Niki Haris (born April 17, 1962) is an American singer and dancer of pop, R&B, dance music and jazz, perhaps best known for having been one of Madonna's backing vocalists from 1987 to 2001, and as being the guest lead vocalist on various Snap! singles in the early 1990s.
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Early life and family
Haris was born Gina Nichole Haire in Benton Harbor, Michigan on April 17, 1962, the daughter of Grammy Award nominated jazz artist Gene Harris. She attended college in Southern California before pursuing a singing career in amusement parks and clubs in the California area.
Haris gave birth to a daughter, Jordan Ann, in 2003. The father is Club Nouveau member, producer, songwriter (and Karyn White's manager) Jay King.
Music career
Haris was a friend and backing vocalist for Madonna and began working with Madonna in her Who's That Girl Tour. She appeared in the movie Truth or Dare, a documentary of backstage and onstage footage recorded during the Blond Ambition Tour. +more
During The Re-Invention Tour in 2004, Haris was replaced with Siedah Garrett. The official word from Haris is that she "would like to focus on her solo career and family. +more
Her vocal film work is also featured on the soundtracks of Corrina, Corrina, The Big Green, Noises Off, Coyote Ugly, Urban Legends: Bloody Mary and Anastasia. She has also recorded television themes, including co-writing and performing two songs for the Fox series Dark Angel.
Haris toured with her father, until his death, while promoting their albums, Down Home Blues and In His Hands and Jazz Alley Cats.
Haris performed at benefits for AIDS, cancer research and Camp Harmony for inner city children. She is a supporter for the Music in the Classroom program and Rockers Against Drunk Driving and is an annual participant in the Season for Non Violence. +more
Collaborations
Haris has collaborated with many artists including, Michelle Branch, All Saints, Whitney Houston, Kylie Minogue, Anita Baker, Ray Charles, Karyn White, Prince, Mick Jagger, Julian Lennon, LeAnn Rimes, Luther Vandross, Jessica Simpson, Pussycat Dolls, Santana, The Righteous Brothers, Rufus, Enrique Iglesias, Marilyn Manson, Madonna, Tom Jones, Snap!, Joe Henry, Michael Bernard Beckwith and Ani DiFranco. Niki appeared on Donna De Lory's 2013 album on a track called 'Kinder'.
Choreographer and acting career
Haris choreographed the MTV Awards for Madonna as well as providing some additional choreography on The Girlie Show, and for the television series Melrose Place. She helped stage scenes for Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct.
Haris has performed in lead appearances in Truth or Dare, was featured artist on the HBO special Sandra After Dark, and had a role in the film Heat.
Niki appeared in, and sang backing vocals for Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special.
Selected lead vocal credits
"Do Anything" by Natural Selection featuring Niki Haris (1991); (reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100) *"There's No Business Like Show Business" (during credits of +more
Selected backing vocalist work for Madonna
Madonna's world tours: Who's That Girl (1987), Blond Ambition (1990), Girlie Show (1993) and Drowned World (2001). *Madonna music albums: Like a Prayer, I'm Breathless, The Immaculate Collection, Erotica, Bedtime Stories, Something to Remember and Ray of Light. +more
Albums
Live in Switzerland (jazz) * Niki Haris Live (jazz) * Niki Haris and Friends (jazz) * The Beginning (gospel) * Dance (pop/dance)
Singles in charts
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Dance | UK | IRE | NED | BEL (FLA) | FRA | GER | AUT | SWI | SWE | NOR | AUS | NZ | |||
| 1991 | "What's It Gonna Be" (Jellybean feat. Niki Haris) | 90 | 2 | 98 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Spillin' the Beans (by Jellybean) |
| 1991 | "Do Anything" (Natural Selection feat. +more | 2 | - | 69 | - | 48 | - | - | - | - | - | 21 | - | 10 | 9 | Natural Selection (by Natural Selection) |
| 1992 | "Exterminate!" (Snap! feat. Niki Haris) | - | 29 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 50 | 25 | Singles only |
| 1993 | "Do You See the Light (Looking For)" (Snap! feat. Niki Haris) | - | - | 10 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 40 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 20 | - | - | - | Singles only |
| 2002 | "Do You See the Light" (Snap! vs. Plaything) | - | - | 14 | - | - | - | - | 66 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Singles only |
| 2006 | "Let Me Hear the Music" (L. E. X. feat. Niki Haris) | - | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Singles only |
| 2009 | "Bad, Bad Boy" (The Perry Twins feat. Niki Haris) | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Singles only |
| 2009 | "This Time Baby" (Eddie X pres. Niki Haris) | - | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Singles only |
| 2016 | "Rain" (Donna De Lory & Niki Haris) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Singles only |
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Filmography
Heat (1995), a Michael Mann action/drama film with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro *Visa commercial (2007) in which Haris stars in and sings the song "Downtown"
American dance musicians
American female dancers
American dancers
American women singers
Living people
People from Benton Harbor, Michigan
21st-century American women
Snap! members
Latest activity
