Advertisement

Sky Covington sings the blues - and more at 1515 Broadway

DETROIT
Ask the average chanteuse where she got her first big break, and most will likely talk about a dark, smoke-filled gin joint. But not Nicole "Sky" Covington, who returns March 7 to Detroit's 1515 Broadway with the "Seventh Annual Billie Holiday Revue." Instead, the sexy and vivacious singer's first brush with success took an altogether different route.
"I was doing nude poetry. That's how I started," Covington recalled with a warm and friendly smile from the lobby of the theater. "I was doing 'little' stuff; singing here, doing poetry there, and I just had this really deep feeling that I really wanted people to see me. I just needed it so much. I was writing poetry heavily at the time, and one day I had this idea – I needed to do something big."
And that was "to take it all off. It was all so beautiful. I started reading this poem, and it was like the words just took over the whole place. It was like, 'I got 'em!' That's how I felt."
Covington admits it was an exercise in manipulation. "I wish I could say I did it for a deeper reason than just wanting people to look at me and take notice."
And they did – making her a cult favorite for more than a year at the Mahogany Cafe. "I call it my 'summer of ego,'" she laughed, "because I had a big ol' head. But it kind of got out of hand, so I moved to New Orleans."
That was in 1996, and with the help of mentor John Sinclair, the native Detroiter found a place to stay and soon began looking for creative outlets. "I felt I could pretty much do anything," Covington said. "And, of course, you want to do jazz when you're in New Orleans, so I started learning jazz and hanging around the jazz cats."
But the switch from poetry to jazz didn't come easy. And it showed when she hired a band shortly after she arrived in the city. "I didn't know how to read music. I knew a little, but not enough to lead a band of jazz cats. They were laughing at me. They're probably still laughing. I was ig-no-rant!" she grinned.
However, it was a great learning experience. Tired of the ridicule, Covington became a serious student of jazz. "I lived with five horn players. That was a blessing for me."
And it worked. The entertainer has since become a six-time recording artist, a published poet and a club owner. And in 2005, she performed throughout Europe with Kenny Dixon Jr.

One-woman shows
Covington first created her one-woman shows while living in New Orleans. When asked why she focused on the lives and music of various legendary performers such as Holiday, the answer came without hesitation. "We're pretty much all one woman," she explained. "I can pull things from Billie Holiday and the same stuff from Nina Simone. It's different women, different breast sizes and different shades – but at the end of the day, we're the same woman."
The idea to produce a Holiday tribute took root after watching the 1972 movie "Lady Sings the Blues" starring Diana Ross. "I was moved. It reminded me of me when I was younger," said Covington, who was on her own at an early age. "That's who I grew up listening to, and I understood her."
Plus, the two share certain traits. "We love being in love and we love to sing. And that inspired me."
So much so that Covington is staging the seventh annual edition less than three months after the sixth. But Covington promises it will be different "because of where my spirit is. I'm an artist. I eat, sleep and live it. And sometimes when mama want a new pair of shoes, I'd rather sing a song first," she laughed.
This year's revue features an all-star cast. Joining Covington is music director and saxophonist Scott Reiter; emcee Michael McDaniel; vocalists D.J. Holiday and Chelly K; Dr. Harvey Reed on piano; Ibrahim Jones on bass; and Butter Hawkins on drums.
Plus, the ghost of Billie Holiday will make an appearance. "Her name is D.J. Holiday," Covington revealed. "She's a very eccentric woman – very beautiful. She knew Billie. She told me stories about her. We all hang out together every Thursday at Bert's in Eastern Market."
Covington promises the theater will be jumping with energy, and Holiday's spirit will fill the room. "But if you're not feeling it, or if you don't come out of the room feeling you've been entertained, I'll give you your money back – and a ticket to my next show. Because I want to entertain you. That's what I'm here for."

(FOR "REVIEW BOX")
PREVIEW:
'Seventh Annual Billie Holiday Revue'
Sky Productions at 1515 Broadway, Detroit. 8 p.m. March 7-8 and 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. March 9. Tickets: $15-$20. For information: 313-965-1515 or http://www.skycovington.com

Advertisement
Advertisement

From the Pride Source Marketplace

Go to the Marketplace
Directory default
Detroit Regional LGBT Chamber of Commerce MemberBollinger Motors is developing the world’s most…
Learn More
Directory default
At Michigan Memorial Funeral Home, we have created a welcoming, comfortable gathering place for you…
Learn More
Advertisement