Latest news with #RogerNichols
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Roger Nichols, Grammy-Nominated Co-Writer of ‘We've Only Just Begun,' Dies at 84
Roger Nichols, best-known for co-writing such Carpenters hits as 'We've Only Just Begun,' 'Rainy Days and Mondays' and 'I Won't Last a Day Without You' with lyricist Paul Williams, died on May 17. He was 84. Williams confirmed Nichols' death in an extended, and deeply affectionate, post on Instagram. Williams didn't list a cause of death, though he reported the basic circumstances of the death. 'Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side.' (See full text of Williams Instagram post below.) More from Billboard Gone But Not Forgotten: Musicians We Lost in 2025 Julión Álvarez Postpones Stadium Show in Texas After Not Being Able to Enter the U.S. 7 Things We Learned From Talking to EDC Las Vegas 2025 Performers Nichols signed as an artist to A&M Records in 1968, a year before Karen and Richard Carpenter were signed to the Los Angeles-based label. His debut album Roger Nichols and the Small Circle of Friends was produced by Tommy LiPuma, engineered by Bruce Botnick, and featured session contributions from Van Dyke Parks, Randy Newman and Lenny Waronker. Although the album failed to crack the 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. That was a characteristically astute call on Alpert's part. Williams and Nichols were one of the hottest pop songwriting teams of the early 1970s. Williams and Nichols took off 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 Oct. 17 and 24, Carpenters' version of 'We've Only Just Begun,' a ballad which had originated as 'soft-sell' commercial for Crocker-Citizens National Bank, was in the top five (on its way to a No. 2 peak). Three Dog Night's 'Out in the Country' was holding at its No. 15 peak. The Carpenters smash, an instant standard, was lushly romantic. The Three Dog Night hit was a fresh-sounding mix of pop, rock and folk. Having two simultaneous hits by two different acts in two different styles caught the industry's attention. 'We've Only Just Begun' went on to receive two Grammy nominations – for song of the year and best contemporary 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 writing songs for the Carpenters, including 'Rainy Days and Mondays,' a superb and remarkably adult ballad which reached No. 2 (it took Carole King's letter-perfect 'It's Too Late' to keep it out of the top spot), 'Let Me Be the One' (another first-rate ballad that the duo never got around to releasing as a single), and 'I Won't Last a Day Without You,' a 1972 album track that was finally released as a single in 1974, when it climbed 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 Afternoon, she recorded another Williams-Nichols song, 'I Never Had It So Good.' Both of those albums went gold. Art Garfunkel recorded a tender Williams-Nichols song, 'Traveling Boy,' for his first solo album, 1973's Angel Clare, which made the top 10 on the Billboard 200. The song was released as the third single from the album, and bubbled under the Hot 100. Nichols also had some successes with other collaborators. He teamed with William Lane to write 'Times of Your Life,' which Paul Anka recorded in 1975. Like 'We've Only Just Begun,' this song was also adapted from a popular TV commercial – for Kodak. Anka's recording reached No 7 on the Hot 100 in February 1976. Nichols retired soon afterwards, but his songs live on. R.E.M. covered 'Out in the Country' as a B-side for their 2003 single 'Bad Day.' Rumer covered 'Traveling Boy' on her 2012 album Boys Don't Cry. Nichols was honored during Florida Chapter Presents The Recording Academy Honors 2006 at Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami. He was nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Nov. 12, for the class that will be inducted on June 12. He wasn't elected (the competition is fierce every year), but the ballot listed the five songs that are probably his most famous and enduring: 'We've Only Just Begun,' 'Rainy Days and Mondays,' 'I Won't Last a Day Without You,' 'Out in the Country,' 'Times of Your Life' In a comment on Williams' Instagram post, Nichols' daughter Claire wrote, 'My mom, Terri, and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are all so proud of the man he was, and are in awe of the legacy he leaves.' Here's the full text of Williams' Instagram post announcing Nichols' death. 'The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote was called 'it's hard to say goodbye. '… Sadly, we hit the nail on the head. Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side. They were his dream come true. His greatest joy'Roger was my writing partner and my music school… a collaboratorfor years and a friend for life. I was an out of work 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 had the attention span of a sea otter… I was ready for a break after three hours and Roger would plunge ahead for another four or five. The words were born of the beauty in his completed melodies.I wrote what I heard, note for note…word for word. The lyrics waiting in the emotion 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 wanna go fishing … wanna go back to Montana. He smiled and said something about having a family and maybe making a home by a nice little river… it was clear that he was already gone. A few years ago, I visited him and met Terry and the girls at the house by the river …and I knew he found his dream.'One last story. Roger was really excited when his daughter Caitlin was getting married last September. He chuckled and asked, 'can you picture me wheeling down the aisle in my wheelchair, holding my daughter's hand?''Of course, I said yes then …. and right now Roger, I can picture thousands of proud dads and their beautiful daughters that walked down the aisle to your gorgeous music or danced their father and daughter dance to We've only just begun… picture them standing and applauding what you brought to their lives and to mine. You brought love and beauty into this world, and we will never forget gratitude with much love… Paul' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Roger Nichols, songwriter behind the Carpenters' hits, dead at 84
Roger Nichols, the songwriter who penned 'We've Only Just Begun' and other hits for folk-rock duo the Carpenters, has died. He was 84. Nichols' death on May 17 was confirmed in a social media post from Nichols' longtime songwriting partner, Paul Williams. He did not list a cause of death. 'The first song Roger Nichols and I wrote was called 'It's hard to say goodbye …' Sadly, we hit the nail on the head. Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family,' Williams wrote. 'His wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side. 'He was as disciplined as he was talented,' Williams continued. 'The words were born of the beauty in his completed melodies. I wrote what I heard, note for note …word for word. The lyrics waiting in the emotion already in his music. He made it easy.' Nichols, a Montana native, released his first solo LP, 'Roger Nichols & the Small Circle of Friends,' on A&M Records in 1968. It's now regarded as a cult classic in the California pop-rock canon, with guest credits from Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks and Lenny Waronker. However, he earned his big break as a songwriter after he penned an unexpectedly poignant jingle for a Crocker-Citizens National Bank commercial. Richard Carpenter, who formed the popular duo with his sister Karen, heard the tune on television and asked if Nichols and Williams had a full version of the song. They quickly extended it into a tune that became the duo's 1970 smash 'We've Only Just Begun.' The single was nominated for song of the year at the following Grammys. With Williams (and other lyricists), Nichols co-wrote many of the Carpenters' most beloved songs, including 'Rainy Days and Mondays,' 'I Won't Last a Day Without You,' 'Let Me Be the One' and 'I Kept on Loving You.' Beyond his hits for the Carpenters, Nichols co-wrote songs that were recorded by the Monkees, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Petula Clark and Art Garfunkel, among many others. In a comment on Williams' post, Nichols' daughter Claire wrote, 'My mom, Terri, and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are all so proud of the man he was, and are in awe of the legacy he leaves.'
News18
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
The Carpenters Songwriter Roger Nichols Passes Away At 84; Paul Williams Pays Tribute
Last Updated: Roger Nichols, composer of 'We've Only Just Begun,' passed away at 84. He co-wrote hits for the Carpenters with Paul Williams. 'We've Only Just Begun' composer Roger Nichols has died aged 84. The multi-instrumentalist behind the Carpenters' biggest hits passed away 'peacefully" on May 17. No cause of death is known. His songwriting partner, Paul Williams confirmed on Instagram, 'The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote was called 'It's hard to say goodbye…' Sadly, we hit the nail on the head. Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side. They were his dream come true. His greatest joy." Together, the pair penned the music and lyrics to the Carpenters' hits, also including 'Rainy Days and Mondays' and 'I Won't Last a Day Without You'. Their songs were also performed by the likes of Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Petula Clark, and The Monkees. In a touching tribute, Roger's daughter, Claire, wrote on Instagram, 'My mom, Terri, and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are all so proud of the man he was, and are in awe of the legacy he leaves." 'We've Only Just Begun' was originally a jingle for a Crocker National Bank commercial. Richard Carpenter, 78, approached songwriter Paul and asked if he had a complete version of the track after seeing the advert on TV. He didn't, but soon extended it, and the Carpenters ended up recording and releasing it in 1970. It's one of their biggest hits and was also nominated for the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Contemporary Song. Brother-sister duo the Carpenters were fronted by the late Karen Carpenter, who tragically died in February 1983, aged just 32. Location : California, USA First Published:
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Legendary Carpenters composer dies aged 84 as tributes pour in for the We've Only Just Begun hitmaker
