understood the label wanted an album consisting of 15 or 16 songs. They would further claim the version that Columbia sent out was a mastered sequence that she herself submitted to the label.


McKay made her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut as Polly Peachum in the [[Roundabout Theatre Company]]'s limited-run production of ''The Threepenny Opera'', co-starring with [[Alan Cumming]], [[Jim Dale]], [[Cyndi Lauper]], and [[Brian Charles Rooney]]. The role earned her a [[Theatre World Award]] for Outstanding Debut Performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theatreworldawards.org/award.html|title=Theatre World Awards Recipients|access-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref>
McKay expressed her concern at a concert in [[West Hollywood]], [[29 November]] [[2005]], at the [[Troubadour (nightclub)|Troubadour]], going so far as to distribute the personal e-mail address of Columbia CEO Will Botwin at the performance. As a result of this, Botwin agreed to the 23 track release but was fired by Sony.<ref>http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20061209/ai_n16899558</ref> The subsequent management team dropped McKay from their artist roster. She claims it was probably 'best for everyone.'


===2007–present===
Initial reports stated that McKay would release ''Pretty Little Head'' on the [[Internet]] sometime in January, with a conventional release as early as February; however, this did not come to pass. Her record label troubles were documented in the March 2006 issue of [[Wired magazine]]. The article also mentioned the (illegal) availability of the full-length album in [[MP3]] format on the internet.


McKay's third full-length studio release debuted on 25 September 2007. With both her previous albums lasting over 60 minutes and spanning two discs each, ''[[Obligatory Villagers]]'', with only nine tracks (ten if purchased from iTunes), totaling 30 minutes was her shortest release to date.<ref name=autogenerated1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071015114746/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16432326/review/16521943/obligatory_villagers Nellie McKay: Review], rollingstone.com; accessed February 14, 2017.</ref>
Similarly, the music chain [[HMV]] Canada promoted ''Pretty Little Head'' as having a Canadian issue date of [[February 7]] [[2006]], but no release occurred{{Fact|date=February 2007}}.


On October 13, 2009 she released her fourth studio album, ''[[Normal as Blueberry Pie – A Tribute to Doris Day]]'' on [[Verve Records]]. The album contains twelve covers of songs made famous by [[Doris Day|Day]], as well as one original tune. [[Barnes & Noble]] featured an exclusive edition, packaged with the bonus track "I Want To Be Happy".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nodepression.com/article/nellie-mckays-normal-blueberry-pie-tribute-doris-day-npr-music|title=Nellie McKay's "Normal As Blueberry Pie-A Tribute to Doris Day" on NPR Music|date=2009-10-07|work=No Depression|access-date=2018-08-12|language=en}}</ref> iTunes also featured an exclusive edition with a different bonus track, "I'll Never Smile Again".<ref>{{Citation|title=Normal As Blueberry Pie - A Tribute to Doris Day (Bonus Track Version) by Nellie McKay|date=2009-01-01|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/normal-as-blueberry-pie-tribute-to-doris-day-bonus/334436125|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-12}}</ref>
====Resolution and new release date====
After nearly nine months of ironing out the legalities between labels, ''[[Pretty Little Head]]'' was released in the United States on [[31 October]] [[2006]] on McKay's own label, Hungry Mouse, and was marketed by [[SpinART Records]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/06/arts/06arts.html?ref=arts Arts, Briefly - New York Times<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Like its predecessor, the album was divided in two discs and included a 44-page color booklet. The album included the intended 23 tracks as originally planned.<ref>[http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=musicNews&storyID=2006-09-26T040218Z_01_N25297554_RTRIDST_0_MUSIC-MCKAY-DC.XML&archived=False]{{Dead link|date=March 2008}}</ref> Release of the album in other countries, including Canada, was delayed until [[21 November]] [[2006]].


On September 28, 2010 McKay and [[Verve Records]] released her fifth album, ''[[Home Sweet Mobile Home]],'' with original tracks. It was produced by McKay and her mother, Robin Pappas, with artistic input from [[David Byrne]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/home-sweet-mobile-home-mw0002024100|title=Home Sweet Mobile Home - Nellie McKay {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-08-12}}</ref>
====SpinART Bankruptcy====
After SpinART declared bankruptcy in 2007, ''[[Pretty Little Head]]'' was released by Sony in its original, 23-track 2-CD version, effectively bringing this album back to Columbia.


