Nicky James (2 April 1943 – 8 October 2007), born Michael Clifford Nicholls, was a British musician and songwriter.

Biography

James was born in

Tipton Tipton is an industrial town in the West Midlands in England with a population of around 38,777 at the 2011 UK Census. It is located northwest of Birmingham. Tipton was once one of the most heavily industrialised towns in the Black Country, w ...

, Staffordshire, England. He attended Park Lane School, and at age sixteen moved to

Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire Scunthorpe () is an industrial town and unparished area in the unitary authority of North Lincolnshire in Lincolnshire, England of which it is the main administrative centre. Scunthorpe had an estimated total population of 82,334 in 2016. A pr ...

. After moving to

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1. ...

he first performed with various musical acts involved in the early "Brumbeat" scene. James led the early 1960s band the Lawmen before joining

Denny Laine Denny Laine (born Brian Frederick Hines, 29 October 1944) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter, known as a founder of two major rock bands: the Moody Blues, with whom he played from 1964 to 1966, and Wings, with whom he played from 1 ...

and the Diplomats in early 1963; the band was soon renamed Nicky James with Denny Laine and the Diplomats. After attracting the attention of

Pye Records Pye Records was a British record label. Its best known artists were Lonnie Donegan (1956–1969), Petula Clark (1957–1971), the Searchers (1963–1967), the Kinks (1964–1971), Sandie Shaw (1964–1971), Status Quo (1968–1971) and Brotherho ...

producer

Tony Hatch Anthony Peter Hatch (born 30 June 1939) is an English composer for musical theatre and television. He is also a songwriter, pianist, arranger and producer. Early life and early career Hatch was born in Pinner, Middlesex. Encouraged by his mus ...

, Nicky left the Diplomats in the autumn of 1963 to record a solo single, "My Colour is Blue." He continued to play in a number of bands, including the

mod Mod, MOD or mods may refer to: Places * Modesto City–County Airport, Stanislaus County, California, US Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Mods (band), a Norwegian rock band * M.O.D. (Method of Destruction), a band from New York City, US ...

band The Jamesons alongside John Walker (aka John Maus) of

the Walker Brothers The Walker Brothers were an American pop group of the 1960s and 1970s which included Noel Scott Engel (eventually known professionally as Scott Walker), John Walker (born John Joseph Maus, but using the name Walker since his teens) and Gary Le ...

. Soon, James re-united with former Diplomats in a new group, The Moody Blues 5. Two months after James's departure, the band shortened their name to

The Moody Blues The Moody Blues were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1964, initially consisting of keyboardist Mike Pinder, multi-instrumentalist Ray Thomas, guitarist Denny Laine, drummer Graeme Edge and bassist Clint Warwick. The g ...

, signed to Decca Records, and had their first UK No. 1

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

at the end of 1964 with "

Go Now "Go Now" is a song composed by Larry Banks and Milton Bennett and first recorded by Bessie Banks, released as a single in January 1964. The best-known version was recorded by the Moody Blues and released the same year. Bessie Banks version The ...

". Signing to Columbia Records under the name the Nicky James Movement, James's new project debuted in 1965 with a single version of " Stagger Lee". Among the rotating membership of The Nicky James Movement were

John Bonham John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980) was an English musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band Led Zeppelin. Esteemed for his speed, power, fast single-footed kick drumming, distinctive sound, and feel for groove ...

, later the drummer for

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...

, as well as

Bev Bevan Beverley Bevan (born 25 November 1944) is an English rock musician, who was the drummer and one of the original members of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). After the end of ELO in 1986, he founded ELO Part II. Bevan also was drumm ...

of ELO,

Mike Pinder Michael Thomas Pinder (born 27 December 1941) is an English rock musician, and is a founding member and original keyboard player of the British rock group the Moody Blues. He left the group following the recording of the band's ninth album '' ...

, and

Roy Wood Roy Wood (born 8 November 1946) is an English musician and singer-songwriter. He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the Move, Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a ...

The Move The Move were a British rock band of the late 1960s and the early 1970s. They scored nine top 20 UK singles in five years, but were among the most popular British bands not to find any real success in the United States. For most of their car ...

. James then moved to

Philips Records Philips Records is a record label founded by the Dutch electronics company Philips. It was founded as Philips Phonographische Industrie in 1950. In 1946, Philips acquired the company which pressed records for British Decca's Dutch outlet in ...

for 1967's "So Glad We Made It". Four singles followed: "Would You Believe", "Nobody But Me", "Time" and "Reaching For The Sun". James made his full-length debut with 1971's ''Nicky James''. While doubling as a talent scout for

Dick James Music Dick, Dicks, or Dick's may refer to: Media * ''Dicks'' (album), a 2004 album by Fila Brazillia * Dicks (band), a musical group * ''Dick'' (film), a 1999 American comedy film * "Dick" (song), a 2019 song by Starboi3 featuring Doja Cat Names ...

publishers in 1966–67, Nicky James signed the newly formed team of Bernie Taupin and Elton John as staff-writers. In 1972, James signed to the Moody Blues's

Threshold Records Threshold Records was a record label created by the rock music group the Moody Blues. The name of the label came from their 1969 album ''On the Threshold of a Dream''. The music ensemble, band formed this label to allow for artistically packaged ...

