Full Biography
Nina Causey is a twenty-three-time, multi-award-winning jazz and blues vocalist whose rich expressive voice has captivated audiences across the Bay Area and around the world. From 2017 to 2025 she has been honored by the Black Music Association of America (BMA) as the Best Female Jazz & Blues Performer in the East Bay Area, affirming her place as one of the region's most dynamic and enduring artists.
Nina Causey is a 23x multi-award-winning jazz and Blues Performer whose rich expressive voice has captivated audiences across the Bay Area and around the world. From 2017 to 2025, she has been honored by the Black Music Association of America (BMA) as the Best Female Jazz & Blues Performer in the East Bay Area, affirming her place as one of the region's most dynamic and enduring artists. Her acclaim extends well beyond the East Bay Area. Nina has been named Best Female Jazz Entertainer in Northern California by the NCEMA, and in 2021, she received the Best Female Jazz Vocalist award from the Sounds of Soul Awards presented by Terry Moore. In 2022, she was proudly listed in Who's Who in America, a testament to her impact as both a performer and a cultural contributor.
On stage, Nina's theatrical presence is as compelling as her vocal artistry. At the legendary Black Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California, she has starred in major musical productions portraying iconic entertainers, for example, Lena Horne in "Horne to Strayhorn" and "Cabin in the Sky", Dorothy Dandridge in the musical opera "Carmen Jones", and Billie Holiday in "Lady Sings the Blues." She also brought Lena Horne to life in the Broadway Cotton Club Revue, showcasing her ability to embody the greats while still remaining uniquely herself. Nina's musical foundation is deeply rooted in classical training and academic excellence. She studied classical piano for many years at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, IL, & she earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Roosevelt University, also in Chicago, and went on to complete her Master of Music Degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana.
This blend of formal training and natural soul is evident in every note that she sings and plays. Equally at home in sacred and secular music, Nina has served as a gospel organist, pianist, and lead vocalist for churches throughout the Bay Area. Her career has taken her far beyond the local scene, with national and international tours that include performances in France, Japan, Guadalajara, and the Caribbean. For many years, she was also a featured vocalist with David Hardiman's All Star San Francisco Big Band, further solidifying her reputation in the jazz world. Over the course of her career, Nina has had the honor of opening for legendary acts such as Ray Charles, The Temptations, and The Drifters, sharing stages with artists who helped define American music. Born and raised in Chicago, Nina brings the spirit of that great music city with her wherever she goes-combining classical discipline, gospel fire, theatrical flair, and jazz sophistication into a sound that is unmistakablyher own.