Billy Nicholls
This poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. )Find sources: "Billy Nicholls" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2010) |
Billy Nicholls | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | William Morris Nicholls Jr |
Born | White City, London, United Kingdom | 15 February 1949
Origin | Chipping Barnet, London, England |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
|
Instrument(s) |
|
Years active | Late 1960s–present |
Labels |
|
Member of | |
Website | billynicholls |
William Morris Nicholls Jr (born 15 February 1949) is an English singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and musical director. He was born into a musical family, his father Billy Nicholls (Sr.) being a double bassist and big band singer, performing with such bands as The Oscar Rabin Romany Band (Hammersmith Palais), Alan Green with his boys, the RAF band The Squadronaires and later performed on radio with Will Hay with Royal Command Performances. Nicholls first gained fame in the 1960s while still a teenager with his Pet Sounds-influenced album, Would You Believe, originally released on Immediate Records.[1]
Nicholls' compositions have been
The Babys covered "White Lightning" on their Head First album in 1978.
An American southern rock group, the Outlaws, recorded "I Can't Stop Loving You" on their 1980 release Ghost Riders. More recently, Phil Collins also recorded "I Can't Stop Loving You" in 2002 and it proved successful as a U.S. single, appearing on several of his albums; Collins included it in his last world tour.
A longtime acquaintance and occasional collaborator with
He has contributed backing vocals for many friends and artists over the years, including uncredited backing vocals on The Nice's 1967 debut single "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack".
In 2003, Nicholls received an ASCAP award for "I Can't Stop Loving You". Keith Urban recorded the song in 2006 on his fifth studio album, Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing.
In 2009 a promotional copy of Would You Believe was sold on eBay for £7,312.[2]
Nicholls set up Southwest Records in 1998 and has so far released nine albums featuring his own work.
He is the father of musician Morgan Nicholls, singer songwriter Amy Nicholls, and film director Will Nicholls.
Discography
Solo
Year of release | Album title |
---|---|
1968 | Would You Believe |
1974 | Love Songs |
1977 | White Horse |
1990 | Under One Banner |
2000 | Snapshot |
2001 | Penumbra Moon |
2001 | Still Entwined |
2005 | Forever's No Time At All |
2008 | Rosslyn Road |
References
- Allmusic. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
- ^ Tom Horan (22 November 2012). "Britain's rarest record – yours for £200,000 | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2014.