In 2013, McKay appeared in the [[Off-Broadway]] revue show ''[[Old Hats]]''.<ref name=NYT>{{cite web|title=Aging Clowns and Brand-New Gags|author-link=Charles Isherwood|author=Isherwood, Charles|date=March 4, 2013|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/theater/reviews/old-hats-with-bill-irwin-and-david-shiner.html?_r=0|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
===''Obligatory Villagers''===
McKay's third full-length studio release debuted on [[25 September]] [[2007]].<ref>[http://www.nelliemckay.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1431 Nellie McKay ~ View topic - Obligatory Villagers Released<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> With both of her previous albums lasting over 60 minutes and spanning two discs each, ''[[Obligatory Villagers]],'' with only nine tracks (ten if purchased from [[iTunes]]), totalling just about 30 minutes was her shortest release to date.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16432326/review/16521943/obligatory_villagers Obligatory Villagers : Nellie McKay : Review : Rolling Stone<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Reviews were generally positive,<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/content_display/reviews/albums/e3i5bf6a751bdf67ff51be1089e24cdf434 Obligatory Villagers<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16432326/review/16521943/obligatory_villagers Obligatory Villagers : Nellie McKay : Review : Rolling Stone<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> though some fans felt the album's new direction didn't have the same bite and wit that McKay's previous outings had provided.<ref>[http://www.nelliemckay.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1414 Nellie McKay ~ View topic - Obligatory Villagers- Reviews & Discussions<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. The album was produced on Nellie's own label, Hungry Mouse, and released by [[Vanguard Records]].


On March 24, 2015 McKay released her sixth album, ''My Weekly Reader'', a [[covers album]] of songs from the 1960s. Songs include [[Moby Grape]]'s "Murder in My Heart for the Judge", [[The Small Faces]]' "[[Itchycoo Park]]", the [[Steve Miller Band]]'s "Quicksilver Girl", [[Frank Zappa]]'s "Hungry Freaks, Daddy", [[The Beatles]]' "[[If I Fell]]", [[The Cyrkle]]'s "[[Red Rubber Ball]]", and [[Herman's Hermits]]' "[[Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-weekly-reader-mw0002816266|title=My Weekly Reader - Nellie McKay {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-08-12}}</ref>
===Other work===
Before splitting with Sony, McKay wrote and recorded several songs for the [[motion picture]] ''[[Rumor Has It...]]''. The songs were eventually released on the [[iTunes Store]] on [[27 December]] [[2005]].<ref>[http://www.nelliemckay.com/ Nellie McKay<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


On [[1 February]] [[2007]], McKay joined [[Laurie Anderson]], [[Joan Osborne]], [[Suzanne Vega]] and the [[Brooklyn Philharmonic]] Orchestra for ''Four Scored'', a single performance of reworked songs at the [[Brooklyn Academy of Music]].<ref>[http://www.brooklynphilharmonic.org/events_calendar_p2.php Welcome to Brooklyn Philharmonic<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/30/4/30_04laurieanderson.html The Brooklyn Paper: ‘Four-Scored’: Laurie Anderson joins the Philharmonic at BAM<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
On February 1, 2017, McKay joined [[Laurie Anderson (performance artist)|Laurie Anderson]], [[Joan Osborne]], [[Suzanne Vega]] and the [[Brooklyn Philharmonic]] Orchestra for ''Four Scored'', a single performance of reworked songs at the [[Brooklyn Academy of Music]].<ref>[http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/30/4/30_04laurieanderson.html The Brooklyn Paper: 'Four-Scored': Laurie Anderson joins the Philharmonic at BAM], brooklynpaper.com; accessed February 14, 2017.</ref>


McKay, along with violinist [[Philippe Quint]], starred in and contributed music to the independent film ''[[Downtown Express]]'', directed by [[David Grubin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2011/06/08/137059196/classical-and-indie-rock-collide-on-the-big-screen-in-downtown-express|title=Classic And Indie Rock Collide On The Big Screen in 'Downtown Express'|author=Tsioulcas, Anastasia and Tom Huizenga|publisher=NPR|date=June 8, 2011}}</ref>
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McKay has been performing some new material at her recent concerts. One of these songs is called "The In Crowd."<ref>[http://www.nelliemckay.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1195 Nellie McKay ~ View topic - Birchmere 3/27/07<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> McKay has also written two new Christmas-themed songs, "A Christmas Dirge" and "Take Me Away," both of which are available on her web site.


