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Nikki Yanofsky signs the KPLU Autograph Wall Photo by Justin Steyer-

Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Nikki Yanofsky

Nikki Yanofsky sits at the top of the list as one of the best jazz-soul singers. She cemented her place in the limelight when she sang for millions of people at the 2010 winter Olympics.

Nicole Rachel  鈥淣ikki鈥� Yanofsky was born on February 8, 1994, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to a mother (Elyssa Rosenthal) who is of Jewish descent and a father (Richard Yanofsky). She is a Jazz, Pop and soul musician. She graduated from George鈥檚 School of Montreal.

Yanofsky gained her first music experience working at the Montreal International Jazz festival where she enrolled in 2006 being only twelve years old and the youngest attender there. She has performed at Jazz festivals alongside various music legends including Celine Dion, WILL.I.A.M and Herbie Hancock.

Nikki has an interesting musical career spanning more than fifteen years and through that, she has been able to accumulate various accolades under her name. Garnering millions of fans across the globe because of the exposure she received after being introduced to the music industry at an early age, here are the top 10 astonishing facts about Nikki Yanofsky.

1. She sang for 3.2 billion people!

Nikki Yanofsky Jazz Fest Wien 2010 (Wiener Rathaus) by Florian Kragulj –

At only 16 years old Yanofsky performed more than once for 3.2 billion people during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. After her impressive performance, people from Canada wanted more from her and insisted that she should sing and that鈥檚 when she kick-started her illustrious career.

2. Nikki is the youngest record holder for a Billboard single

Nikki Yanofsky autographing a CD at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Washington. Photo by Triviaking –

Her song titled 鈥淚 Believe鈥�  which she performed at the Vancouver Olympics was simultaneous number 1 emerging on top in both the pop and jazz classes. This achievement led her to set a record as the youngest artist to have a number-one billboard single which she held for the most extended period.

3. Nikki won favourite Jazz artist in 2009

Ella Fitzgerald at Paul Masson Winery, Saratoga CA 6/5/86. Photo by Brian McMillen –

In September 2008 Yanofsky released her first full-length album, a live CD/DVD concert package entitled Ella鈥� Of Thee, I Swing. As a result of the release of her debut album she got two Juno award nominations in 2009; 鈥淣ew artist of the year鈥� and Vocal Jazz Album of the year.

Nikki won 鈥榝avourite Jazz Artist鈥� at the 2009 Canadian Independent Music Awards because of her Jazz prowess which she mastered early on.

4. Little Nikki loved the Beatles more than lullabies

As a child, she never listened to lullabies but instead opted to listen to 鈥淪he鈥檚 Loved You鈥� by The Beatles. In addition, She claims  The Beatles have positively impacted her world forever and encouraged her to become a singer.

She has been listening to the band since she was four years old. Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Rod Temperton and the most important singer to her鈥� Ella Fitzgerald! Influenced her to accomplish her ravishing career.

5. Yanofsky recorded an album about Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald at Paul Masson Winery, Saratoga CA 6/5/86. Photo by Brian McMillen –

In 2008 she revealed how much she adored Ella and displayed her inner-self by recording an album about Ella Fitzgerald titled 鈥淓lla鈥� Of Thee I Swing鈥�. She also came up with another tribute album for Ella who died in 1996.

6. She ranked fifteenth among North America’s best Jazz singers

Having collaborated with artists including Black Eyed Peas, WILL.I.A.M, Herbie Hancock and Celine Dion there鈥檚 no doubt that she deserved to be ranked fifteenth among the Best Jazz singers in all of North America.

Nikki’s musical career has been epic throughout the years and as a result, managing to come up with more than two studio albums to date including Nikki released in 2010, Little Secret released in 2014 and Turn Down the Sound in 2020.

7. Nikki is a rap and country fan

Jazz may be Nikki鈥檚 preferred genre, but she has been on record saying she loves all music even rap. She鈥檚 never hidden her adoration of rap and country music.

8. She pictured herself as a singer from an early age

Nikki Yanofsky performing on stage. photo by Ataelw –

During her prekindergarten years, Yanofsky was asked what she would want to be in future and she always chose singing over anything else subsequently having big dreams to sing alongside Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. She always had an interest in music from her early stages of life.

Yanofsky was always listening to music since she was two years old. She is quoted saying that she was always attracted to anything that resembles music, whether banging on chairs or singing songs.

9. Nikki enrolled for the Montreal Jazz festival at 12 years!

Montreal International Jazz Festival publicity highlighted on Universit茅 du Qu茅bec 脿 Montr茅al Pr茅sident-Kennedy building, Montreal in Quebec, Canada photo by Benoit Rochon –

Nikki enrolled for the Montreal Jazz festival in 2006 at only the age of 12 years old in addition to being the youngest attendee there and performing for more than 100, 000 people.

10. Yanofsky was awarded the first-ever Allan Slaight Award 

The Allan Slaight Award by the Canada Walk of Fame is presented annually to a young Canadian. The individual is required to be involved in instigating positive impact in various social fields for instance film, music, literature, sports, innovation and philanthropy. Throughout her distinguished career, she has assisted in helping raise over $10 million for various charities at both national and international levels. 

 Nikki was early on involved in a solo part in the remake of K鈥檔aan鈥檚 song 鈥淲avin鈥� Flag鈥� performed by Young Artists for Haiti. The song was certified platinum for digital downloads in April 2010 and the entire proceeds that were achieved from the single went to charities.

In conclusion, Yanosky mentions  Jazz is a challenge but she enjoys the challenges that come up with the formulation of musical set-pieces. She says writing music and poetry is a way of expressing herself and her being an expressive person makes her love of music subsequently evident by the way she keeps improving her musical craft throughout the years.