Roger Nichols, best known for writing to write such carpenters, hits like “We are only just beginning”, “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “I won’t be a day without you” with lyricist Paul Williams, died on May 17. He was 84 years old.
Williams confirmed Nichols’ death in an extended and deeply loving post on Instagram. Williams did not note a cause of death, although he reported the basic circumstances of the death. “Roger Nichols died peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family … his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin by his side.” (See full text of William’s Instagram post below.)
Nichols signed as an artist for A&M Records in 1968, a year before Karen and Richard Carpenter were signed for the Los Angeles-based label. His debut album Roger Nichols and the little circle of friends was produced by Tommy Lipuma, constructed by Bruce Botnick, and contained session contributions from Van Dyke Parks, Randy Newman and Lenny Waronker. Although the album did not fail to crack Billboard 200, A&M co-founder Herb Alpert thought there was something there and recommended that Nichols be hired by A & M’s Publishing Company as a staff songwriter. It was during this period that he was introduced to Williams.
It was a distinctive sharp call from Alpert’s side. Williams and Nichols were one of the hottest pop song writing teams in the early 1970s.
Williams and Nichols started as songwriters in the fall of 1970 when they had two songs in the top 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. On the charts dated 17 and 24 October, Carpenters’ version of “We’s Elber just begun,” a trouble that originated as “Soft-Sell” advertising for Crocker-Cita’s National Bank was in the top five (on the way to a No. 2 top). Three Dog Night’s “Out in the Country” held on its No. 15 -Top.
The carpenters smash, an instant standard, was lush romantic. The three dog night hit was a freshly sounding mix of pop, rock and people. Having two simultaneous hits at two different actions in two different styles caught the attention of the industry. “We are only just beginning” continued to receive two Grammy nominations – for this year’s song and best modern song – at the first Live Grammy -Telecast in March 1971. (It lost both awards to Paul Simon’s “Bridge over troubled water.”) The carpenters’ recording of the song was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Williams and Nichols continued to write songs for carpenters, including “Rainy Days and Mondays” was finally released as a single in 1974 when it climbed up to No. 11.
Barbra Streisand covered “I won’t last a day without you” on her Butterfly album later in 1974. On her following album, Lazy afternoonshe recorded another Williams-Nichols song, “I never had a good time.” Both of these albums became gold.
Art Garfunkel recorded a Tender Williams-Nichols Song, “Traveling Boy”, to his first solo album, 1973’s Angel Clarethat did the top 10 on Billboard 200. The song was released as the third single from the album and bubbled under Hot 100.
Nichols also had some successes with other partners. He collaborated with William Lane to write “Times of Your Life”, which Paul Anka recorded in 1975. Like “We are only just beginning”, this song was also adapted from a popular TV advertising – to Kodak. Anka’s recording reached No. 7 on Hot 100 in February 1976.
Nichols retired soon after, but his songs live on. REM covered “Out in the Country” as a B-side for their single “Bad Day in 2003”. RUMER covered “Traveling Boy” on his album in 2012 Boys don’t cry.
Nichols was honored under Florida Chapter presents Recording Academy Honors 2006 at Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami.
He was nominated for Songwriters Hall of Fame on November 12 for the class that will be introduced on June 12. He was not chosen (the competition is tough every year), but the ballot listed the five songs that are probably his most famous and sustained: “We are just beginning”
In a comment on Williams ‘Instagram post, Nichols’ daughter Claire wrote: “My mother, Terri, and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are all so proud of the man he was and is in awe of the legacy he leaves.”
Here is the full text of Williams ‘Instagram Post, which announces Nichols’ death.
“The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote were called” It’s hard to say goodbye. “… Unfortunately we hit the nail upside down. Roger Nichols died peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family … his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin by his side. They were his dream.
“Roger was my writing partner and my music school… a partner
For years and a friend of life. I was an actor looking for a career in music when I was signed by A&M Records Publishing. They were looking for a lyricist for Roger Nichols. An industrial strength, lucky break that changed my life.
“We wrote almost every day for several years. He was as disciplined as he was talented. I was paying attention to a seaotter … I was ready for a break after three hours and Roger would throw himself ahead for another four or five. The words were born of the beauty of his finished tunes.
I wrote what I heard, note to note … words for words. The lyrics that await in the feeling already in his music. He made it easy.
“After many wonderful productive years, I wanted us to write songs for movies. He had another dream. He said I would fish … you want to go back to Montana. He smiled and said something about having a family and maybe making a home by a lovely little river … It was clear that he was already gone. A few years ago I visited him and met Terry and the girls in the house …
“One last story. Roger was really excited when his daughter Caitlin got married last September. He was hoping and asked,” Can you imagine I was wheeling down the hall in my wheelchair and holding my daughter’s hand? “
“Of course I said yes then … And right now Roger, I can imagine thousands of proud father and their beautiful daughters who went down the hall to your beautiful music or danced their father and daughter -dancing to, we just started … to imagine those standing and welcoming what you brought to their lives and to mine. You brought love and beauty into this world and we will never forget you.
In gratitude with a lot of love … Paul ”