Roy Nichols

Roy Nichols (October 21, 1932 – July 3, 2001) was an American country music guitarist best known as the lead guitarist for Merle Haggard for more than two decades. He was known for his guitar technique, a mix of fingerpicking and pedal steel-like bends, usually played on a Telecaster.

Biography

Roy Ernest Nichols was born in Chandler, Arizona. His parents were Bruce and Lucille Nichols. Roy was the first born of seven children. The Nichols family moved to Fresno, California when he was 2. They owned a camp for migrant farm workers. Sometimes a traveling Gypsy band would stay at the camp. Nichols would hide and watch them play. His father Bruce played upright bass at the local dances on the weekends in the San Joaquin Valley. Nichols was interested in his father’s music. He learned three chords from his father and began playing in his father's band on the weekends when he was 11. By age 14, Nichols began playing weekends with Curly Roberts and the Rangers. This earned him $25 a week.

Roy Nichols (baseball)

Roy Nichols (March 3, 1921 – April 3, 2002) was an American infielder in Major League Baseball who played in 11 games for the New York Giants during the 1944 baseball season. He later managed the Johnstown Johnnies of the Middle Atlantic League from 1948–1950.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, he died in Hot Springs, Arkansas, at age 81.

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