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Big Nick Nicholas

George Walker "Big Nick" Nicholas (August 2, 1922 – October 29, 1997) was an American jazz saxophonist and singer. Strongly influenced by his hero, Coleman Hawkins, Nicholas in turn influenced a young John Coltrane to compose his tribute "Big Nick", included on the 1962 album Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.

Nicholas contributed the 16-bar solo to Dizzy Gillespie's classic African-Cuban jazz piece "Manteca" (1947). At that time, he also started playing with Hot Lips Page, a working relationship that continued until 1954. He joined Buck Clayton in 1955.

Nicholas started playing with Hank and Thad Jones, Earl Hines, and Tiny Bradshaw before going into the army and, on being discharged in the late 1940s, he worked with bands led by Sabby Lewis, J. C. Heard, and Lucky Millinder. He went on to play with Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Charlie Parker, and Charlie Mingus.

Nicholas died of heart failure in October 1997 at the age of 75.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 2, 1922 (Lansing), Died October 29, 1997 (Queens)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1946 - 1949

Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 73395 2/26/1946 How big can you get Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73396 2/26/1946 More, more, more Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73397 2/26/1946 There's good blues tonight Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73398 2/26/1946 Shorty's got to go Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73399 2/26/1946 Chittlin' switch Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73561 5/10/1946 Fare Thee well Deacon Jones Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73861 4/11/1947 You can't put out a fire Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73862 4/11/1947 The spider and the fly Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73863 4/11/1947 Let it roll Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73864 4/11/1947 Begging for love Lucky Millinder Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 74786 3/2/1949 Milk cow blues Cozy Cole Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 74787 3/2/1949 Until I fell for you Cozy Cole Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 74788 3/2/1949 The hucklebuck Cozy Cole Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 74789 3/2/1949 Red light Cozy Cole Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Nicholas, Big Nick," accessed March 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/207265.

Nicholas, Big Nick. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/207265.

"Nicholas, Big Nick." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/207265

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