Billy Nichols

William Lee "Billy" Nichols is guitarist and soul songwriter from in Carrollton, Mississippi.

Early Years

Nichols was one of nine children born to Laura Bell and Tom Sanders. Sanders was a farmer who played blues guitar in his spare time. Inspired by his father and blues musicians he heard on the radio, Nichols taught himself guitar.

Aged 14, Nichols' family moved to Springfield, Massachusetts where Nichols played with various bands including a gospel group named The Bells of Harmony.

In 1963, Nichols joined Jimmy Vick and The Victors and recorded a single. The group were mentioned in Billboard and got some local radio airplay but by November, the group broke up.

Career

In 1964, Nichols moved to Detroit and stayed with his uncle. He was hired by Motown Records where his first job was playing with Martha and the Vandellas. Nichols was also in the Motown Road Band led by Choker Campbell. In 1965 he became the musical director for Marvin Gaye.

Nichols first break as a songwriter came in 1966 when Billy Stewart took Nichols to the Chess Records in Chicago to record his song "To Love, to Love".