Episode 61: Nellie McKay, singer-songwriter, actor, and comedienne

Known for her genre-bending music, sharp social commentary, and activism for animal rights and social justice, Nellie McKay was born in London and raised in the United States, where she studied jazz at the Manhattan School of Music. Her performances at various New York City music venues, including the Sidewalk Cafe and Joe's Pub, drew attention from record labels, which resulted in her debut album Get Away from Me. Produced by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, The New York Times lauded the LP as a tour-de-force. Nellie's music can been heard on Mad Men, Boardwalk Empire, Weeds, Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Nurse Jackie, and SMILF. Nellie has made numerous radio appearances on NPR's Mountain Stage, A Prairie Home Companion, eTown, and Marion McPartland's Piano Jazz. She is a recipient of PETA's Humanitarian Award and the Humane Society's Doris Day Music Award in recognition of her dedication to animal rights.  She has won a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Polly Peachum on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera.  Nelli co-created and starred in the award-winning off-Broadway hit Old Hats and has written three acclaimed musical biographies, including I Want to Live!, the story of Barbara Graham, the third woman executed in the gas chamber at San Quentin, Silent Spring: It's Not Nice to Fool Mother Nature, an exploration of environmental pioneer Rachel Carson, and A GIRL NAMED BILL: The Life and Times of Billy Tipton. Nellie will be performing at the inaugural Everything Fab Four Fest, taking place this November 6th through 8th at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, New Jersey, where we'll be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Beatles' Rubber Soul album. Visit ef4fest.com for more information and to book your tickets.