Nikki Leonti
Nikki Leonti | |
---|---|
Also known as | Nikki Leonti Edgar |
Born | August 20, 1981 |
Origin | Corona, California,United States |
Genres | Contemporary Christian,urban,R&B |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Voice |
Years active | 1998–present |
Labels | Pamplin,Reprise |
Nikki Leonti-Edgar(born August 20, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter. Prior to her work inurban,R&B,andelectronic dance music,Leonti recordedcontemporary Christian musicalbums.[1]She lent her vocals to over 250 songs during 4 seasons of the musical comedy-drama television seriesGlee.
Early life
[edit]Nicole Marie Leonti was born on August 20, 1981, inCorona, California.[2]Her father Greg Leonti was a pastor at the Calvary Southern Baptist church.[1]She began singing at age five, as a church soloist in theNondenominational Christianitychurch in Corona. At 13, she made her first recording on a small local label.[3]
Career
[edit]In 1998, Leonti recorded her debut full-length album,Shelter Me,which reached No. 179 on the Billboard 200, and No. 7 on the Contemporary Christian chart.[4]Her second album,Nikki Leontiwas released in 2001. Both were produced by brothers Dino andJohn Elefante,and issued on the independent Christian label,Pamplin.Shortly after her 18th birthday, Leonti got pregnant out of wedlock and was shunned by theCCMcommunity with many Christian music stations pulling off broadcasting of her records.[5]She retired from theChristian music industrynot long after.[6]
In 2006, Leonti was hired as a backup singer forCarrie Underwood,performing on tour and on various television shows.[5][7]After three years with Carrie Underwood, Leonti began working with Rich Velonskis, forming the R&B group,Nikki & Rich,retroneo-soulduo.[3]Velonskis, also known as Rich Skillz, producer of various artists, includingLudacris,Lil' Kim,andRobin Thicke.[8]Nikki & Rich released their debut album, entitledGreatest Hits,on September 27, 2011, issued on theReprise Records/Born Rich label. The duo has performed live onEllenandThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[9]Together, they were named as one of theNew York Post's "10 New Artists to Watch in 2010"[10]and "10 Artists to Know in 2011".[11]Nikki & Rich confirmed their split in January 2015.[5]
Nikki lent her vocals to over 100 songs during 4 seasons of the Fox hit show,Glee.She has written songs for artists, includingRobin Thicke,Jessie J,Candice Glover,Rebecca FergusonandIvy Quainoo.[9]
In early 2015, Nikki announced that she had founded a band called Edgar with her husband Ryan Edgar, whom she married in November 2014.[5]On June 7, 2016, she appeared alongside her husband and daughter Jaslyn as a trio onAmerica's Got Talent,auditioning on episode 2 ofseason 11.[12][13][14]They performed "I'll Stand by You"byThe Pretenders.[6]The group progressed through the preliminary rounds and took one of 36 live performance show spots.[15][16]
In 2018, she performed alongsideCrystal Lewis,Stacie OrricoandRachael Lampafor a special event called REUNITE CCM.[9]
In 2019, Nikki started working full-time as a songwriter for television and film, as well as theatrical and animation. She has written music in various commercials that include; Samsung, Aerie, Ford, Victoria's Secret, and Toyota, to name a few. She's had her original music featured in hundreds of television episodes and has been a consistent song contributor for the Disney Channel.
Personal life
[edit]Leonti was married in 1999 to Ryan Gingerich, lead guitarist of the Christian band, Scarecrow & Tinmen.[1]They divorced in 2002, having become the parents of one daughter, Jaslyn (b. 2000). They later discovered the marriage was never legally documented. In 2004, she married Aaron Dame and gave birth to their son, Jordan (b. 2004).[1]
She married singer-songwriter Ryan Edgar on November 6, 2014.[2]Ryan Edgar and Leonti have a daughter, Frankie (b. 2015).
