Nicholas was born in Alabama, but grew up primarily in Philadelphia. He learned to dance while watching vaudeville shows with his brother while their musician parents played in the orchestra.[2] His father, Ulysses D. Nicholas, was a drummer and his mother, Viola Harden Nicholas, was a pianist.[3]
Career
Fayard Nicholas dances with Harold Nicholas and Bob Hope, 1965
In 1932, when he was 18 and his brother was only 11, they became the featured act at Cotton Club in New York City. The brothers earned fame with a unique style of rhythm tap that blended "masterful jazz steps with daredevil athletic moves and an elegance of motion worthy of ballet". They appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway and in London they worked with jazz choreographer Buddy Bradley. The performances led them to a career in film. Nicholas appeared in over 60 films, including the 1943 musical Stormy Weather with their signature staircase dance.[4]
After his dance career ended, Nicholas and his wife, Katherine Hopkins Nicholas, embarked on a lecture tour discussing dance. In 2003, Nicholas served as "Festival Legend" at the third "Soul to Sole Tap Festival" in Austin, Texas.[4]
Nicholas was married three times. He remained friends with his first wife, Geraldine Pate, after their divorce. His second wife was Barbara January, and they remained married until her death in 1998. He married dancer Katherine Hopkins in 2000. He was a member of the Baháʼí Faith. Nicholas died of pneumonia following a stroke in 2006 at age 91.[6][7] His widow Katherine died in 2012.[8]
Fayard Nicholas's oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project
1998 Interview with Fayard Nicholas
April 20, 2023
fayard, nicholas, fayard, antonio, nicholas, october, 1914, january, 2006, american, choreographer, dancer, actor, younger, brother, harold, nicholas, made, nicholas, brothers, dance, starred, musicals, colored, vaudeville, show, 1935, stormy, weather, 1943, p. Fayard Antonio Nicholas October 20 1914 January 24 2006 was an American choreographer dancer and actor He and his younger brother Harold Nicholas made up the Nicholas Brothers tap dance duo who starred in the MGM musicals An All Colored Vaudeville Show 1935 Stormy Weather 1943 The Pirate 1948 and Hard Four 2007 The Nicholas brothers also starred in the 20th Century Fox musicals Down Argentine Way 1940 Sun Valley Serenade 1941 and Orchestra Wives 1942 1 Fayard NicholasNicholas in 2000BornFayard Antonio Nicholas 1914 10 20 October 20 1914Mobile Alabama U S DiedJanuary 24 2006 2006 01 24 aged 91 Los Angeles California U S Occupation s Choreographer dancer actor singerYears active1935 1991Spouse s Geraldine Pate m 1942 div 1955 Barbara January m 1967 died 1998 Katherine Hopkins m 2000 AwardsHollywood Walk of FameWebsitenicholasbrothers com Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditNicholas was born in Alabama but grew up primarily in Philadelphia He learned to dance while watching vaudeville shows with his brother while their musician parents played in the orchestra 2 His father Ulysses D Nicholas was a drummer and his mother Viola Harden Nicholas was a pianist 3 Career Edit Fayard Nicholas dances with Harold Nicholas and Bob Hope 1965 In 1932 when he was 18 and his brother was only 11 they became the featured act at Cotton Club in New York City The brothers earned fame with a unique style of rhythm tap that blended masterful jazz steps with daredevil athletic moves and an elegance of motion worthy of ballet They appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway and in London they worked with jazz choreographer Buddy Bradley The performances led them to a career in film Nicholas appeared in over 60 films including the 1943 musical Stormy Weather with their signature staircase dance 4 His career was interrupted from 1943 to 1944 when he served in the U S Army during World War II 3 Nicholas achieved the rank of Technician fifth grade while in WWII 5 After his dance career ended Nicholas and his wife Katherine Hopkins Nicholas embarked on a lecture tour discussing dance In 2003 Nicholas served as Festival Legend at the third Soul to Sole Tap Festival in Austin Texas 4 Nicholas was inducted into the National Museum of Dance C V Whitney Hall of Fame in 2001 Personal life EditNicholas was married three times He remained friends with his first wife Geraldine Pate after their divorce His second wife was Barbara January and they remained married until her death in 1998 He married dancer Katherine Hopkins in 2000 He was a member of the Bahaʼi Faith Nicholas died of pneumonia following a stroke in 2006 at age 91 6 7 His widow Katherine died in 2012 8 See also EditList of dancersReferences Edit Selected profiles of African American Bahaʼis National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahaʼis of the United States 2007 Archived from the original on Oct 9 2007 Retrieved Feb 8 2016 Dancer Fayard Nicholas dies at 91 People Magazine January 25 2006 a b FAYARD NICHOLAS Archived 2016 10 23 at the Wayback Machine The History Makers May 14 2004 a b Minister of Grace Dance Legend Fayard Nicholas Joins the Soul to Sole Tap Festival The Austin Chronicle June 6 2003 1 The Library of Congress gt gt American Folklife Center Feb 2 2016 Selected profiles of African American Bahaʼis National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahaʼis of the United States 2007 Archived from the original on October 9 2007 Retrieved February 8 2016 Schudel Matt 2006 01 26 Fayard Nicholas 91 Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2022 07 06 Obituary Katherine Hopkins Nicholas Dignity Memorial 2012 Retrieved August 28 2019 External links Edit Biography portalNicholas Brothers official website Fayard Nicholas Biography filmreference 2008 Retrieved 2009 01 22 Fayard Nicholas at Find a Grave Fayard Nicholas at the Internet Broadway Database Fayard Nicholas at IMDb Fayard Nicholas s oral history video excerpts at The National Visionary Leadership Project 1998 Interview with Fayard Nicholas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fayard Nicholas amp oldid 1148122583, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,