Background
He was born in 1935 opposite the Plaza Cinema, Birkenhead.
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Dave Nicholas
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His earliest memories of organ music are of recordings the late Kenneth West. Griffin made featuring the Hammond organization By now he was living a mile or so away from the Compton organ at the Plaza and found himself drawn to this instrument where he commenced studying under Frank Gordon and Ian Hamilton. He gained a reputation for his organ playing.
His career in show business began at the Plaza Cinema.
Nicholas remains a fan of Compton organs. Following the demise of the cinema organist role, Nicholas went on to play for 12 years at holiday camps, most notably Butlins, where he played his own Compton and Hammond organs.
He returned home to Tranmere and took up a position as the organ and piano demonstrator for the Rushworth"s store in Liverpool city centre. Nicholas took the post of resident cinema organist at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall where he plays the magnificent Rushworth and Dreaper organ for Classic Movie nights and noted that he had never missed a night of playing there in over 25 years.
Nicholas has played with or met many of the greats of the cinema organ world.
In 1968 he dueted with Reginald Dixon at a Conn Organ Promotion and played on the same bill as him at a cinema in Glasgow. He appeared with both Reginald Dixon and Charles Smitton at the Odeon Cinema Bolton. Nicholas met Leslie Bourne of Compton organs, the inventor of the Melotone unit found on their instruments.