Her musical show "I Want to Live!" is based on the life of murderer [[Barbara Graham]], who also inspired a 1958 film with the same title.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/arts/music/nellie-mckays-take-on-a-bad-girl-at-feinsteins-review.html|title=Bringing Out the Bad Girl for Some Tough Times|author=Holden, Stephen|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/weekend/10519259-421/speaking-with-nellie-mckay.html|title=Speaking With{{nbsp}}... Nellie McKay|author=DiNunzio, Miriam|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=February 9, 2012}}</ref>
Other projects McKay has been reported to be working on include a musical film now in pre-production called ''[[The Amazing True Story of a Teenage Single Mom]]'' based on a [[graphic novel]] by [[Katherine Arnoldi]] and an original musical about a tenant's organization.<ref>[http://blogs.citypages.com/ctg/2007/12/nellie_mckay.php City Pages - Culture To Go - What's In Nellie McKay's Mind<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==Personal life==
In 2007, McKay also played the role of Ciara in ''[[P.S. I Love You (film)|P.S. I Love You]]'', a film directed by [[Richard LaGravenese]] and starring [[Hilary Swank]] and [[Gerard Butler]]. It is based on the novel by Irish writer [[Cecelia Ahern]].
McKay is a vocal [[feminist]], and wrote a satirical song relating to feminist issues called "Mother of Pearl".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/arts/music/17nell.html|title=A Multi-Voiced Warbler With an Electric Ukulele|author=Pareles, Jon|newspaper=The New York Times|date=December 17, 2007}}</ref> She is a [[Veganism|vegan]].<ref>[https://vegnews.com/2009/11/interview-with-vegan-songstress-nellie-mckay "Interview with Vegan Songstress Nellie McKay"]. Retrieved 13 September 2020.</ref>


McKay "is a proud member of [[PETA]]" (album notes); her song "Columbia Is Bleeding" dealt with the issue of [[Columbia University]]'s cruelty to animals. She wrote a 2004 song ("John John") about her feelings in favor of political candidate [[Ralph Nader]] over Democratic presidential candidate [[John Kerry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/political_satire04|title=NPR: All Songs Considered: Political Songs & Satire|publisher=NPR|access-date=February 14, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011081817/http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/political_satire04/|archive-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref>
==Theatrical role==
In 2006, McKay made her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut as Polly Peachum in the [[Roundabout Theatre Company]]'s limited-run production of ''[[The Threepenny Opera]]'', co-starring with [[Alan Cumming]] and [[Cyndi Lauper]]. The role earned her a [[Theatre World Award]] for Outstanding Debut Performance.


She has performed at events for the progressive radio station [[WBAI]], [[Planned Parenthood]], Farm Sanctuary,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703509104576325691869964676|title=Saving Pigs, Not Eating Them|author=Heyman, Marshall|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=May 16, 2011}}</ref> and the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, among many groups. McKay was one of several musicians to write a song in support of Georgia death row inmate [[Troy Davis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2011/09/20/140645651/songs-for-troy-davis-why-musicians-take-on-death-row|title=Songs For Troy Davis: Why Musicians Take On Death Row|author=Powers, Ann|publisher=NPR|date=September 21, 2011}}</ref>
==Debate over McKay's age==
McKay's real age has been a matter of some debate.


