Zephyr Craddock's stepfather Shelby Nichols main page
Page Twelve Satrday, June 6,1987 THE CRUSADER
By Theodore Charles Stone
With the passing of 93 year-old Shelby Nichols, singer, music maker, act and scholar on Thursday 28, Chicago and indeed the nation mourns one of its most esteemed personalities.
With his musical career beginning as a 'boy soprano' signing with the church choir in his hometown in Marion, Kentucky, he enjoyed a career in music, theatre and the related arts, lasting more than seventy years.
He was born on November 30, 1894. His first professional experience was with J. C O'Bryant's Famous Georgia Minstrels, traving thoughout the states of Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois and others in one night showings.
It was not long that he discovered the music performed in the minstrels was not to his liking and he immediately found other avenues through which he could make use of his vocal ability, both singing and speaking. As early as 1919 he was in St. Louis, Missouri participating in the celebration of a national event pertraining to the Statehood of Missouri.
"Mamba's Daughters," "The Member of the Wedding," and "Cabins in the Sky." Mr Nichols in the Great Northern Theater production of "Chimes of Normandy," and was cast in the National Negro Opera under general management of the late Mme. Mary ardwell Dawson's memorable performance of Verdi's "Alda" at the Civic Opera House in the 1940's.
This notable production was repeated at a convention of the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc. in Pittsburgh's famous Syria Mosque, with Maestro Frederick Vadja of the Metropolitan Opera.
He sang in Chicago many times in concert and devoted mush tine to writing music and short stories. He studied composition with the world famous symphonist, Florence B. Price and was inspired by the works of Langston Hughes, the eminint poet and set his poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" to one of his art-songs, among others.
Mr. Nichols was one of the founding members of the National Association of Negro Musicians and served as president of the Chicago Music Association, Branch 1 of that organization with commendable success.
He was a churchman, serving for 50 year at St. Thomas Esoscopal before moving his membership to St. Marygaret's Episcopal Churh, 2555 East 73rd Street where the Mass of the Resurrection was held Wednesday morning, June with the Rev. Fr. David N. Harris, the celebrant and priest. A visitation was held at Taylor's Funeral Home Tuesday, June 2.
Highlights of his highly successful career included singing concerts throughout the United States and he was the first American to perform in Alaska, prior to its becoming annexed to the United State States. His experience in Kodiac, Alaska and other cities in Alaska included the signing of Negro Sprirituals and reading the works of the famous poet Paul Laurence Dunbar amoug others. He sang at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair and at the Internation Railroad Fair on the lakefront in 1937 for more than 2 million spectators during the run of that fair.
Im 1939 he sang at the New World's and appeared opposited of Ethel Waters n Music for the Mas was provivided by John A. Martin (his stepson) Alvernon Jackson, singer Williametta B. Moore, mezzo soprano and Rutha Jessup, soprano, with whom he sang for a logn period of time at the Metropolitan Funeral Parlors as a 'Chapel Singer.'
On behalf of the music community and the Chicago Music Association, this writer spok in tribute of his loyal and esteemed friend.
His survivors include his loving wife, Alyce Lavinia; daughter, Shelly Vidmar; son-in-law John Vidmar; son, Edgar Nichols; sister Mrs. Orthetta Griffin; stepsons; stepdaughters, grandchildren, great grandchildrens, nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.