The story
American jazz cornettist, composer, and jazz bandleader, born May 8, 1905, Ogden, Utah, died June 28, 1965, Las Vegas, Nevada.
The jazz legend was perhaps one of the most prolific recording artists in history. In the 1920s alone, the cornettist appeared on over 4,000 recordings, working with almost every important musician of his time. Though his style of playing was influenced by , Nichols was a better, more polished musician. His contribution to the early days of jazz cannot be overstated. Few artists can even come close to equaling his accomplishments.
He studied music under his father, a music professor at Weber College, and mastered a variety of instruments although he favored the cornet. As a teen he won a music scholarship to Culver Military Academy and played in its band before being expelled for smoking. Returning home to Utah, he worked in various pit orchestras, joining in 1922. Later that year he left Stillson for a Midwestern ensemble called the Syncopating Five, a seven-piece group that was later billed as the Royal Palms Orchestra, and toured across country with them.
From Discogs, written by its community.
