Dave Nicholas
Encyclopedia
Dave Nicholas is currently the UK's only resident cinema organist and at 20 years is the longest serving organist at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.
. His earliest memories of becoming interested in organ music are of recordings the late Ken Griffin made featuring the Hammond organ
. By now Dave was living a mile or so away from the Compton organ
at the Plaza and found himself drawn to this organ where he commenced tuition from Frank Gordon and Ian Hamilton. He rapidly gained a reputation for his organ playing and his career in show business was founded at the Plaza Cinema and to this day Dave remains a stalwart fan of Compton organs.
Following the demise of the cinema organist Dave went on to play for 12 years at holiday camps, most notably Butlins
, where he played his own Compton
and Hammond
organs. After this Dave returned home to Tranmere and took up a position as the organ and piano demonstrator for the Rushworth's
store in Liverpool city centre.
Finally Dave took the post of resident cinema organist at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall where he plays the magnificent Rushworth and Dreaper
organ for the Classic Movie nights and he is proud to quote that he has never missed a single night of playing there in over 20 years. On top of his cinema organ work Dave is also Organist for the United Reformed Church close to his home in Tranmere
A100 with a Leslie Tone Cabinet
and titles Around the World with Dave Nicholas. The Second recording Dave has made available at his website was recorded in 1997 at the console of the Rushworth and Dreaper
organ at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and is titled The Golden Age of the Cinema Organ and features music that was typically played on Cinema organs in their heyday from 1912 through to 1939
More recently Dave now has his own youtube channel showing video footage of him playing in various styles and demonstrating the capabilities of the pipe organ.
at a Conn Organ Promotion then went on to feature on the same bill as him at a cinema in Glasgow. Following on from this he also appeared with both Reginald Dixon
and Charles Smitton at the Odeon
Cinema Bolton
. Finally to cap this who's who of the organ greats Dave was introduced to Leslie Bourne of Compton organs
the inventor of the Melotone unit found on their instruments.
Recently after having the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra playing Happy Birthday
for him he asked the Philharmonic hall if he could have a reserved spot in the car park for his Zimmer frame now he's a pensioner
Many years ago when I used to play for dancing the Waltz
was always in 3/4 Time now we've gone decimal it's .75
Back in those days you had to play in "real terms", these days it's always "terms and conditions"
Career
Born in 1935 opposite the Plaza Cinema, BirkenheadBirkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
. His earliest memories of becoming interested in organ music are of recordings the late Ken Griffin made featuring the Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
. By now Dave was living a mile or so away from the Compton organ
John Compton (organ builder)
John Compton , born in Newton Burgoland, Leicestershire, was a pipe organ builder. His business based in Nottingham and London flourished between 1902 and 1965.-Life:...
at the Plaza and found himself drawn to this organ where he commenced tuition from Frank Gordon and Ian Hamilton. He rapidly gained a reputation for his organ playing and his career in show business was founded at the Plaza Cinema and to this day Dave remains a stalwart fan of Compton organs.
Following the demise of the cinema organist Dave went on to play for 12 years at holiday camps, most notably Butlins
Butlins
Butlins is a chain of large holiday camps in the United Kingdom. Butlins was founded by Billy Butlin to provide affordable holidays for ordinary British families....
, where he played his own Compton
John Compton (organ builder)
John Compton , born in Newton Burgoland, Leicestershire, was a pipe organ builder. His business based in Nottingham and London flourished between 1902 and 1965.-Life:...
and Hammond
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
organs. After this Dave returned home to Tranmere and took up a position as the organ and piano demonstrator for the Rushworth's
Rushworth and Dreaper
Rushworth and Dreaper was a firm of organ builders based in Liverpool, England Upon its bankruptcy, its archives were mostly destroyed, and the Victorian clock in the works tower was removed...
store in Liverpool city centre.
Finally Dave took the post of resident cinema organist at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall where he plays the magnificent Rushworth and Dreaper
Rushworth and Dreaper
Rushworth and Dreaper was a firm of organ builders based in Liverpool, England Upon its bankruptcy, its archives were mostly destroyed, and the Victorian clock in the works tower was removed...
organ for the Classic Movie nights and he is proud to quote that he has never missed a single night of playing there in over 20 years. On top of his cinema organ work Dave is also Organist for the United Reformed Church close to his home in Tranmere
Recordings
Dave has released several audio recordings of his organ music, two of which he has kindly made available for people to hear on his personal website. The first of these was recorded in 1972 on a HammondHammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
A100 with a Leslie Tone Cabinet
Leslie speaker
The Leslie speaker is a specially constructed amplifier/loudspeaker used to create special audio effects using the Doppler effect. Named after its inventor, Donald Leslie, it is particularly associated with the Hammond organ but is used with a variety of instruments as well as vocals. The...
and titles Around the World with Dave Nicholas. The Second recording Dave has made available at his website was recorded in 1997 at the console of the Rushworth and Dreaper
Rushworth and Dreaper
Rushworth and Dreaper was a firm of organ builders based in Liverpool, England Upon its bankruptcy, its archives were mostly destroyed, and the Victorian clock in the works tower was removed...
organ at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and is titled The Golden Age of the Cinema Organ and features music that was typically played on Cinema organs in their heyday from 1912 through to 1939
More recently Dave now has his own youtube channel showing video footage of him playing in various styles and demonstrating the capabilities of the pipe organ.
Notable Occasions
Over the years Dave has either played with or met many of the greats of the cinema organ world, both players and innovators alike. In particular 1968 was a memorable year for him as during this 12 month period he dueted with Reginald DixonReginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon MBE, ARCM, was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.-Biography:...
at a Conn Organ Promotion then went on to feature on the same bill as him at a cinema in Glasgow. Following on from this he also appeared with both Reginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon
Reginald Dixon MBE, ARCM, was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.-Biography:...
and Charles Smitton at the Odeon
Odeon
Odea, Odeon, or Odeum may refer to:* Odeon , ancient Greek and Roman buildings built for singing exercises, musical shows and poetry competitions-Modern era:* Cineplex Odeon, North America...
Cinema Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
. Finally to cap this who's who of the organ greats Dave was introduced to Leslie Bourne of Compton organs
John Compton (organ builder)
John Compton , born in Newton Burgoland, Leicestershire, was a pipe organ builder. His business based in Nottingham and London flourished between 1902 and 1965.-Life:...
the inventor of the Melotone unit found on their instruments.
Quotes
Dave has a sharp sense of humour and has been heard to say all of the following in personal interviews:-Recently after having the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra playing Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday to You
"Happy Birthday to You", also known more simply as "Happy Birthday", is a song that is traditionally sung to celebrate the anniversary of a person's birth...
for him he asked the Philharmonic hall if he could have a reserved spot in the car park for his Zimmer frame now he's a pensioner
Many years ago when I used to play for dancing the Waltz
Waltz
The waltz is a ballroom and folk dance in time, performed primarily in closed position.- History :There are several references to a sliding or gliding dance,- a waltz, from the 16th century including the representations of the printer H.S. Beheim...
was always in 3/4 Time now we've gone decimal it's .75
Back in those days you had to play in "real terms", these days it's always "terms and conditions"