The Nicholas Brothers - "Kalamazoo"

Orchestra Wives excerpt-- Nicholas Brothers -- Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO - Glenn Miller and his Orchestra with the Nicholas Bothers in "Orchestra Wives"

I met Fayard and Harols Nicholas in July 1980. At the time, I was assistant director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events in Chicago. I brought the Nicholas Brothers to Chicago to perform with Roger Pemberton's Big Band at two senior citizens picnics a week apart, one in Lincoln Park on the North Side and one in Marquette Park on the South Side.

We held a rehearsal with the band at the Pick-Congress Hotel. Roger's band was comprised of the top studio and jazz musicians in Chicago. They played the Nicholas Brothers charts beautifully. Fayard and Harold loved the band!

Fayard, 66 in 1980, and Harold, 59 in 1980, still danced beautifully. Harold brought along his beautiful 19-year-old girlfriend for the week they were in Chicago.

Unfortunately, both the temperature and the humidity were closed to 100 on the days of both outdoor performances. Only a couple of dozen senior citizens showed up, including my mother. The Nicholas Brothers wanted to "go on with the show" even though so few people turned out.

And they did, to the delight of everyone in their small audiences, and to the film crews from local TV stations who showed up each time. Fayard and Harold sang both "Chattanooga Choo Choo" and "Kalamazoo." When the TV stations ran their footage on both the six and ten o'clock news, their viewers saw something very rare, the legendary Nicholas Brothers.

Fayard signed the LP for me that features the extended version of "Chattanooga Choo Choo" used in the movie, where they dance and sing with Dorothy Dandridge and Glenn Miller and his Orchestra. This will always be one of my most cherished albums. Fayard wrote the following on the album cover:

To "George" With All That Jazz. We Wish You The Best In Taps. "Later" Nicholas Brothers Fayard and Harold. 7-11-80 Chicago.

Click here to view the autographed album cover.

George Spink
Los Angeles
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