Roger Nichols, the composer who wrote “We have only begun” and other hits for the folk-rock duo the carpents, died. He was 84 years old.
The death of Nichols on May 17 was confirmed in a publication on the social networks of the Nichols song composition partner, Paul Williams. He did not list a cause of death.
“The first song Roger Nichols and I wrote was called 'It is difficult to say goodbye …' Unfortunately, we took the head into account. Roger Nichols died peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family,” Williams wrote. “His wife Terry and the daughters of which he was very proud, Claire and Caitlin by his side.
“It was as disciplined as Talented,” Williams continued. “Words were born from beauty in their completed melodies. I wrote what I heard, keep in mind what note … Word for word. The lyrics they expect in the emotion already in their music. It made it easy.”
Nichols, a Montana native, launched his first lp alone, “Roger Nichols & The Small Circle of Friends”, in A & M Records in 1968. Now he is considered a cult classic in the California Pop-Rock Canon, with Randy Newman's guest credits, Van Dyke Parks and Lenny Wararker. However, he obtained his great rest as a composer after he wrote an unexpectedly touching tintineo for a Bank Bank commercial from Crocker-Citizens.
Richard Carpenter, who formed the popular duo with his sister Karen, listened to the melody on television and asked if Nichols and Williams had a complete version of the song. They quickly extended it to a melody that became the success of 1970 of the duo “we have only begun.” The single was nominated for the song of the year in the following Grammys.
With Williams (and other lyricists), Nichols co -written many of the most beloved songs of the carpenters, including “Rainy Days and Mondays”, “I will not last a day without you”, “Let me be the one” and “Keep loving you”. Beyond their successes for the carpenters, Nichols co -written songs that were recorded by the Monkees, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Petula Clark and Art Garfunkel, among many others.
In a comment on the publication of Williams, Nichols' daughter, Claire, wrote: “My mother, Terri and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are very proud of the man who was, and is amazed at the legacy he leaves.”