In 2018, she appeared on ''[[Jimmy Dore|The Jimmy Dore Show]]'', a progressive political commentary show on YouTube, where she performed several of her songs and discussed her political views with Dore.<ref>{{Citation|last=The Jimmy Dore Show|title=The Amazing Nellie McKay's Anti-War Song Update!|date=2018-06-04|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOXtIxtxFdU|access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref> She has also appeared as a guest on Dore's live show.<ref>{{Citation|last=Live Jimmy Dore Show|title=Chris Matthews Fears Execution Under Bernie Presidency|date=2020-02-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59xWVNIk7cg&t=354s|access-date=2018-02-15}}</ref>
At the time of ''Get Away from Me'''s release, most publicity and Internet sources indicated that she was 19 years of age. As late as 2004 McKay's website reported her age as 19<ref>{{cite web | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20040415005315/http://www.nelliemckay.com/bio.html | title=Biography | publisher=nelliemckay.com | date=2004-04-15 | accessdate=2006-11-05}} Via the [[Internet Archive]].</ref>, but all references to her age were later removed. Her father has, however, stated that she was actually born on [[April 13]], [[1982]] <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nelliemckay.ws/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20 | title=Whoa, Nellie! All we want is the truth | publisher=[[Buffalo News]] | date=2004-09-21 | accessdate=2007-03-20}}</ref>, which would have made her 21 at the time of the album's early 2004 release. McKay graduated from high school and began college in 2000, coincidental for someone born in 1982 before the [[November 30]] birthday cutoff in New York state.

Additionally, ''[[The New Republic]]'' reported that McKay's British birth certificate reportedly gives the [[April 13]], [[1982]] date.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=online&s=yaffe092804 | title=Independent Label: The Young Singer Who Has Besotted All the Critics | author=David Yaffe | publisher=[[The New Republic]] | date=2004-09-28 | accessdate=2006-11-05}}</ref> An article from the Pocono Record, dated [[September 14]], [[1998]], gives McKay's age as 16, which is consistent with a 1982 birthdate.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://archive.poconorecord.com/1998/local/tjd81587.htm | title=High school students add some youth to festival | author=Carol Yoka | publisher=[[Pocono Record]] | date=September 14, 1998 | accessdate=2006-11-05}}</ref> Also, the England and Wales 1837-1983 birth index shows that the birth of Nell Marie McKay, born to a mother with the surname Pappas, was registered in the spring of 1982.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://content.ancestry.co.uk/iexec/default.aspx?htx=List&dbid=8964&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 |title=England and Wales 1837-1983 birth index |publisher=[[Ancestry.com]] |accessdate=2006-11-05}}</ref>

Nellie eventually talked about the issue with her age in an interview with [[Time Out New York]] saying:
"You should always lie during interviews. I don’t know why more people don’t lie about their age, considering what an ageist society we live in. When I told Sony I was about to turn 19, they said, “Oh, we don’t have to tell anyone.” People pay more attention to you when you have a teen attached to your name."<ref>[http://www.timeout.com/newyork/article/22563/mouth-wide-shut Time Out New York: Mouth wide shut<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


==Discography==
==Discography==

===Albums===
===Albums===
*2004 – ''[[Get Away from Me]]''
*''[[Get Away from Me]]'' (2004)
*2006 – ''[[Pretty Little Head]]''
*''[[Pretty Little Head]]'' (2006)
*2007 - ''[[Obligatory Villagers]]''
*''[[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)


===Soundtracks===
===Soundtracks and covers===
*2005: [[Grey's Anatomy (TV series)|''Grey's Anatomy'' (TV series)]] : "David", "The Dog Song"
*2005 - ''[[Rumor Has It...|Rumor Has It]]'' soundtrack ([[iTunes Store|iTunes]] Exclusive)
*2005: ''[[Rumor Has It (film)]]'' : "Pasadena Girl", "Face of a Faith"
*2005 - ''Monster in Law''soundtrack
*2005: ''[[Monster-in-Law]]'' : "Won't U Please B Nice"
*2005: ''[[Weeds (TV series)|Weeds]]'' : "David"
*2007: ''[[P.S. I Love You (film)|P.S. I Love You]]'' : ""P.S. I Love You"
*2010: ''[[Steel Train (album)|Terrible Thrills, Vol. 1]]''
*2010: ''Downtown Express''
*2010: ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'' : "Wild Romantic Blues"
*2018: [[Private Life (2018 film)|Private Life (film)]] : “Quicksilver Girl”, “Meditation”, “I Wanna Get Married”

