A Celebration of Julia Nixon feat. Dave & Nikko

Julia, Dave and Nikko (Nixon’s son) performed as an ensemble to sold our audiences at the Hall almost every summer for several years, until her untimely passing in 2021. Her incredible voice, presence and interpretation of a wide repertoire ranging from of classic standards to contemporary R&B consistently wowed audiences at her sold out shows.

Ylvisaker & Atiim will perform a set of songs inspired by Julia’s work, while sharing personal stories and anecdotes about this amazingly talented and beloved musical artist.

Tickets $20 General Admission, $21 At the door $12 kids 13 & under, $13 ATD

About Julia Nixon (excerpts from the Washington Post, 10/09/2021) :

Julia Nixon was a classically trained mezzo-soprano who replaced Jennifer Holliday in the Broadway production of “Dreamgirls” in 1983, but was perhaps best known as a headliner at D.C. nightspots for more than 40 years.

A North Carolina native with a four-octave singing voice, Ms. Nixon (then known as Julia McGirt) had studied at what is now the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem before spending a grueling year auditioning for Broadway shows in the late 1970s.

Julia settled in the District and began fronting a band, Julia & Company, that won a devoted fan base at area nightclubs such as Blues Alley in Georgetown and Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill. She performed covers of jazz standards, soulful ballads and R&B hits as well as original songs. With her longtime musical collaborator, pianist David Ylvisaker, Ms. Nixon co-wrote “Breakin’ Down (Sugar Samba),” which briefly became a hit in the United Kingdom.
Two years into the Broadway run of “Dreamgirls,” director-choreographer Michael Bennett recruited Ms. Nixon as a second understudy for Holliday. The musical was about a singing group called the Dreamettes as it navigates the competitive world of show business, and Holliday had won an Tony Award for her portrayal of Effie White, the temperamental lead singer who belts the showstopper “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.”

After her interlude in the show, Ms. Nixon opened for comedian Richard Pryor on a national tour and later opened for other acts, including Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner and Kenny G.

In 2006, back in the District, Ms. Nixon won the lead role in Studio Theatre’s production of Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori’s musical about race and class, “Caroline, or Change.” She played the title character, a Black maid for a Jewish family in 1963 Louisiana who has seen her dreams of a better life wither. Her performance earned her a Helen Hayes Award for outstanding lead actress in a musical. Post theater critic Peter Marks wrote that her performance conveyed the full inner fury of her character while remaining relatable to an audience.

A promotional announcement of Nixon’s return appearance at Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill for a Jan. 17, 2016, performance with her longtime piano accompanist Dave Ylvisaker and her son Nikki, who also accompanied her as a drummer, appeared to capture the sentiment of Nixon’s longtime fans as well as those who reviewed her performances.

Nixon’s last performance in the D.C. area took place July 3 of this year at the Birchmere. She had plans to return once again to perform at Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill this fall.

Julia passed on September 29, 2021. She will be missed by many.