Penny Nichols
Encyclopedia
Penny Nichols is an American folk musician
and songwriter. She began her career in the Southern California
folk circuit in Orange County, California
in 1964, singing in a bluegrass
band with Alice, Bill & John McEuen
. She formed a folk duo called Greasy Mountain Butterballs with Kathy Smith (not to be confused with Cathy Smith
, the singer implicated in John Belushi
's death), touring Vietnam
in 1966. In 1967 she moved to San Francisco where she performed as an opening act at venues such as the Avalon Ballroom and Fillmore Auditorium and at outdoor music festivals. Her debut album, Penny's Arcade, was released in 1967. Nichols was married to actor Harry Shearer
from 1974 to 1977. She continued performing as a backup singer, joining Jimmy Buffett
as a member of his Coral Reefer Band
in 1977 and singing on the album Son of a Son of a Sailor
. She released the album All Life is One in 1990. Nichols currently works as a composer and vocal instructor based in Saugerties, New York
.
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and songwriter. She began her career in the Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
folk circuit in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
in 1964, singing in a bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
band with Alice, Bill & John McEuen
John McEuen
John McEuen , is an American folk musician and entertainer. He was one of the earliest members of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He played with the band from 1966 to 1986, and returned in 2001.The group prior to that 'dissolved' a few times briefly, but none as long as in 1968, right after spending 4...
. She formed a folk duo called Greasy Mountain Butterballs with Kathy Smith (not to be confused with Cathy Smith
Cathy Smith
Catherine Evelyn Smith is a occasional backup singer, rock star girlfriend, "groupie" and drug dealer, who served 15 months in the California state prison system for injecting John Belushi with a fatal dose of heroin and cocaine in 1982.Smith had been paid for a front page headline story in the...
, the singer implicated in John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
's death), touring Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
in 1966. In 1967 she moved to San Francisco where she performed as an opening act at venues such as the Avalon Ballroom and Fillmore Auditorium and at outdoor music festivals. Her debut album, Penny's Arcade, was released in 1967. Nichols was married to actor Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer
Harry Julius Shearer is an American actor, comedian, writer, voice artist, musician, author, radio host and director. He is known for his long-running role on The Simpsons, his work on Saturday Night Live, the comedy band Spinal Tap and his radio program Le Show...
from 1974 to 1977. She continued performing as a backup singer, joining Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
as a member of his Coral Reefer Band
Coral Reefer Band
The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Originally it was a fictional band consisting of the imaginary members Marvin Gardens, Kay Pasa, Al Vacado and Kitty Litter....
in 1977 and singing on the album Son of a Son of a Sailor
Son of a Son of a Sailor
Son of a Son of a Sailor is the ninth album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. It was initially released in March 1978 as ABC Dunhill AA-1046 and later rereleased on its successor label, MCA.-Chart performance:...
. She released the album All Life is One in 1990. Nichols currently works as a composer and vocal instructor based in Saugerties, New York
Saugerties, New York
Saugerties, New York derives its name from Holland Dutch, Zager's Killetje. Zager , and Kill meaning creek or stream, with the suffix "t j e" to indicate small or little. The sawmill was on the Esopus Creek...
.