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{{Short description|American singer-songwriter}}{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}

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| origin = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.Country music>CountryBlues| occupation = Singer-songwriterrecord producer| instrument = Vocals, guitar| years_active = 1970s–present}}Gary Nicholson is an American singer-songwriterWEB,www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/nicholson.html, TAXI A&R Interview: Gary Nicholson, Songwriting Producer, January 6, 2015,www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/nicholson.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20150105223043www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/nicholson.html,">web.archive.org/web/20150105223043www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/nicholson.html, January 5, 2015, dead, and record producer, known mainly for his work in country music and blues. He is a two-time Grammy winning producer and was inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriter’s Association Hall of Fame.WEB,www.grammy.com/grammys/awards, Awards Nominations & Winners, April 30, 2017, Grammy.com, May 9, 2021, Nicholson has more than 500 recordings and is best known for his work with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Ringo Starr, B. B. King, Fleetwood Mac and Billy Joe Shaver.WEB,www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-nicholson-mn0000153133, Gary Nicholson, AllMusic, November 21, 2015,

Early life and education

Nicholson was born in Commerce, Texas. He grew up in Garland, Texas and began playing guitar in his teenage years in bands such as “The Valiants”, “The Catalinas” and “The Untouchables”. Afterward, Nicholson attended University of North Texas, majoring in music.WEB,www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/arts/columnists/mario-tarradell/20110629-spotlight-on-texas-artists-gary-nicholson-greezy-wheels-and-bigelow-station-.ece, Spotlight on Texas Artists: Gary Nicholson, Greezy Wheels and Bigelow Station, The Dallas Morning News, June 29, 2011, November 21, 2015, Tarradell, Mario,

Career

Early career

In 1970, Nicholson and his band drove to Los Angeles, California. The band won a talent contest at the Palomino Club and met musicians James Burton, Red Rhodes and Clarence White. Afterwards, he formed the bluegrass/folk trio, “The Whitehorse Brothers”, playing in Southern California. The group expanded and became “Uncle Jim’s Music” and was signed to MCA/Kapp records for two albums.WEB,www.garynicholson.com/bio/, Bio, Gary Nicholson, November 21, 2015, In 1973, Nicholson moved back to Texas and started the rock/country band “Hot Sauce”. During this time, he first played with Delbert McClinton. His friend and bandmate, Jim Ed Norman, recorded Nicholson’s song “Jukebox Argument”, sung by Mickey Gilley in the film Urban Cowboy.In 1980, Nicholson signed with Norman’s Jensong Music and moved to Nashville, Tennessee.WEB,www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/aug/25/nicholson-enjoys-best-of-both-worlds/, Songwriter Gary Nicholson enjoys best of both worlds » GoMemphis.com, April 1, 2014, September 14, 2011,www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/aug/25/nicholson-enjoys-best-of-both-worlds/," title="web.archive.org/web/20110914055823www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/aug/25/nicholson-enjoys-best-of-both-worlds/,">web.archive.org/web/20110914055823www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/aug/25/nicholson-enjoys-best-of-both-worlds/, dead, He played lead guitar for Guy Clark during the recording of the album Better Days. Mickey Gilley recorded Nicholson’s songs “Your Love Shines Through” and “Ladies Night”. During this time, he also played guitar for such artists as Billy Joe Shaver, Bobby Bare and Guy Clark.In 1983, Nicholson signed a publishing contract with Tree Publishing (now Sony/ATV Music Publishing).WEB, Interviewed by Michael Laskow,www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/nicholson.html, TAXI A&R Interview: Gary Nicholson, Songwriting Producer, Taxi.com, June 19, 2013,www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/nicholson.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20150105223043www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/nicholson.html,">web.archive.org/web/20150105223043www.taxi.com/music-business-faq/ar/nicholson.html, January 5, 2015, dead, WEB, Gary Nicholson,www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-nicholson-mn0000153133, Gary Nicholson – Music Biography, Credits and Discography, AllMusic, June 19, 2013, He achieved his first number 1 hit in 1984 with the song “That’s the Thing About Love”, recorded by Don Williams and “The Power of Love”, recorded by Charley Pride. In 1986, he wrote six songs for T. Graham Brown’s debut album and in 1987 the title and five others on his second release, Brilliant Conversationalist.He penned a number 1 hit in 1993 with “One More Last Chance” recorded and co-written by Vince Gill. In 1995, Nicholson co-wrote six songs with John Prine for his album, Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings. He co-wrote a song for Waylon Jennings called “Working Without a Net” in 1996. He received ASCAP Awards in 1997 for the songs, “Givin’ Water to a Drowning Man”, by Lee Roy Parnell, and “A Thousand Times a Day”, by Patty Loveless. Nicholson also left Sony/ATV Music Publishing to start his own publishing company, Gary Nicholson Music ASCAP, during this time. In 1998, Nicholson wrote the album title and single “Trouble with the Truth” by Patty Loveless. In 1999, his song “Live, Laugh, Love” was the album title and single for Clay Walker.

