New Lifetime Achievement Award Winning Niki Haris Coming Home Again

She’s been Coming Home (and) Coming Together with family, friends, neighbors and fans for twenty years now, and this weekend she makes a triumphant return with a new Lifetime Achievement and Excellence Award in hand from the Benton Harbor City Commission. Niki Haris, world renowned singer and performer will headline the 20th Anniversary Gene Harris Coming Home Coming Together Concert this Sunday evening, June 24th, at the Dwight “Pete” Mitchell City Center Park at the corner of Main and Pipestone in downtown Benton Harbor.

The free music event for the entire community has been bringing people together from all walks of life for two decades, and the hometown super star headlines several musical acts from the stage guaranteed to get local fans up and dancing as has become tradition.

The “doors” to the event open at 4pm Sunday afternoon and the concert gets underway at 5:15pm. Opening for Niki Haris will be the local talents of Bonita Mitchell with the “I’m Saving Myself Children’s Chorus,” Ethan Hawkins, the Benton Harbor High School Drumline, and the Andrew Fisher Quartet.

Niki Haris grew up in Benton Harbor, and was college educated in southern California. She then pursued her singing career in the usual amusement parks and clubs in the California area. This dynamic woman has since gone on to work with a multitude of recording artists ranging from pop, R&B, to jazz. Her live performances and recording experiences read like a who’s who of the music world with names such as Ray Charles, David Sanborn, Patrice Rushen, Michael Sembello, LeAnn Rimes, Michelle Branch, Santana, Kylie Minogue, Luther Vandross, All Saints, Wilton Felder of the Jazz Crusaders, Stanley Turrentine, the Righteous Bros., Julian Lennon, Anita Baker, Mick Jagger, Whitney Houston and Madonna.

Her vocal film work is also featured on the soundtracks of Whoopi Goldberg’s “Corrina Corrina,” DreamWorks’ “The Big Green,” “Coyote Ugly” with Leann Rimes, and Disney’s “Anastasia.” She has also recorded multiple television themes as well as co-writing and performing two new songs for the Fox series “Dark Angel.”

Niki has continued to share her gifts throughout the years by performing at a multitude of benefits for AIDS, cancer research, as well as Camp Harmony for inner city children. Niki continues to be called upon to lend her inspirational voice by notable speakers such as Mark Victor Hansen “Chicken Soup for the Soul” & Reverend Michael Beckwith (The Secret). She is also a strong supporter for the Music in the Classroom program and RADD, Rockers Against Drunk Driving. She diligently lends her time in serving and is an annual participant in the Season for Non Violence.

With all this, Niki has concentrated on her songwriting as well as pursuing acting and singing and continues to be a focused and dedicated, multi- talented artist that you can see and enjoy up close and personal on Sunday evening.

A limited number of reserved tables of 10 were set aside for $250 to help defray costs to set up the show, and if any are still available you can click the link below to reserve one for your business, your family, or just you and a bunch of friends. Here’s the link:

https://smso.secure.force.com/ticket/#sections_a0F0W00000mbOZJUA2

Playing on the growing popularity of food trucks in the region, the 20th Anniversary theme is “Local Flavor.” In fact, local licensed food vendors will be on site offering a wide range of food for concertgoers.

The event is named in honor of Gene Harris, Niki’s father, an American Jazz pianist, celebrated for his warm sound and blues & gospel infused style known as “soul jazz.” A hometown talent who went on to become a shining star, Gene was pleased and thrilled to return and give back to the community and city he truly loved; a place he was proud to call home.

The Gene Harris Coming Home Coming Together Concert was founded in 1998 to create a vital Benton Harbor Arts District through community outreach and advocacy of the arts. The event is celebrate annually and dedicated to the revitalization of the District with a firm belief that “Art Builds Community.”

The Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra is the principal and fiduciary sponsor of the 2018 concert. They have been an integral part of the cultural fabric of the community dating back to 1951, and offer innovative and diverse programming that fosters creativity, promotes joy and unites the community.

Last year marked the first year of the collaboration between the SMSO and the concert committee, and both organizations felt it was a smashing success and both are eager to continue the partnership. Proceeds from the concert support educational and cultural outreach to the Benton Harbor community.

The concert would not be possible without the support of the community, and while that support takes many forms, the committee is particularly grateful to sponsors for the show. They are:

Half Note Sponsors: