Edward "Eddie" Orlin NICHOLS (FAMOUS)

Edward Orlin Nichols

January 21, 1938 - August 6, 2005

Musician Extraordinaire Businessman

Edward Orlin "Eddie" Nichols, was born to Clark and Donna Nadine Johnson Nichols. Attending the schools in Van Buren Eddie graduated in 1956 from Van Buren High school.

He was an extraordinary Saxophone player.
After graduation he began playing with Bobby Donn and the Premiers.
He begin his professional career in 1966 playing with a Florida-based band known as the What Knots and later went on the road with Tommy Dennis and the Brother hood. He met and began to play for Johnny Lee, famed for “looking For Love’ and other well know hits. He and Johnny then went on to Houston to play with Mickey Gilley.
By 1980 he had played for such great musicians as Charlie Rich, Wayne Cochran and the C C Riders which accumulated into 16 years on the road. He, also, did some studio work for Aretha Franklin, James and Bobby Purify and was know to work for Carrie Underwood’s band, Star Rise.

In that same year of 1980 he came home to Arkansas to establish his other career ambition drafting, construction management and the real estate business with Ron Calhoun and Associates.
He was a noted musician, associated locally with Larry Bedell and TCR, Don Gregory and the Gregory Brothers, a charter member of The Mr. Cabbage Head Band, and America's 2005 Idol Carrie Underwood's band, Star Rise.
He married Martha Anne Holt. He had two step children: Laura Dee Ann Owen Martindale and Kenneth Eugene Poague.
He is buried in his home community of Dora, Van Buren Arkansas in the Dora Cemetery

See his photo
Sources: The obituary in the Southwest Times.

Contributed on 11/16/12 by mcclella.g
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Record #: 783704

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