LEGENDARY songwriter Roger Nichols who composed the biggest hits for The Carpenters has tragically died aged 84.
Nichols, who made songs like We’ve Only Just Begun, died peacefully four days ago on May 17.
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Pal Paul Williams, who was his songwriting partner of many years, confirmed the news in an Instagram post.
Williams said: “Roger Nichols passed away peacefully four days ago, at home with his beautiful family …his wife Terry and the daughters he was so proud of, Claire and Caitlin, at his side.
“They were his dream come true. His greatest joy.”
Williams went on to describe his musical journey with Nichols.
He added: “Roger was my writing partner and my music school… a collaborator for years and a friend for life.
“I was an out of work actor looking for a career in music when I was signed by A&M records publishing.
“They were looking for a lyricist for Roger Nichols. An industrial strength, lucky break that changed my life.
“We wrote almost every day for several years. He was as disciplined as he was talented. I had the attention span of a sea otter… I was ready for a break after three hours and Roger would plunge ahead for another four or five.
“The words were born of the beauty in his completed melodies.
I wrote what I heard, note for note…word for word.
“The lyrics waiting in the emotion already in his music. He made it easy.”
Nichols and Williams as a songwriting duo produced some of The Carpenters’ biggest and most loved hits.
The list includes We’ve Only Just Begun and Rainy Days and Mondays and I Won’t Last a Day Without You.
Many of their songs were performed by legendary singers including Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Petula Clark and The Monkees.
It comes just days after Dropout Kings lead singer Adam Ramey tragically died aged 32.
Adam’s devastated family confirmed the band frontman passed away after a “painful battle with addiction” on Monday.
Adam was the lead vocalist and co-founder member of the rap-metal band.
He was instrumental in forming the group in 2016 and sang on both of their full-length albums, AudioDope and Riot Music.
The group were originally called Phoenix Down before changing to Dropout Kings the following year.
A GoFundMe to help support Adam’s family has been set up by his devastated brother-in-law.
In April, Amadou Bagayoko, the renowned guitarist and singer of the blind Malian marriage duo Amadou & Mariam, died at 70.
The Grammy-nominated musician passed away after a long battle with illness, his son-in-law confirmed.
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