Harold Carey Nicholls Sr., 94, a lifelong member of the Great Falls music community, died after a short illness Saturday Aug 23, 2008 at a local care facility.
Survivors include his wife, Beth Halmes Nicholls, former lead singer for his Big Band; son Harold "Bud" Nicholls; daughters Nola (Lane) Stephens and Tani (Jerry) LeClair; his brother, Donald "Scoop" Nicholls; 14 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Harold was born July 5, 1914, in Pe Ell, Wash., to Samuel and Mary Nicholls, both of whom were professional musicians.
He attended local schools and started his professional music career at the age of 14. After graduating from high school in 1932, he went to Seattle and got a job on a cruise ship, playing professionally. Returning to Great Falls in 1933, he played in all of the local "hot spots," including the Green Mill, the Riverside Gardens and the Mint. In 1938, he began a six-year odyssey touring and playing organ in all the major hotels along the Eastern seaboard. During this time, he and his wife worked for the Royal American Shows, a traveling carnival and ice show.
In 1944, he returned to Great Falls to establish a home for his young family and to share his passion for music with the community he loved, playing professionally at the Jockey Club, the Brass Rail and Dempsey's Inn.
Harold opened the Nicholls Music Studio in 1947 and he remained in business in the downtown Great Falls area for more than 60 years. His name has been synonymous with music in this community for over 80 years. His love of the big band sound was behind the formation of the Harold Nicholls Big Band in the 1960s, which continued to entertain generations in the area through 2000. Harold was a lifetime member of the Musicians Union Local 365, formally retiring in 2003 at the young age of 89. He continued to tune pianos until he was 92.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia; and a great-grandson, Tyler.
Survivors include his wife, Beth Halmes Nicholls, former lead singer for his Big Band; son Harold "Bud" Nicholls; daughters Nola (Lane) Stephens and Tani (Jerry) LeClair; his brother, Donald "Scoop" Nicholls; 14 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Harold was born July 5, 1914, in Pe Ell, Wash., to Samuel and Mary Nicholls, both of whom were professional musicians.
He attended local schools and started his professional music career at the age of 14. After graduating from high school in 1932, he went to Seattle and got a job on a cruise ship, playing professionally. Returning to Great Falls in 1933, he played in all of the local "hot spots," including the Green Mill, the Riverside Gardens and the Mint. In 1938, he began a six-year odyssey touring and playing organ in all the major hotels along the Eastern seaboard. During this time, he and his wife worked for the Royal American Shows, a traveling carnival and ice show.
In 1944, he returned to Great Falls to establish a home for his young family and to share his passion for music with the community he loved, playing professionally at the Jockey Club, the Brass Rail and Dempsey's Inn.
Harold opened the Nicholls Music Studio in 1947 and he remained in business in the downtown Great Falls area for more than 60 years. His name has been synonymous with music in this community for over 80 years. His love of the big band sound was behind the formation of the Harold Nicholls Big Band in the 1960s, which continued to entertain generations in the area through 2000. Harold was a lifetime member of the Musicians Union Local 365, formally retiring in 2003 at the young age of 89. He continued to tune pianos until he was 92.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia; and a great-grandson, Tyler.
Harold Carey Nicholls Sr., 94, a lifelong member of the Great Falls music community, died after a short illness Saturday Aug 23, 2008 at a local care facility.
Survivors include his wife, Beth Halmes Nicholls, former lead singer for his Big Band; son Harold "Bud" Nicholls; daughters Nola (Lane) Stephens and Tani (Jerry) LeClair; his brother, Donald "Scoop" Nicholls; 14 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Harold was born July 5, 1914, in Pe Ell, Wash., to Samuel and Mary Nicholls, both of whom were professional musicians.
He attended local schools and started his professional music career at the age of 14. After graduating from high school in 1932, he went to Seattle and got a job on a cruise ship, playing professionally. Returning to Great Falls in 1933, he played in all of the local "hot spots," including the Green Mill, the Riverside Gardens and the Mint. In 1938, he began a six-year odyssey touring and playing organ in all the major hotels along the Eastern seaboard. During this time, he and his wife worked for the Royal American Shows, a traveling carnival and ice show.
In 1944, he returned to Great Falls to establish a home for his young family and to share his passion for music with the community he loved, playing professionally at the Jockey Club, the Brass Rail and Dempsey's Inn.
Harold opened the Nicholls Music Studio in 1947 and he remained in business in the downtown Great Falls area for more than 60 years. His name has been synonymous with music in this community for over 80 years. His love of the big band sound was behind the formation of the Harold Nicholls Big Band in the 1960s, which continued to entertain generations in the area through 2000. Harold was a lifetime member of the Musicians Union Local 365, formally retiring in 2003 at the young age of 89. He continued to tune pianos until he was 92.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia; and a great-grandson, Tyler.
Survivors include his wife, Beth Halmes Nicholls, former lead singer for his Big Band; son Harold "Bud" Nicholls; daughters Nola (Lane) Stephens and Tani (Jerry) LeClair; his brother, Donald "Scoop" Nicholls; 14 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Harold was born July 5, 1914, in Pe Ell, Wash., to Samuel and Mary Nicholls, both of whom were professional musicians.
He attended local schools and started his professional music career at the age of 14. After graduating from high school in 1932, he went to Seattle and got a job on a cruise ship, playing professionally. Returning to Great Falls in 1933, he played in all of the local "hot spots," including the Green Mill, the Riverside Gardens and the Mint. In 1938, he began a six-year odyssey touring and playing organ in all the major hotels along the Eastern seaboard. During this time, he and his wife worked for the Royal American Shows, a traveling carnival and ice show.
In 1944, he returned to Great Falls to establish a home for his young family and to share his passion for music with the community he loved, playing professionally at the Jockey Club, the Brass Rail and Dempsey's Inn.
Harold opened the Nicholls Music Studio in 1947 and he remained in business in the downtown Great Falls area for more than 60 years. His name has been synonymous with music in this community for over 80 years. His love of the big band sound was behind the formation of the Harold Nicholls Big Band in the 1960s, which continued to entertain generations in the area through 2000. Harold was a lifetime member of the Musicians Union Local 365, formally retiring in 2003 at the young age of 89. He continued to tune pianos until he was 92.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia; and a great-grandson, Tyler.
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