Discography
[edit]- Solo
- 1996:Reach the World(Two Records)
- 1998:Shelter Me(Pamplin)
- 2000:Postcard From Mixaco: A Dance Re-MIX Fiesta(Pamplin)
- 2001:Nikki Leonti(Pamplin)
- 2017:Heartache Easy(FamJam)
- 2019:Joybird(Position Music)
- 2011:Greatest Hits...(Born Rich Inc)
- 2021:Adeline River...(Position Music)
Appearances on other recordings
[edit]- 2000:Apocalypse III: TribulationSoundtrack, vocals on "Everlasting Place"
- 2002:Left Behind 2: Urban Hip-Hop;"Everytime"
- 2004:Rachael LampaRachael Lampa(background vocals)
- 2005:AwakenNatalie Grant(background vocals)
- 2006:Time Again:Amy GrantLive All Access(background vocals)
- 2008:Get on BoardEric Bibb(background vocals, handclapping)
- 2009:Sex Therapy: The SessionRobin Thicke;co-writer on "Make you love me"
- 2010:KillersSoundtrack (writer: "Cat and Mouse" )
- 2012:Glee (season 3)Vocals
- 2012:Cee Lo's Magic Moment,vocals on "All you need is Love"
- 2012:Girl vs. MonsterWriter: "Nothing's gonna stop me now"
- 2013:Tyler, the CreatorVocalist and Vocal Arranger "Camp Fire"
- 2013:Glee,season 4;vocals
- 2013:Teen Beach MovieWriter: "Crusin' for a bruisin" & "Coolest cats in town"
- 2013:Heart Attack (Demi Lovato song)background vocals
- 2014:The Little Rascals Save the Day(video), vocals on "My Friend", "Time For Run"
- 2014:Ivy QuainooWriter: Burial
- 2014:Glee (season 5)Vocals
- 2014:Candice GloverMusic SpeaksWriter: "Same kinda man"
- 2015:Teen Beach 2Writer: "That's how we do"
- 2015:Mac MillerVocalist and Vocal Arranger "100 Grankids" & "Perfect Circle/Godspeed"
- 2015:Light On (song)Writer as performed byRebecca Ferguson
- 2015:Rod Stewart (album)Background vocals
- 2015:Josh GrobanVocals: "Never walk alone"
- 2015:We Love Disney (2015 album)Backing vocalist forAriana Grande
- 2015:Liv and Maddie: Music from the TV Serieswriter: "what a girl is"
- 2016:The PassionLive Soundtrack;vocals on eight tracks
- 2016:Ice Age: Collision CourseWriter: "My Superstar" performed byJessie J(listed as Nicole Leonti and written withAlexander Geringas)
- 2016:Kirk FranklinPharrell WilliamsBacking Vocals; "123 Victory"
- 2016:Hidden Figures (soundtrack)"I see a victory" backing vocals (listed as Nicole Leonti)
- 2017:Dirty Dancing (2017 film)Contributing vocalist
- 2017:Captain Underpants: The First Epic MovieContributing vocalist
- 2017:Nut Job 2Songwriter: "Everybody Get Nuts"
- 2017:Descendants 2Songwriter: "You and Me"
- 2018:Zombies (2018 film)Songwriter: "Fired up"
- 2018:Jessie J"This Christmas" Album: Backing Vocalist
- 2018:Tori Kelly"Never Alone" Album: Backing Vocalist
- 2018:The Grinch (movie)Vocalist and Arranger forTyler, the Creator&Danny ElfmanCollaboration: "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch"
- 2018:Mac MillerVocalist and Vocal arranger for: "Buttons"
- 2019:Perfect Harmony (TV series)Contributing Vocalist
- 2019:A Pentatonix ChristmasContributing Vocalist
- 2019:Roddy RicchArrangements/Vocals "War Baby
- 2020:Kelly Clarkson ShowAppeared as backing vocalist on several episodes
- 2020:Eurovision Song ContestContributing Vocalist
- 2020:zombies 2Songwriter "Fired Up"
- 2021:The Prom (movie)Contributing Vocalist
- 2021:Arlo the Alligator BoyChoir Arranger and contributing Vocalist
- 2022:Monarch (American TV series)Contributing Vocalist
- 2022:Zombies 3Songwriter "Fired Up"
- 2023:Big Nate (TV series)Contributing Vocalist
Filmography
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Californication | Band Musician | Episode: "I'll Lay My Monsters Down" |
2014 | Eternity: The Movie | Gina Marie | Film |
2016 | America's Got Talent | Herself | Contestant; season 11 |
References
[edit]- ^abcdAugust 24, Ashmeet Bagga-Published; March 20, 2016 at 8:47 am | Last Updated; Am, 2018 at 6:34 (2016-08-24)."America's Got Talent Edgar Family Band: 3 Facts You Need to Know".Earn The Necklace.Retrieved2019-04-19.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ab"Nikki Leonti".IMDb.Retrieved2019-04-19.
- ^ab"Nikki Leonti Biography".TodaysChristianMusic.Retrieved2011-12-15.
- ^"Nikki Leonti Music News & Info".Billboard. 1998-10-03.Retrieved2011-12-15.
- ^abcd"Exclusive Clip: Nikki & Rich Frontwoman Resurfaces on 'America's Got Talent'".yahoo.7 June 2016.Retrieved2019-04-19.
- ^ab"Exclusive Clip: Nikki & Rich Frontwoman Resurfaces on 'America's Got Talent'".7 June 2016.
- ^Despres, Tricia (2016-08-25)."Wait till you hear Carrie Underwood's connection to this" America's Got Talent "finalist".Country Music News, Artists, Songs, and Videos | Rare Country.Retrieved2019-04-19.
- ^"Soul Mates".LA Times Magazine. 2011-04-28.Retrieved2011-12-15.
- ^abc"Nikki Leonti on Singing with Katy Perry, Christian Music & REUNITE CCM".hallels.2 October 2014.Retrieved2019-04-19.
- ^"10 new artists to watch in 2010".Nypost. Archived fromthe originalon December 2, 2011.Retrieved2011-12-15.
- ^"10 Artists to Know in 2011: New Music Musts".Nypost. Archived fromthe originalon December 4, 2011.Retrieved2011-12-15.
- ^"The Recovering Preachers Kid".therecoveringpreacherskid.blogspot.Retrieved2019-04-19.
- ^"The Edgar Family Band takes over 'America's Got Talent'".BLEEP Magazine.2016-08-23.Retrieved2019-04-19.
- ^"'America's Got Talent' contestants perform for patients | LLUH News ".news.llu.edu.Retrieved2019-04-19.
- ^"America's Got Talent".America's Got Talent.2016-07-12. Event occurs at 20:58. NBC.WGBA.
- ^Talent Recap (2016-07-20),The Edgar Family Trio MIND BLOWING Performance Judge Cuts 1 | America's Got Talent 2016 | Ep. 8,retrieved2019-04-19