, and released two more albums: ''Every Home Should Have One'' (1973) and ''Thunderthroat'' (1976), as well as four further singles, including "Black Dream" in 1972 and "Maggie" in 1976. On 20 August 1973, the Nicky James Band recorded for John Peel's radio show on

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

. James appeared on solo albums by Moody Blues members

Graeme Edge Graeme Charles Edge (30 March 1941 – 11 November 2021) was an English musician, songwriter and poet, best known as the co-founder and drummer of the English band the Moody Blues. In addition to his work with the Moody Blues, Edge worked as ...

and

Ray Thomas Raymond Thomas (29 December 1941 – 4 January 2018) was an English multi-instrumentalist, flautist, singer, founding member and composer in the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues. His flute solo on the band's 1967 hit single "Night ...

, including '' From Mighty Oaks'' (1975) and '' Hopes Wishes and Dreams'' (1976). He also co-wrote songs with Allan Clarke of

The Hollies The Hollies are a British pop rock band, formed in 1962. One of the leading British groups of the 1960s and into the mid-1970s, they are known for their distinctive three-part vocal harmony style. Allan Clarke and Graham Nash founded the band ...

and

Graham Nash Graham William Nash (born 2 February 1942) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, photographer, and activist. He is known for his light tenor voice and for his contributions as a member of the Hollies and the supergroups Crosby, Stills ...

of CSNY. John Bonham of Led Zeppelin described Nicky James as "an incredible singer . . . he could sing any style . . . ndhe had a big following." Bev Bevan of ELO recalled his first encounter with James: "a tall, skinny, good-looking guy with a mop of Brylcreemed black hair, swept back Teddy Boy style . . . he launched into

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

's One Night With You. He was sensational." ''

NME ''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...

'' described James as displaying a "perfected vocal technique that melded the blues with prevalent beat pop tendencies." James continued to write and perform well into the 21st century; after relocating to

Aldbourne Aldbourne (pronounced "awld·bawn") is a village and civil parish about north-east of Marlborough, Wiltshire, England, in a valley on the south slope of the Lambourn Downs – part of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. ...

in Wiltshire, he founded Stable Studios and continued his prolific recorded output. He appeared in the 2006 documentary ''Classic Artists: The Moody Blues'', and was working on a new record when he died from complications following a brain tumour, on 8 October 2007. He left a wife, Martine, and children, Sami and Louis.

Discography

Singles

*"My Colour is Blue" / "Take Me Back" (September 1963, Pye 15560) *"Stagger Lee" / "I'm Hurtin' Inside" (November 1965, Columbia DB 7747) *"I Need To Be Needed" / "So Glad We Made It" (April 1967, Philips BF 1566) *"Would You Believe" / "Silver Butterfly" (January 1968, Philips BF 1635) *"Looking Through Windows" / "Nobody But Me" (August 1968, Philips BF 1694) *"Time" / "Little Bit of Paper" (1969, Philips BF 1755) *"Reaching for the Sun" / "No Life at All" (1969, Philips BF 1804) *"Black Dream" / "She Came to Me" (1972, Threshold 67014) *"My Style" / "I Guess I've Always Loved You" (1972, Threshold 67016) *"Why" / "Foreign Shore" (1972, Threshold THS12) *"Rock & Roll Jamboree" / "Doctor, Doctor" (1973, Threshold 67017) *"Maggie" / "Bottle of Cheap Red Wine" (1976, Threshold THS25)

Solo albums

*''Nicky James'' – 1971 (Philips) *''Every Home Should Have One'' – (1973, Threshold THS10) *''Thunderthroat'' – (1976, Threshold THS19) *''Black Country Boy'' (unreleased, in-progress at time of death)

Collaborations

*John Walker – "Annabella" / "You Don't Understand Me" (1967, Philips BF 1593) (co-written with Graham Nash and Kirk Duncan) *Ray Thomas – ''From Mighty Oaks'' (Threshold, 1975) *Ray Thomas – ''Hopes, Wishes, and Dreams'' (Threshold, 1976)

Peel sessions

*With The Nicky James Band – "Rock n' Roll Jamboree", "I Guess I've Always Loved You", "A Bottle of Cheap Red Wine", "My Style" (20 August 1973, transmitted 30 August 1973)

References

External links

Official website
archived in May 2006
Peel Sessions
Radio 1, August 1973
Selected 45 catalog
at 45cat.com

in the ''Sunday Mercury'', Birmingham, September 2008 {{DEFAULTSORT:James, Nicky 1943 births 2007 deaths English songwriters English rock musicians The Moody Blues members People from Tipton