Niki Haris

Niki Haris, daughter of Grammy nominated jazz pianist Gene Harris, grew up in Middle America, Benton Harbor, Michigan. She was college educated in Southern California. Niki then pursued her singing career in the usual amusement parks and clubs in the California area. This dynamic woman has since gone on to work with a multitude of recording artist ranging from Pop, R&B, to Jazz. Her live performances and recording experience reads like a who¹s who of the music world. With names such as; Ray Charles, David Sanborn, Patrice Rushen, Michael Sembello, Leann Rimes, Michelle Branch, Santana, Kylie Minogue, Luther Vandross, All Saints, Wilton Felder of the Jazz Crusaders, Stanley Turrentine, the Righteous Bros., Julian Lennon, Anita Baker, Mick Jagger, Whitney Houston and Madonna.
Her vocal film work is also featured on the soundtracks of Whoopi Goldberg¹s ³Corrina Corrina², DreamWorks ³The Big Green², ³Coyote Ugly² with Leann Rimes, and Disney¹s ³Anastasia². She has also recorded multiple television themes as well as co-writing and performing 2 new songs for the Fox series ³Dark Angel².
Although her career has focused on singing and dancing, choreography and acting are also a part of her immense career. After choreographing the MTV Awards for Madonna, Niki helped stage scenes for Sharon Stone in ³Basic Instinct² as well as choreographing for the television series ³Melrose Place². Lead appearances in Madonna¹s ³Truth or Dare² and featured artist on the HBO special ³Sandra After Dark² as well a roles in Al Pacino & Robert Deniro¹s ³Heat² have led to public awareness and a desire to strengthen her acting career. Niki continued to strengthen her singing career while touring with her father and promoting their albums, ³Down Home Blues² and their inspirational CD ³In His Hands². After her father¹s untimely passing in January and the release of their live CD, ³Jazz Alley Cats², Niki resumes her love of jazz and carries on her father¹s legacy.
This talented artist leaves no stone unturned, and with 18 years of recording & touring with Madonna, Niki was once again called on the road for her ³Drowned World Tour 2002² as well as being featured in her Grammy nominated music video ³Music². All this while promoting her own tour and smash single, ³Dancefloor² remixed by DJ/Producer Junior Vasquez.
After completing 2 tours back to back Niki quickly went into the studio to record a new dance CD ³Total Love² as well as a new live jazz CD ³Live in Switzerland² and a live gospel record ³The Beginning² recorded with John Barnes at Innersound Studios; all released in the summer of 2003. With the birth of her beautiful baby girl, Jordan, Niki¹s life took a dramatic change. She continued to record and created new avenues to show her many diverse musical colors. She recorded a new Jazz CD ³Live in London², Toured Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Scotland) with her Jazz Quartet, and performed live dates as Featured Vocalist with RUFUS (who¹s former feature vocalist was Chaka Khan). She released ³Special Edition² through Thump Records/Universal as well as a Billboard charting dance hit ³Let Me Hear The Music² produced by DJ Eddie X through 3 Monkeys Music. She continued her love of jazz by touring successfully in the production of Billie & Me, a celebration of the life of Billie Holiday. Here Niki sang along side Nancy Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Rita Coolidge, Joan Osborne, and African songstress Rokia Traore. Her Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center performances were a smashing success. While touring, Niki released her latest ³Live at Agape² and performed gospel concerts throughout the U.S. She continues to be a favorite in Dance Clubs & Pride festivals around the World. In Music Niki Haris is known as a renaissance woman and in life. In 2007 Niki continued to expand her reach by being the Voice and face of the international Visa campaign ³Downtown². her recording schedule continues with her vocal and vocal arrangement talents being lent to Queen Latifah aka Dana Owens Jazz project, Santana & Tina Turner ³A Little Bit Of This² as well as something for her younger audience, recording for Dream Works the ³Brats² movie and Geffens the ³PussyCat Dolls².
Niki continues to share her gifts throughout the years by performing at a multitude of benefits for AIDS, Cancer research as well as Camp Harmony for inner city children. Niki continues to be called upon to lend her inspirational voice by notable speakers such as Mark Victor Hansen ³Chicken soup for the Soul² & Reverend Michael Beckwith (The Secret) She is also a strong supporter for the Music in the Classroom program and RAAD, Rockers Against Drunk Driving. She diligently lends her time in serving and is an annual participant in the Season for Non Violence.
With all this, Niki has concentrated on her songwriting as well as pursuing acting and singing and continues to be a focused and dedicated, multi talented artist.