Roy Nichols

Roy Nichols (born October 21, 1932 in Chandler , Arizona , † July 3, 2001 in Bakersfield , California ) was an American country musician best known for his 20-year membership in Merle Haggard's backing band The Strangers . He is considered one of the most important representatives of the so-called Bakersfield sound and his pedal-steel-like guitar riffs are legendary among country fans.

Life

Childhood and youth

Roy Ernest Nichols was born on October 21, 1932, the first of seven children. When he was two years old, the family moved to Fresno . Nichols came into contact with music at an early age, as his father Bruce performed as the bass player at local dance evenings. Nichols began playing in his father's band at the age of 11, and later played with Curly Robers and the Rangers . He was making $ 25 a week doing it.

Career

Shortly before his 16th birthday, Roy met the hillbilly musician Fred Maddox. He had heard him on the Fresno radio program, where Nichols played guitar on the show hosted by Barney Lee. Nichols was hired by the Maddox Brothers and recorded over 100 songs with this group, and even went on tour with them. However, during a gig in Las Vegas , the Maddox brothers found him at the casino and he was fired.

After Nichols returned home, he played in the morning on the radio station KNGS in Hanford, in the evening he performed at local concerts. His entire daily routine consisted of playing the guitar. In 1951, Nichols was discovered by Lefty Frizzell . Through his employment in his band, he also met Merle Haggard , who heard him play for the first time in 1953. After Nichols had played a while in Hanford again, he joined the TV show Henson's Trading Post Gang in 1955 ; During that year, Nichols was on the same tour as Johnny Cash , who had just released his first recordings at the time. The contact with Cash's band ("The Tennessee Two") also meant that Nichols could be heard on some of their instrumental recordings with guitarist Luther Perkins in the mid-1960s .

In 1960, Nichols played again in Las Vegas, where he joined the band of bluegrass musician Wynn Stewart . There he met Merle Haggard again , who was engaged as a bassist. The well-known steel guitarist Ralph Mooney (later a member of Waylon Jennings' band ) was also employed in Stewart's band. In 1965, Haggard and his Strangers began to enjoy success and on June 15, 1965, Roy Nichols left the Stewart Band to accompany Haggard on his first tour. In the beginning, he only earned half the salary he had received at Wynn Stewart. As Haggard recalls, Nichols set three conditions for his commitment: “ I don't drive, I have my own amplifier and a bed every night. “The Strangers played with Merle Haggard for 20 years and hit the top of the country charts with 38 songs. They have been named touring band of the year by the Academy of Country Music seven times . Nichols was nominated for "Guitarist of the Year" several times.

retirement

In March 1987 Roy Nichols retired from tours. He was later named a member of the Western Swing Hall of Fame in Sacramento . In February 1996 he suffered a stroke, the consequences of which prevented him from pursuing his life's work, playing the guitar. Nichols had a heart attack while being treated at Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield. He died on July 3, 2001.

effect

With his constant guitar sound, Roy Nichols is one of the classic representatives of the Bakersfield sound, alongside guitarists like Don Rich . He was a key component in the success of Merle Haggard, whom he loyally accompanied for 20 years. His preferred instrument was always the Fender Telecaster guitar, from which he coaxed tones that are now recognized by many fans as a typical country sound. His improvised solos on the guitar contributed in large part to Merle Haggard's success.

Web links

• Biography of Roy Nichols and homage to the guitarist and the Bakersfield sound ( Memento from September 27, 2007 in the Internet Archive )