===Collaborations and other appearances===
*2005: "[[If I Needed Someone]]" off 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 (band)|Tally Hall]]''
*2010: "How Are You?" off the album ''[[Here Lies Love]]'' by [[David Byrne]] and [[Fatboy Slim]]
*2016: "Pack Up Your Sorrows" duet with [[Richard Barone]] off his album ''Sorrows & Promises: Greenwich Village in the 1960s''


===Other songs===
===Other songs===
*"The In Crowd"
*"John-John"
*"John-John"
*"Teresa"
*"Teresa"
*"Take Me Away"
*"Late Again"
*"A Christmas Dirge"
*"A Christmas Dirge"
*"Take Me Away"
*"The Cavendish"<ref>{{cite web|last=Boilen |first=Bob |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89287187 |title=Nellie McKay Reveals 'Cavendish' |publisher=NPR |date=2008-04-02 |access-date=2012-04-04}}</ref>
* "Compared to What" (Original written by Gene McDaniels and made popular by Les McCann, Nellie McKay has included it in her performances during 2015.)

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
|-
| 2007
| ''[[P.S. I Love You (film)|P.S. I Love You]]''
| Ciara Reilly
|-
|}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}

<!--<nowiki>
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref> and </ref> tags, and the template below.
</nowiki>-->
{{FootnotesSmall|resize=100%}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.nelliemckay.com Official website]
*[http://www.nelliemckay.com Nellie McKay - Official Website]
*{{imdb name|1736982}}
*{{IMDb name|1736982}}
*[http://www.nelliemckay.org Nellie McKay- The Unofficially Official Fan Page & Forum]
*{{iobdb name|42376}}
*[http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=nellie_mckay Trouser Press entry]
*[http://trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=nellie_mckay Trouser Press entry]

{{Nellie McKay}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:McKay, Nellie}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKay, Nellie}}
[[Category:New York City musicians|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:New York actors|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1982 births|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:American comedians|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:American female singers|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:American vegans|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:Scottish-Americans|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:People from London|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:People from New York City|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:Living people|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:American film actors|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:American theatre actors|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:Women in jazz|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:People from Manhattan|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:Manhattan School of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Manhattan School of Music alumni]]
[[Category:Torch singers|McKay, Nellie]]
[[Category:Musicians from Manhattan]]
[[Category:British expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:People from Harlem]]
[[Category:Musicians from Olympia, Washington]]

[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]
[[de:Nellie McKay (Sängerin)]]
[[Category:Vanguard Records artists]]
[[fi:Nellie McKay]]
[[Category:American feminist musicians]]
[[fr:Nellie McKay]]
[[Category:21st-century American women singers]]
[[id:Nellie McKay]]
[[Category:21st-century English women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century English singers]]
[[Category:Theatre World Award winners]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:Singers from London]]
[[Category:Musicians from London]]

Latest revision as of 12:07, 9 April 2024

For the African American literature scholar, see Nellie Y. McKay.

Nellie McKay
McKay at the Farm Sanctuary 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City on May 14, 2011
McKay at the Farm Sanctuary 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City on May 14, 2011
Background information
Birth nameNell Marie McKay
Born (1982-04-13) April 13, 1982 (age 42)
London, England
OriginManhattan, New York City
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, ukulele
Years active2003–present
LabelsColumbia, Vanguard, Verve
Websitenelliemckay.com

Nell Marie McKay (born April 13, 1982)[1] is an English–American singer and songwriter. She made her Broadway debut in The Threepenny Opera (2006).[2]

Early life and education

[edit]

McKay was born in London[3][4] to an English father, writer-director Malcolm McKay, and an American mother, actress Robin Pappas. She also has a half sister, author Alice Clark Platts.[2] She holds dual citizenship. While growing up, she lived with her mother in Harlem, New York,[3] in Olympia, Washington and in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.[5] She studied jazz voice at the Manhattan School of Music, but did not graduate. Her performances at various New York City music venues, including the Sidewalk Cafe and Joe's Pub, drew attention from record labels.[4]

