Trivia

Nichols was best known as leader of 'The Five Pennies', which, despite the name, usually featured at least eight instruments. His sidemen included some of the best white jazz musicians of the 20's and 30's, including Joe Venuti, Miff Mole, Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden, Gene Krupa and Glenn Miller.

Was much influenced by Bix Beiderbeck.

His career was resuscitated -- long after the big band era had run its course -- due to a sentimental biopic based on his life, The Five Pennies (1959), starring Danny Kay. Afterwards, Nichols continued to lead 'The Five Pennies' on overseas tours and at prestige venues across the United States.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1986.

Taught by his father, he started playing bugle at four, cornet at twelve. He was featured in his father's brass band before enrolling at Culver Military Academy on a scholarship in 1919.

Was one of the busiest recording artists of his time, literally recording hundreds of tracks for Brunswick, Okeh, Decca, Vocalion, Capitol, Bluebird and Victor.

Worked for many band leaders during the 1920's, including Harry Reser, Don Vorhees, Paul Whiteman, Vincent Lopez, Benny Krueger and Henry Halstead.

Featured at New York's Famous Door in 1940.

Fronted his first band in New York City in 1922 (the Royal Palms Orchestra), but did not lead a full-sized dance orchestra until ten years later, which gained substantial exposure through national radio broadcasts ("The Bob Hope Show", "The Kellogg Show", etc.).

Jazz cornet player and leader of Red Nichols and His Five Pennies.

Left music briefly during World War II for defense work at navy shipyards.

In 711 Ocean Drive (1950), set in Los Angeles, a street shot happens to include a cocktail lounge with a small sign reading "Red Nichols and His 5 Pennies".