Red Nichols

Biography

Red Nichols (1905–1965) was a celebrated jazz musician whose cornet playing and imaginative arrangements helped define the hot jazz sound of the 1920s and beyond. Leading his Five Pennies ensemble, he brought playful energy and technical brilliance to the studio and stage, becoming a favorite among fellow artists and audiences.

Throughout decades of changing musical fashions, Nichols remained devoted to his craft, mentoring younger musicians and leaving behind a body of recordings that continue to delight listeners and preserve the spirit of early American jazz.