Career

[edit]
Nellie McKay at the Farm Sanctuary 25th Anniversary Gala in New York City (2011)

2004–2006

[edit]

The recording sessions for McKay's debut album Get Away from Me took place in August 2003 with Geoff Emerick as producer. Emerick was known for working as the Beatles' engineer on such albums as Revolver and Abbey Road.[6] The title is a play on Norah Jones' Come Away with Me.[5]

Get Away from Me was released in February 2004.[7] Jon Pareles of The New York Times called the album "a tour de force from a sly, articulate musician who sounds comfortable in any era".[8] The album was included on several "Best of 2004" lists.[9]

McKay was one of the major breakout artists from the 2004 SXSW Festival and was a finalist in the 2004 Shortlist Music Prize. She toured the northern United States in July 2004 as an opening act on the first half of the Au Naturale tour co-headlined by Alanis Morissette and Barenaked Ladies.[10]

Pretty Little Head was released in the United States on 31 October 2006 on McKay's own label, Hungry Mouse, and was marketed by SpinART Records.[11]

McKay made her Broadway debut as Polly Peachum in the Roundabout Theatre Company's limited-run production of The Threepenny Opera, co-starring with Alan Cumming, Jim Dale, Cyndi Lauper, and Brian Charles Rooney. The role earned her a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Debut Performance.[12]

2007–present

[edit]

McKay's third full-length studio release debuted on 25 September 2007. With both her previous albums lasting over 60 minutes and spanning two discs each, Obligatory Villagers, with only nine tracks (ten if purchased from iTunes), totaling 30 minutes was her shortest release to date.[13]

On October 13, 2009 she released her fourth studio album, Normal as Blueberry Pie – A Tribute to Doris Day on Verve Records. The album contains twelve covers of songs made famous by Day, as well as one original tune. Barnes & Noble featured an exclusive edition, packaged with the bonus track "I Want To Be Happy".[14] iTunes also featured an exclusive edition with a different bonus track, "I'll Never Smile Again".[15]

On September 28, 2010 McKay and Verve Records released her fifth album, Home Sweet Mobile Home, with original tracks. It was produced by McKay and her mother, Robin Pappas, with artistic input from David Byrne.[16]

In 2013, McKay appeared in the Off-Broadway revue show Old Hats.[17]

On March 24, 2015 McKay released her sixth album, My Weekly Reader, a covers album of songs from the 1960s. Songs include Moby Grape's "Murder in My Heart for the Judge", The Small Faces' "Itchycoo Park", the Steve Miller Band's "Quicksilver Girl", Frank Zappa's "Hungry Freaks, Daddy", The Beatles' "If I Fell", The Cyrkle's "Red Rubber Ball", and Herman's Hermits' "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter".[18]

On February 1, 2017, McKay joined Laurie Anderson, Joan Osborne, Suzanne Vega and the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra for Four Scored, a single performance of reworked songs at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.[19]

McKay, along with violinist Philippe Quint, starred in and contributed music to the independent film Downtown Express, directed by David Grubin.[20]

Her musical show "I Want to Live!" is based on the life of murderer Barbara Graham, who also inspired a 1958 film with the same title.[21][22]

Personal life

[edit]

McKay is a vocal feminist, and wrote a satirical song relating to feminist issues called "Mother of Pearl".[23] She is a vegan.[24]

McKay "is a proud member of PETA" (album notes); her song "Columbia Is Bleeding" dealt with the issue of Columbia University's cruelty to animals. She wrote a 2004 song ("John John") about her feelings in favor of political candidate Ralph Nader over Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.[25]

She has performed at events for the progressive radio station WBAI, Planned Parenthood, Farm Sanctuary,[26] and the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, among many groups. McKay was one of several musicians to write a song in support of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis.[27]

In 2018, she appeared on The Jimmy Dore Show, a progressive political commentary show on YouTube, where she performed several of her songs and discussed her political views with Dore.[28] She has also appeared as a guest on Dore's live show.[29]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]

Soundtracks and covers

[edit]

Collaborations and other appearances

[edit]

Other songs

[edit]
  • "The In Crowd"
  • "John-John"
  • "Teresa"
  • "Late Again"
  • "A Christmas Dirge"
  • "Take Me Away"
  • "The Cavendish"[30]
  • "Compared to What" (Original written by Gene McDaniels and made popular by Les McCann, Nellie McKay has included it in her performances during 2015.)