We've Only Just Begun composer Roger Nichols has died aged 84. The multi-instrumentalist behind the Carpenters' biggest hit passed away peacefully at his home on May 17, but no cause of death has been given. His songwriting partner Paul Williams, 84, confirmed the news on Instagram on Thursday, writing: 'The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote was called "It's hard to say goodbye…" Sadly, we hit the nail on the head. 'Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side. They were his dream come true. His greatest joy.' Together, the pair penned the music and lyrics to several of the Carpenters' best hits, including Rainy Days and Mondays and I Won't Last a Day Without You. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Their songs were also performed by the likes of Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Petula Clark, and The Monkees. Roger's daughter, Claire, commented on the post with her own touching tribute: 'My mom, Terri, and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are all so proud of the man he was, and are in awe of the legacy he leaves.' Tributes also flooded in from fans as the news broke, one wrote: 'Rainy Days and Mondays, We've Only Just Begun, I Won't Last a Day... Your partnership left a mark, forever. 'Men like he an you are gifted with one of the most rare circumstences in a human life: inmortality through art. Each time one of your records spins, he'll live again somehow. All souls las forever (I've heard it somewhere...) Love and gratitude.'; 'My sympathies! Roger, I felt never got all the recognition for his work as he should've. 'It feels like there's too many songwriters out there who the general public doesn't know because their songs are performed by the well known singers and bands. 'I have a number of records with the names 'Roger Nichols - Paul Williams' and they make me smile quite often. Thoughts and prayers to Roger and his family/friends.'; 'This is not the news I wanted to wake up to. I have long considered Roger a genius and the two of you to be one of the greatest songwriting teams ever…PERIOD. 'There's nothing like discovering yet another perfect little Roger Nichols-Paul Williams gem I hadn't heard before. He wrote: 'The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote was called "It's hard to say goodbye…" Sadly, we hit the nail on the head. Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family' Roger's daughter's, Claire and Caitlin, also commented on the post with their own touching tributes They concluded: 'Thank you both endlessly and RIP to Roger. I'm glad to be among the 'small circle of friends' who understand all that he brought to the world.' One of Roger's best-known creations We've Only Just Begun, was originally a jingle for a Crocker National Bank commercial. Roger and Paul were commissioned to write it after a bank executive heard Roger's album, and it was composed in a matter of hours on the last day before the deadline. Richard Carpenter, 78, heard the jingle on TV and believed it had hit potential, so he approached Paul and asked him if he had a complete version of the track. Paul didn't have a complete version, but he soon extended it, and the Carpenters subsequently recorded a version, which became a major hit in late 1970. The hit was nominated for the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Contemporary Song. Brother-sister duo the Carpenters were fronted by the late Karen Carpenter, who tragically died in February 1983, aged just 32.
Perth Now
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
The Carpenters' composer Roger Nichols dead at 84
'We've Only Just Begun' composer Roger Nichols has died aged 84. The multi-instrumentalist behind the Carpenters' biggest hits passed away "peacefully" on May 17. No cause of death is known. His songwriting partner Paul Williams confirmed on Instagram: "The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote was called 'It's hard to say goodbye…' Sadly, we hit the nail on the head. Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin at his side. They were his dream come true. His greatest joy." Together, the pair penned the music and lyrics to the Carpenters' hits, also including 'Rainy Days and Mondays' and 'I Won't Last a Day Without You'. Their songs were also performed by the likes of Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Petula Clark, and The Monkees. In a touching tribute, Roger's daughter, Claire, wrote on Instagram: "My mom, Terri, and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are all so proud of the man he was, and are in awe of the legacy he leaves." 'We've Only Just Begun' was originally a jingle for a Crocker National Bank commercial. Richard Carpenter, 78, approached songwriter Paul and asked if he had a complete version of the track after seeing the advert on TV. He didn't, but soon extended it, and the Carpenters ended up recording and releasing it in 1970. It's one of their biggest hits and was also nominated for the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Contemporary Song. Brother-sister duo the Carpenters were fronted by the late Karen Carpenter, who tragically died in February 1983, aged just 32.
