Niecie, recognized for the soul running through her veins, was born and raised in Motown. Detroit served as a musical playground for Niecie. She sang lead and backup in various Detroit bands including soul, R&B, classic rock and what she is most famous for, the blues. Niecie grew up in a household filled with music from big band jazz to the psyedelic rock from the Woodstock era. All the rainbow of musical genres influenced Niecie’s style.
From Detroit, Niecie continued her musical journey in Chicago. It was here that the blues swarmed her soul and took hold of her spirit. Where else but Chicago! Niecie tore up the Windy City blues scene throughout the 1980’s.
“I’d like to give big thanks to two great blues artists, Larry McCray and Magic Slim. Both went the extra mile and showed me mad love giving me opportunities to be seen and heard. I never passed up an opportunity to be on stage with either one of them.”
In the late 80’s, Niecie’s music career took her to the islands. She began singing aboard Caribbean Cruise ships as a performer in the stage show and as a blues jazz singer in the piano bar. Based out of Miami, with ports of call in St Juan, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas, Niecie brought the blues to the Latin music scene. Niecie reflects of this time period, ”The combo of such diverse musical styles, blues and latin, may seem odd, but boy it was cool. The deep rhythms and flavorful percussions brought a new groove to the blues.”
In the early 90’s, Niecie headed west. She had a lounge act in Las Vegas at the Hacienda, Aladdin and the San Remo Hotels and Casinos. She then took to California and spent time gigging in the Los Angeles blues scene. Niecie headed up the coast and found great welcoming in San Francisco. From west to east, Niecie found her way to Boston. Here she studied with some of the greats from the Berklee College of Music. While in Boston, Niecie gigged up and down the east coast from New York, New Jersey to Myrtle Beach, SC and Savannah, GA.
From there, it was time for Niecie to take the big leap and put herself out there as a solo artist. Combining all her various styles and influences along her musical journey, Niecie emerged a Blues Diva with a rocking, funky, soulful edge.
Niecie began songwriting and jumping at every opportunity to be in the recording studio. In 1997, her first accomplished blues tunes were included in a blues compilation, Blues Deluxe, on Mona Lisa Records.
Niecie found her way to Nashville, Music City USA. She immediately got into the studio and recorded/co-produced her debut CD “Peace Of My Mind”. Producer/Drummer Nioshi Jackson(E.C. Scott, Scott Holt, Trisha Yearwood, Larry Carlton) assembled some of the finest musicians in the biz.. On guitars are Larry McCray(Gibson guitar award winner), Shane Theriot(Neville Brothers), Mike Durham(Dave Matthews Band) and Chris Anderson(Relativity Records). Holding it down on the bass are Willie Weeks(Eric Clapton, Etta James, to name a few), Chris Kent (Larry Carlton, Kirk Whalum, and Manny Yanes(Patti Labelle, Neville Brothers, Robert Palmer). Johnny Neel(Allman Brothers, Government Mule, Blue Floyd) on keyboaards brought a lot of soul. The album was mix by bass player John Billings(Donna Summer). All this talent, combined with songs from Grammy winner songwiters, Kim Morrison, Johnny Neel, Richard Fleming, made Niecie’s CD debut “Peace Of My Mind” a hit album.
Upon radio release, “Peace Of My Mind” hit the Top 10 charts on several Billboard reporting radio stations from coast to coast.
“Niecie is a blues singer of the first order with impeccable taste in delivery and material. I can’t play her songs on my radio show without getting a barrage of phone calls from listeners wanting to know, “Who WAS that?!” –Mick Martin, Blues Party, KXJZ, Sacremento; KUOP, Stockton/Modesto; KKTO, Tahoe City/Reno; KQNC, Quincy; KXJS, Sutter.
Niecie’s new release “Beyond The Surface” is another hit CD. The plethora of talent that resides on this CD is amazing. Some of the same musical greats laid it down on this release, Nioshi Jackson, co-producer and drums, Johnny Neel on keys, Mike Durham on guitar. Also on keys is jazz great Jody Nardone and Brian Gary(Eddie Money). On bass, thumping are Steve Forrest(Wooten Brothers), Calvin Turner, and Jerry Navarro(Charles Walker and the Dynamites), Additional guitars are Shaun Bayles, Shean Smith and the wailing Adam Agati. Tasty percussion and angelic background vocals are slammed by multi-talented Crystal Taliefero(Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, John Mellancamp, Faith Hill). This CD also was mixed and mastered by John Billings(Donna Summer.)
Niecie remarks, “There was so much love from everyone involved in Beyond The Surface. It blew my heart up! And the talent was incredible. I am truly blessed to have been amongst music industry royalty. Everyone rocked!”
The songs on Beyond The Surface really reflect Niecie. About her favorite original, Niecie states “ “Draw The Line” is a tune about getting to that point, taking no more, and not letting anybody or anything cross that line. When you’ve had enough. We’ve all been there!” And another original “Not No, Hell No” is about never going back. Moving on”. She continues, “All the cuts represent where I am at. I am honored to have tunes from the great Grammy winner songwriters Kim Morrison and Ronnie Godfrey. Their tunes rock!”
“I am ecstatic about my new release, Beyond The Surface” I’m even more excited to take it on tour and rock it for music lovers everywhere!!!
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