Hayden Nicholas
Encyclopedia
James Hayden Nicholas is a country guitarist
and songwriter
.
Nicholas grew up in the Houston, Texas
area, where he taught himself to play guitar at age nine. In the early 1980s, he was briefly member of the band Revolver, headlined by Tim McCrary, which played extensively in Texas
. After a stint living in California
, he returned to Texas
, where, in 1987, he met then-struggling country singer Clint Black
. At the time, Nicholas was a guitarist and songwriter with his own home studio. The two joined forces to write and record demo versions of songs that Black could use to land a recording deal. Their first collaboration, "Nobody's Home," did the trick, and in 1988 Black had his recording contract.
The partnership between the two has continued strongly ever since. Nicholas serves as Black's bandleader, plays lead guitar, and cowrites with Black and other most of the songs that are on Black's albums. Often the two would retreat to a cabin in the Colorado
mountains to hide out and write songs for the next album. Over sixty of their collaborations have appeared on Black's albums, with 15 of them hitting Number One on one of the music charts.
Nicholas has been twice nominated for the CMA
Song of the Year, in 1989 for "A Better Man
" and in 1990 for "Killin' Time
," both co-written with (and recorded by) Clint Black. He has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards, and has won over fifty songwriting awards, including three "Triple Play Awards," given to a songwriter who has three works reach Number One in twelve months. One of his collaborations with Black, The Hard Way, was included in the musical Urban Cowboy, which was nominated for a 2003 Tony Award
for Best Original Score.
Nicholas has expanded his efforts, co-producing the debut album of Texas band Cooder Graw
and serving as sole producer on the band's second attempt. He also played guitar on the Asleep at the Wheel
album Ride with Bob, and wrote a novel, Hands Treasure, which has been optioned by a motion picture company.
Nicholas lost his mother before the release of Clint Black's 2006 album Drinkin' Songs and Other Logic
, prompting them to include the song "Back Home in Heaven" on the album.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Nicholas grew up in the Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
area, where he taught himself to play guitar at age nine. In the early 1980s, he was briefly member of the band Revolver, headlined by Tim McCrary, which played extensively in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. After a stint living in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he returned to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, where, in 1987, he met then-struggling country singer Clint Black
Clint Black
Clint Patrick Black is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and occasional actor. Signed to RCA Records in 1989, Black made his debut with his Killin' Time album, which produced four straight Number One singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country...
. At the time, Nicholas was a guitarist and songwriter with his own home studio. The two joined forces to write and record demo versions of songs that Black could use to land a recording deal. Their first collaboration, "Nobody's Home," did the trick, and in 1988 Black had his recording contract.
The partnership between the two has continued strongly ever since. Nicholas serves as Black's bandleader, plays lead guitar, and cowrites with Black and other most of the songs that are on Black's albums. Often the two would retreat to a cabin in the Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
mountains to hide out and write songs for the next album. Over sixty of their collaborations have appeared on Black's albums, with 15 of them hitting Number One on one of the music charts.
Nicholas has been twice nominated for the CMA
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
Song of the Year, in 1989 for "A Better Man
A Better Man
"A Better Man" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Clint Black. It was released in February 1989 as the lead and debut single from his debut album, Killin' Time. It was written by Black and Hayden Nicholas. When "A Better Man" went to No...
" and in 1990 for "Killin' Time
Killin' Time (Clint Black song)
"Killin' Time" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Clint Black. It was released in July 1989 as the second single and title track from his debut album. The song was his second number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard magazine Hot Country Singles chart and the...
," both co-written with (and recorded by) Clint Black. He has also been nominated for several Grammy Awards, and has won over fifty songwriting awards, including three "Triple Play Awards," given to a songwriter who has three works reach Number One in twelve months. One of his collaborations with Black, The Hard Way, was included in the musical Urban Cowboy, which was nominated for a 2003 Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Original Score.
Nicholas has expanded his efforts, co-producing the debut album of Texas band Cooder Graw
Cooder Graw
Cooder Graw was a self-described "loud country" band from Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas. It is also the title of their second album.The group formed in 1998...
and serving as sole producer on the band's second attempt. He also played guitar on the Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel
Asleep at the Wheel is a American country music group that was formed in Paw Paw, West Virginia, but based in Austin, Texas. Altogether, they have won nine Grammy Awards since their 1970 inception. In their career, they have released more than twenty studio albums, and have charted more than twenty...
album Ride with Bob, and wrote a novel, Hands Treasure, which has been optioned by a motion picture company.
Nicholas lost his mother before the release of Clint Black's 2006 album Drinkin' Songs and Other Logic
Drinkin' Songs and Other Logic
Drinkin' Songs and Other Logic is a 2005 album by country singer Clint Black. He describes it as a "barroom, honky-tonk kind of album" with songs "about drinking, good for drinking, or written while drinking". The tracks "Rainbow in the Rain", "Code of the West", "Drinkin' Songs and Other Logic"...
, prompting them to include the song "Back Home in Heaven" on the album.