While playing together in wedding and societal orchestras, Fred Simon and Nikki Rich developed a distinctive musical repertoire. As working musicians in a variety of projects, this pianist/composer and vocalist found common ground in many musical genres. Fred has been making music for more than thirty years -- composing for records, live performance, film, dance, and television. Among his compositions of solo piano through symphonic orchestra are five albums of original music under his own name, three albums (as principal composer) with the Simon and Bard Group, a collaboration of Brian Wilson songs, and numerous appearances on samplers released by Windham Hill, Columbia, Narada, Private Music, Imaginary Road, NorthSound Music Group, Jazziz Magazine, and The Naim Label. Fred has recorded and/or performed with Ralph Towner, Paul McCandless, Larry Coryell, Lyle Mays, Iain Matthews (founding member of Fairport Convention), Jerry Goodman (Mohavishn Orchestra violinist), Steve Rodby, and Paul Wertico (both of Pat Metheny Group), Bonnie Herman (Singers Unlimited), Kurt Elling, Fareed Haque, David Onderdonk, Ingrid GrRaudins, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, and many more.​
Nikki Rich & Fred Simon
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Nikki & Fred Soundclips...
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Nikki began her carer as a hobby singing in musical theater and summer stock productions. Studying voice and theater at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, she found her home as a vocalist at the end of her college years fronting a rock-n-roll band. Over the years, she has been in several original and cover bands and has expanded the range of her repertoire to include standards, ballads, swing tunes, R&B, Motown, big band, disco, Latin, Italian, Hebrew, Ladino, and Yiddish along with a variety of rock-n-roll tunes from classic to today's alternative. She has toured with Stuart Rosenberg, Dr. Bop & the Headliners, and the Dark Star Orchestra. She has recorded many industrial and commercial projects including Michelob Golden Draft, Bally's Total Fitness, Fisher's Nuts, and for the BBC as well. She has recorded and/or performed live with Junior Wells, Barrett Deems (Louis Armstrong), Joe Walsh (The Eagles), Frank Orrall (Poi Dog Pondering), Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead), Ralph Covert, Ben E. King, Three Dog Night, Paul Wertico, Howard Levy, Fareed Haque, The Bill Porter Orchestra, The Ken Arlen Orchestra, Joel Frankel and Lynne Jordan. ​
She was a regular guest National Anthem singer for the Chicago Bulls during 6 seasons, and was invited to sing for the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs during two seasons as well. She spent a year being a co-producer of Singer Spotlight Northshore, a showcase for Chicago singers. In November 2004, her singing was the feature of an Infiniti Automobile ad campaign in the Wall Street Journal.​
Between their many diverse musical experiences, Fred & Nikki have developed an extensive musical repertoire with a fresh take on old standards, and an original approach to piano/vocal duo music. Their choice of songs is a perfect mix of elegance and style that is suitable for any listening situation. The complete list of artists covered is available upon request - here is just a sample: George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Hogie Carmichael, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaugn, Juan Carlos Jobim, Patsy Cline, Stevie Wonder, Eva Cassidy, Blind Faith, The Beatles, Diana Krall, Sting, Sarah McLachlin, Norah Jones, Cobie Caillat and many, many others. Whether providing ambient background music, or taking focus as the evening's entertainment, any event will be a musical success with their presence.​
NIKKI​
RICH​​​​​
