The legendary songwriter Roger Nichols, renowned for his remarkable collaborations with lyricist Paul Williams on iconic hits for the Carpenters, such as “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” passed away on May 17 at the age of 84. His impact on the music industry is profound, and his songs continue to resonate with audiences around the world.
Paul Williams shared the heartbreaking news of Nichols’ passing through an emotional post on Instagram. While he did not disclose the specific cause of death, he described the peaceful circumstances surrounding it. “Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin, at his side.” (See the full text of Williams’ Instagram post below for a heartfelt tribute to Nichols’ legacy.)
Nichols began his journey as an artist with A&M Records in 1968, a pivotal year before the legendary duo Karen and Richard Carpenter joined the label. His debut album, Roger Nichols and the Small Circle of Friends, was crafted under the expert production of Tommy LiPuma and featured engineering by Bruce Botnick. This album showcased contributions from renowned session musicians like Van Dyke Parks, Randy Newman, and Lenny Waronker. Despite not making it onto the Billboard 200, the album caught the attention of A&M co-founder Herb Alpert, who recognized Nichols’ potential and recommended him for a songwriting position at the label’s publishing division. It was during this transformative period that Nichols met Williams.
Herb Alpert’s decision to bring Nichols on board proved to be a brilliant move. The collaborative duo of Williams and Nichols swiftly became one of the most successful songwriting teams in the pop music scene during the early 1970s, creating timeless classics that continue to be celebrated today.
The fall of 1970 marked a significant breakthrough for Williams and Nichols, as they simultaneously achieved two songs in the top 15 of the Billboard Hot 100. The charts dated October 17 and 24 featured the Carpenters’ rendition of “We’ve Only Just Begun,” a heartfelt ballad that first emerged as a commercial for Crocker-Citizens National Bank. This track soared into the top five, ultimately reaching a peak at No. 2. Meanwhile, Three Dog Night held steady with “Out in the Country,” which peaked at No. 15, showcasing the diverse range of styles that captivated music listeners.
The Carpenters’ smash hit, characterized by its lush romanticism, quickly became an instant standard, while the Three Dog Night track combined elements of pop, rock, and folk to create a refreshing sound. The simultaneous success of these two distinct songs garnered significant attention in the music industry. “We’ve Only Just Begun” went on to earn two Grammy nominations for Song of the Year and Best Contemporary Song during the first live Grammy telecast in March 1971, though it ultimately lost to Paul Simon’s iconic “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The Carpenters’ version of the song was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, solidifying its place in music history.
Continuing their successful partnership, Williams and Nichols penned several more unforgettable songs for the Carpenters, including “Rainy Days and Mondays,” a beautifully crafted ballad that captured deep emotional experiences and peaked at No. 2 on the charts, just shy of Carole King’s</b “It’s Too Late.” They also wrote “Let Me Be the One,” another exceptional ballad that, although never released as a single, showcased their songwriting prowess, and “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” which was initially an album track released in 1972 and later climbed to No. 11 when it was released as a single in 1974.
The talented Barbra Streisand also recognized the brilliance of “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” covering the song on her ButterFly album in 1974. On her subsequent album, Lazy Afternoon, she included yet another gem written by the duo, “I Never Had It So Good.” Both albums achieved gold status, further demonstrating the widespread appeal of Nichols’ and Williams’ songwriting.
Art Garfunkel, another musical icon, recorded the touching song “Traveling Boy,” a creation of Williams and Nichols, for his debut solo album, Angel Clare, released in 1973. This album not only made it into the top 10 of the Billboard 200 but also featured “Traveling Boy,” which was released as the third single and managed to bubble under the Hot 100, showcasing Nichols’ talent for crafting memorable melodies.
Nichols also experienced success through collaborations beyond his work with Williams. He partnered with William Lane to create the song “Times of Your Life,” which was famously recorded by Paul Anka in 1975. Similar to “We’ve Only Just Begun,” this song was inspired by a popular TV commercial, this time for Kodak. Anka’s rendition reached No. 7 on the Hot 100 in February 1976, demonstrating Nichols’ versatility as a songwriter.
After a fruitful career, Nichols eventually decided to retire, but his songs continue to live on through various artists. The band R.E.M. honored his memory by covering “Out in the Country” as a B-side for their 2003 single “Bad Day,” and Rumer included “Traveling Boy” on her 2012 album Boys Don’t Cry, showcasing the enduring nature of Nichols’ work.
In recognition of his contributions to music, Nichols was honored during the Florida Chapter Presents The Recording Academy Honors event in 2006, held at the luxurious Loews Miami Beach Hotel. This event celebrated his achievements and the impact he had on the music industry.
Recently, Nichols was nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame on November 12, for the class that will be inducted on June 12. Although he was not elected, the competition remains intense each year. The nomination ballot highlighted five of his most renowned and enduring songs: “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” “Out in the Country,” and “Times of Your Life,” showcasing the legacy of his songwriting talents.
In a touching comment on Williams Instagram post, Nichols’ daughter Claire expressed, “My mom, Terri, and my sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are all so proud of the man he was, and are in awe of the legacy he leaves.” This sentiment reflects the profound impact Nichols had not only on his family but also on the music world.
For those interested, here’s the complete text of Williams’ heartfelt Instagram post announcing Nichols’ passing.
“The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote was called ‘It’s Hard to Say Goodbye.’… Sadly, we hit the nail on the head. Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin, at his side. They were his dream come true. His greatest joy.
“Roger was my writing partner and my music school… a collaborator for years and a friend for life. I was an out-of-work actor looking for a career in music when I was signed by A&M Records publishing. They were looking for a lyricist for Roger Nichols. An industrial-strength, lucky break that changed my life.
“We wrote almost every day for several years. He was as disciplined as he was talented. I had the attention span of a sea otter… I was ready for a break after three hours, and Roger would plunge ahead for another four or five. The words were born of the beauty in his completed melodies. I wrote what I heard, note for note…word for word. The lyrics waiting in the emotion already in his music. He made it easy.
“After many wonderful productive years, I wanted us to write songs for movies. He had another dream. He said I wanna go fishing … wanna go back to Montana. He smiled and said something about having a family and maybe making a home by a nice little river… it was clear that he was already gone. A few years ago, I visited him and met Terry and the girls at the house by the river …and I knew he found his dream.
“One last story. Roger was really excited when his daughter Caitlin was getting married last September. He chuckled and asked, ‘Can you picture me wheeling down the aisle in my wheelchair, holding my daughter’s hand?’
“Of course, I said yes then…. and right now Roger, I can picture thousands of proud dads and their beautiful daughters that walked down the aisle to your gorgeous music or danced their father and daughter dance to We’ve Only Just Begun… picture them standing and applauding what you brought to their lives and to mine. You brought love and beauty into this world, and we will never forget you.
In gratitude with much love… Paul.”
