A biography for Nellie McKayhasn’t been written yet.
“I'm glad if people can listen to some music and maybe fix some prejudices of their own, just by thinking.”
“There's a side of me that identifies with Aileen Wuornos.”
“I will say that art may well be the only thing that lasts, so I guess it's worth trying.”
“I thought I had a talent for alienating people, but I have no idea what it is that doesn't go over.”
“I think there are nice things about every era. I wish we could just take the nice things.”
“I have trouble with any kind of focus or concentrating, or getting anything done at all, really.”
“I tried to be just a singer of standards when I was starting out. And there was nothing special enough about my voice to make it that far. So I feel a bit like Rod Stewart. Once you've had that rock career, people will give you that chance where otherwise they might not.”
“The other kids wanted to play Destiny's Child, but I wanted Anita O'Day.”
“It's always so nerve-wracking being up there on stage. It's even harder playing in your hometown - and I have a couple of home towns - but, you're playing for all the people you knew in high school, so it causes no small degree of panic in my mind.”
“I kind of go for the MGM version of every musical style.”
“Less money for public media means less access to the arts.”
“In the hierarchy of instruments, if you're a harpist, you're considered someone with a brain much more than if you're a singer.”
“I'd love to give my music to someone who really likes to wow the crowd. I feel like half the time I just want to hide in the dressing room!”