Billy Nicholls
- Psychedelic rock
- baroque pop
- pop rock
- soft rock
- Singer
- songwriter
- composer
- record producer
- mixing engineer
- musical director
- Vocals
- guitar
- Southwest
- Immediate
- The Who
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 covered by many artists. His first success came in 1977 when Leo Sayer covered "I Can't Stop Loving You (Though I Try)"; it rose to No. 7 in the UK Singles Chart. Nicholls wrote several of the tracks for the film McVicar (starring Roger Daltrey) including "Without Your Love", which was a success in the United States.
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 Pete Townshend, Nicholls was involved in the Deep End concerts in Brixton and Cannes. He toured with The Who in 1989 and 1996–1997, serving as backup singer and music director; he also provided backing vocals for the band's version of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", which appeared on the tribute album Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin.
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
External links
- Official website
- Billy Nicholls on Soundcloud
- Billy Nicholls discography at Discogs
- Billy Nicholls Yahoo! Group mailing list where Billy's career and his music are discussed
- An Email Interview With Billy Nicholls completed 23 October 2001
- v
- t
- e
- My Generation / The Who Sings My Generation
- A Quick One / Happy Jack
- The Who Sell Out
- Tommy
- Who's Next
- Quadrophenia
- The Who by Numbers
- Who Are You
- Face Dances
- It's Hard
- Endless Wire
- Who
- Live at Leeds
- Who's Last
- Join Together
- Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
- BBC Sessions
- Blues to the Bush
- Live at the Royal Albert Hall
- Live from Toronto
- View from a Backstage Pass
- Greatest Hits Live
- Live at Hull 1970
- Quadrophenia Live in London
- Live at the Fillmore East 1968
- Tommy
- The Kids Are Alright
- Quadrophenia
- Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
- Magic Bus: The Who on Tour
- Direct Hits
- Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
- Odds & Sods
- The Story of The Who
- Phases
- Hooligans
- Who's Greatest Hits
- Rarities Volume I & Volume II
- The Singles
- The Who Collection
- Who's Missing
- Two's Missing
- Who's Better, Who's Best
- Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
- My Generation: The Very Best of The Who
- 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection
- Encore Series
- The Ultimate Collection
- Then and Now
- The 1st Singles Box
- Greatest Hits
- The Who Hits 50!
- Ready Steady Who
- Won't Get Fooled Again
- Wire & Glass
- Tommy
- The Kids Are Alright
- Quadrophenia
- Who's Better, Who's Best
- Thirty Years of Maximum R&B Live
- Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
- The Who & Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
- The Who Special Edition EP
- Live in Boston
- Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
- The Vegas Job
- Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
- The Who at Kilburn: 1977
- Quadrophenia Live in London
- Lambert & Stamp
performances
- 1962–1963 performances
- Tommy Tour
- The Who by Numbers Tour
- 1979 tour (1979 Cincinnati human crush)
- 1980 tour
- 2000 tour
- 2001 The Concert for New York City appearance
- 2003 The 46664 Concert appearance
- 2006–2007 tour
- Quadrophenia and More
- The Who Hits 50!
- Back to the Who Tour 51!
- 2017 Tommy & More
- Moving On! Tour
- Mitch Mitchell
- Julian Covey
- Chris Townson
- Scot Halpin
- John "Rabbit" Bundrick
- Tim Gorman
- Steve "Boltz" Bolton
- Simon Phillips
- Jon Carin
- Steve White
- Brian Kehew
- J. J. Blair
- Danny Thompson
- Simon Townshend
- Jon Button
- Loren Gold
- Frank Simes
- Pino Palladino
- Reggie Grisham
- Morgan Nicholls
- Chris Stainton
- Scott Devours
- Zak Starkey
- Songs
- Awards and nominations
- Band members
- Musical equipment
- The Boy Who Heard Music
- Lifehouse
- The Who's Tommy
- Rock Is Dead—Long Live Rock!
- The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard
- Who Covers Who?
- "A Tale of Two Springfields"
- "In Concert"
- Double O
- The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
- No Plan B
- Kim McLagan
- Richard Barnes
- Dougal Butler
- Chris Charlesworth
- Kit Lambert
- Chris Stamp
- Bill Curbishley
- Track Records
- Shel Talmy
- Category