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role
2007 P.S. I Love You Ciara Reilly

References

[edit]
  1. ^ VanAirsdale, S.T. (17 April 2012). "Nellie McKay: The Musician, the Myth, the ... Movie Star?". Movieline. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b Himes, Geoffrey (3 April 2015). "Nellie McKay is working her way through the decades".
  3. ^ a b Chinen, Nate (7 October 2009). "Bless the Beasts and Doris Day Too". The New York Times.
  4. ^ a b Gay, Jason (18 May 2003). "Whoa, Nellie". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008.
  5. ^ a b Tannenbaum, Rob (4 April 2004). "Her Life Is a Cabaret". New York.
  6. ^ Hurwitz, Matt (1 September 2004). "Recording Nellie McKay's Get Away From Me with Geoff Emerick". Mix Magazine. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  7. ^ Burdick, John (8 December 2016). "The inspired Nellie McKay plays Beacon's Towne Crier this Friday". HV1.
  8. ^ Pareles, Jon (8 February 2004). "Flying Hitlers and Pepsi's Super Bowl Fumble". The New York Times.
  9. ^ "Best Music and Albums". Metacritic.
  10. ^ Schweizer, Barbara. "barenaked-music.ch - BNL News (english)". www.barenaked-music.ch. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  11. ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (6 October 2006). "Arts, Briefly". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  12. ^ "Theatre World Awards Recipients". Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  13. ^ Nellie McKay: Review, rollingstone.com; accessed February 14, 2017.
  14. ^ "Nellie McKay's "Normal As Blueberry Pie-A Tribute to Doris Day" on NPR Music". No Depression. 7 October 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  15. ^ Normal As Blueberry Pie - A Tribute to Doris Day (Bonus Track Version) by Nellie McKay, 1 January 2009, retrieved 12 August 2018
  16. ^ "Home Sweet Mobile Home - Nellie McKay | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  17. ^ Isherwood, Charles (4 March 2013). "Aging Clowns and Brand-New Gags". The New York Times.
  18. ^ "My Weekly Reader - Nellie McKay | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  19. ^ The Brooklyn Paper: 'Four-Scored': Laurie Anderson joins the Philharmonic at BAM, brooklynpaper.com; accessed February 14, 2017.
  20. ^ Tsioulcas, Anastasia and Tom Huizenga (8 June 2011). "Classic And Indie Rock Collide On The Big Screen in 'Downtown Express'". NPR.
  21. ^ Holden, Stephen (24 March 2011). "Bringing Out the Bad Girl for Some Tough Times". The New York Times.
  22. ^ DiNunzio, Miriam (9 February 2012). "Speaking With ... Nellie McKay". Chicago Sun-Times.
  23. ^ Pareles, Jon (17 December 2007). "A Multi-Voiced Warbler With an Electric Ukulele". The New York Times.
  24. ^ "Interview with Vegan Songstress Nellie McKay". Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  25. ^ "NPR: All Songs Considered: Political Songs & Satire". NPR. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  26. ^ Heyman, Marshall (16 May 2011). "Saving Pigs, Not Eating Them". The Wall Street Journal.
  27. ^ Powers, Ann (21 September 2011). "Songs For Troy Davis: Why Musicians Take On Death Row". NPR.
  28. ^ The Jimmy Dore Show (4 June 2018), The Amazing Nellie McKay's Anti-War Song Update!, retrieved 5 June 2018
  29. ^ Live Jimmy Dore Show (11 February 2020), Chris Matthews Fears Execution Under Bernie Presidency, retrieved 15 February 2018
  30. ^ Boilen, Bob (2 April 2008). "Nellie McKay Reveals 'Cavendish'". NPR. Retrieved 4 April 2012.
[edit]
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