Bio

From piano lessons starting at age 6, to her first time performing solo, for a packed ballroom at the Sacramento Inn, Nancy was hooked on music.

Nancy Blue studied music theory at Sacramento City College and played on and off campus—solo with guitar. Her first real “gig” came to her in Truckee at the “Bar of America.”

After graduating from California State University, Sacramento with a B.A. in Social Welfare, Nancy focused on music, recording with the Red Rose Ranch Band, performing with the house band at the largest Country dance club in greater Sacramento. Later she worked in Reno, NV with the Billy Van Dyke Band, while continuing her solo act at Tahoe and Reno casinos.

Then she took to the road, touring as a solo singer/songwriter throughout the western and southern states.

While in Texas, she appeared at Gilly’s in Pasadena–of Urban Cowboy fame–and recorded at Gilly’s studio, opened for Freddie Fender, and worked with Tom T. Hall and Willy Nelson on back up vocals.  Nancy also performed throughout Oklahoma, and in Nashville, TN, at the famous Tootsies Orchid Lounge.  Then on to gigs in New Orleans and Los Angeles, as she worked her way back to Northern California.

After some years on the road, Nancy was back home, playing  occasionally in Sacramento and the Gold Country.  In this period, she recorded with  Dr. Joe Gilman, pianist with Bobby Hutcherson.

Ending a hiatus, she again embraced her passion, appearing in concert at Auburn’s “Dave’s Cave” and the Sierra Foothills Unitarian Church, and open air events.

Influenced by Miles Davis and other jazz greats, Nancy put together a jazz set and sang with notable jazz artists including Aaron Garner and Steve Homan, in concert at Auburn, CA‘s State Theater and other local venues.

in 2010 and beyond, Nancy’s passion drew her to composing new songs with a style of jazz standards, and later to focus on a jazz funk soul style for her original songs.

In 2013 Nancy Blue  began  leading  “Song Writers In Kind”,  hosting local and regional songwriters at the First Congregational Church of Auburn UCC, an open and affirming church.

Songwriting has become the center of Nancy’s music life.  Now in the South Bay area she performs her original songs  and pop and jazz covers.  Her focus is on making her first album.