Later career

In 2001, his song “She Couldn’t Change Me” by Montgomery Gentry reached number two on Billboard Hot Country Songs. In 2002, Nicholson’s song “Squeeze Me In” became a hit duet for Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. He also charted for the singles, “When Love Gets Ahold of You” by Reba McEntire, “Back in Your Arms Again” by The Mavericks and “The Reason Why” by Vince Gill.WEB,www.nashvillesongwriters.com/gary-nicholson, Gary Nicholson, November 29, 2014, Nashville Songwriters Association International, November 21, 2015, In 2003, he co-wrote the single “Never Without You” with Ringo Starr and has collaborated on each of his last five records.WEB,www.billboard.com/articles/news/6422342/ringo-starr-announces-new-album-tour-for-spring-2015, Ringo Starr Announces New Album, Tour for Spring 2015, Billboard, December 29, 2014, November 21, 2015, Stutz, Colin, In 2008, Nicholson co-wrote the title song, “Skin Deep”, for Buddy Guy, which was number one on the Billboard Blues Chart and Grammy nominated. He co-wrote “The Git Go” with Billy Joe Shaver for Willie Nelson’s Band of Brothers album, and co-wrote “It Ain’t You” with Waylon Jennings, as a Ray Benson/Willie Nelson duet.Nicholson has more than 500 recordings of his songs during his career.WEB,nosurfmusic.com/thenosurfreview/reviews/garynicholson-texassongbook/index.html, The No Surf Review: Gary Nicholson – Texas Songbook, Nosurfmusic.com, May 9, 2021, He has co-written songs with many notable songwriters and artists including Ringo Starr, Stevie Nicks, Neil Diamond, Vince Gill, Los Lonely Boys, Jimmy Webb, Michael McDonald, Brad Paisley, among others.WEB,www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/aug/25/nicholson-enjoys-best-of-both-worlds/, Songwriter Gary Nicholson enjoys best of both worlds, GoMemphis.com, August 25, 2011, June 19, 2013, WEB, Steve Leggett,www.allmusic.com/artist/seth-walker-mn0000732799/biography, Seth Walker | Biography, AllMusic, March 22, 2014,

Production

During his career, Nicholson has produced five projects for Delbert McClinton, winning Grammys in the Best Contemporary Blues category for the albums “Nothing Personal” in 2001WEB,www.mtv.com/news/1441346/delbert-mcclintons-nothing-personal-actually-is/, Delbert McClinton’s Nothing Personal Actually Is, MTV, March 6, 2001, November 21, 2015, Dexter, Kerry, and “Cost of Living” in 2005.WEB,www.allaboutjazz.com/delbert-mcclinton-cost-of-living-delbert-mcclinton-new-west-records-review-by-doug-collette.php, Delbert McClinton: Delbert McClinton: Cost Of Living (2005), All About Jazz, October 6, 2005, November 21, 2015, Collette, Doug, Nicholson has also produced for Billy Joe Shaver, The Judds, Wynonna, Pam Tillis, T. Graham Brown and Marcia Ball.

Awards and recognition

He was nominated to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006 and inducted into Texas Heritage Songwriter’s Association Hall of Fame in 2011. He has received ASCAP Awards for the songs, “Giving Water to a Drowning Man” and “A Thousand Times a Day”.WEB,www.johnjarrardfoundation.com/artist/gary-nicholson/,web.archive.org/web/20150118174242/https://www.johnjarrardfoundation.com/artist/gary-nicholson/, dead, Gary Nicholson | The John Jarrard Foundation, January 18, 2015, May 9, 2021,

Personal life

On June 30, 1973, Nicholson married Barbara Ellendorff.He is from Garland, Texas and has lived in Nashville, Tennessee since 1980.NEWS,www.newspapers.com/newspage/73385053/, Gary Nicholsons live in Van Nuys, The Garland Daily News, July 17, 1973, November 21, 2015, Tolbert, Gary,

Discography

Albums{| class“wikitable”

! Year!!Album!!LabelUncle Jim>|Kapp RecordsThere’s A Song in This>|Kapp RecordsThe Sky Is Not the Limit>|Ardeo RecordsFortunate Sons>|Fortune RecordsWhitey Johnson>|Slow Moving RecordsNashville Songbook>|Four Sons RecordingsTexas Songbook>|Bismeaux Records“>

Songs in film{| class“wikitable”

! Film!!Song!!ArtistUrban Cowboy> PUBLISHER=YAMAHA ARTISTS, November 21, 2015, Message in a Bottle>|Beth Nielsen ChapmanHappy Texas>|Lee Roy ParnellWhere the Heart Is>|Emmylou Harris/Patty GriffinCrazy Heart> WORK=THE WALL STREET JOURNAL DATE=FEBRUARY 6, 2010 AUTHOR=KURUTZ, STEVEN,

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• Official website

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