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Nikki Armstrong

Also known as “Lady of Song” Nikki is constantly on the move performing, writing, recording and producing. She has performed her "Lady Sings the Blues" and "Just Janis" shows all over the Eastern Seaboard. In 2012, Nikki was inducted into the NY Blues Hall of Fame and had a very successful three week tour in France. In 2014 and 2019 she went back to France to do more touring. She has been compared to Anita O’Day, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. Noted for her soulful interpretations of material from standards to rock, Nikki strives to perform every song “in the now” and never the same way twice.

Nikki, also a professional dancer, studied music and voice in Boston, LA, and New York; most notably with Hal Schaefer (Peggy Lee, Marilyn Monroe). After writing and doing session work in Los Angles and Sydney, Australia, Nikki decided to change her focus to live performance. This took her to New York City.

Performing in the New York Tri-State area for over 20 years, with her bands, Whole Lotta Blues (blues/rock/funk) and The Nikki Armstrong Project (jazz/blues), Nikki has performed and recorded with Melvin Sparks (Acid Jazz Guitarist), Les Paul (Father of the Electric Guitar), and many others. She has opened for The Commitments, Joan Osborne, Dave Mason, Dickey Betts, Hubert Sumlin, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, John Tropea Band, Johnny A, Coco Montoya, Cornell Dupree, Parliament Funkadelic, John Mayall and has performed several times in the Florida Keys and Caribbean Cruise ships, and for 17 years straight, regularly at BB King Blues Club in Times Square.

An important voice in the New York area Blues and Jazz scene, Nikki served on the Board of Directors of the New York Blues & Jazz Society for over 8 years as Musician Liaison. During that time, Nikki coordinated, performed, and produced shows at Birdland, B.B. King’s Blues Club, and Sirius Radio in NYC. In 2007, Nikki became the on-air show host of Blues in the Grooves, broadcasting every Wednesday afternoon on WFDU 89.1FM. During that time, Nikki produced a number of live radio and internet video broadcasts featuring notable blues & jazz musicians, live tribute shows, and benefit shows for the victims of Katrina in New Orleans.

Currently she can be seen in and around the southern California area with her East meets West 8 piece original Soul/Funk/pop band Mama SpanX. https://mamaspanx.com/

Nikki has six independent CD releases…Blues and Jazz, Live at B.B. King’s, Turnin’ & Burnin’, New, Borrowed & Blue, Now and Then and 2017 release State of Groove by Mama SpanX.

Come to a live show and experience her full voice full of raw passion and her stage show often compared to likes of Tina Turner.

 “Nikki’s performance was superb! The band is excellent!" - Melvin Sparks -Legendary ‘Acid Jazz’ Guitarist

“Powerful from the bottom of soul-filled song well with a serpents unpredictability, Nikki can sink her teeth into the skin of any style of song and make you want to get bit again.” - Mister G, Host of Green Arrow Radio 91.7fm WSUM in Madison, WI.

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