Ted Nichols
Encyclopedia
Theodore "Ted" Nichols (born October 2, 1928) is a composer
, arranger
, director
and music producer
. As a musician Nichols primarily played saxophone, violin and clarinet. He served as a Professor of Music at Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland Oregon; 1980-84).
In addition to his big band compositions/arrangements, Nichols wrote several operas, including:
Nichols was in-house musical director at Hanna-Barbera Productions, where he arranged theme songs and composed incidental background music used in Hanna-Barbera productions such as Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
, The Flintstones
(during the final seasons), Josie and the Pussycats
, Shazzan
, Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
, The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
, Wacky Races
and The Man Called Flintstone
.
in 1928 to Nicholas Theodore (first generation Greek immigrant) and Josephine Ellen Sflotsos. He was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church and Catholic churches, later becoming Baptist as an adult. The family moved to Spokane, Washington
where he graduated from John R. Rogers High School. He then joined the Navy, where he was trained as an aviation electrician. During specialist training in Jacksonville, Florida
, he played saxophone in the Navy swing band. He was later transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas
, where he founded, directed and played in the base swing band. In 1948, he legally changed his name to Theodore Nichols.
After leaving the Navy, Nichols worked to finish his B.Mus from Baylor University
, later re-enlisting in the Air Force at the commencement of the Korean War
. The Air Force gave him his commission, allowed him to finish his university studies and then eventually sending him to Sampson Air Force Base
in New York where he founded and then became Commanding Officer of the Air Force's band training school, teaming up with musicians from Eastman Conservatory.
, and had three children.
1960s: While working with the bands he also maintained a busy schedule of directing music/worship at local churches in the L.A. area. One of the more famous churches at which he directed music was the 4,000 member Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, during the tenure of famous radio preacher and Bible teacher, J. Vernon McGee. It was while serving in this capacity that he became acquainted with the L.A. artistic community. The large musical productions at the church encouraged a member of his choir, an animator at Hanna-Barbera to introduce Nichols to Bill Hanna, which led to a contract in 1962 as theme music composer for the adventure cartoon Jonny Quest
, and later musical cues and arrangements for The Flintstones
. Hanna-Barbera eventually offered Nichols the full-time position of Musical Director (1963–72).
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, director
Music video director
A music video director is driven by a given music track. These are called music videos and are then used as promotional tools for popular music singles...
and music producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. As a musician Nichols primarily played saxophone, violin and clarinet. He served as a Professor of Music at Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland Oregon; 1980-84).
In addition to his big band compositions/arrangements, Nichols wrote several operas, including:
- Pilgrim's Progress, which premiered in Finnish and English in Helsinki, Finland, 1977
- Esther, written in the 1980s for Southern Seminary, Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, KentuckyLouisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
- Word of Honor, written for the 50th Anniversary of the National Opera Association in New York, 2007
- Rendezvous with Destiny, 2010
Nichols was in-house musical director at Hanna-Barbera Productions, where he arranged theme songs and composed incidental background music used in Hanna-Barbera productions such as Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
Scooby-Doo, Where are You!
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is the first incarnation of the long-running Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo. It premiered on September 13, 1969 at 10:30 a.m. EST and ran for two seasons on CBS as a half-hour long show. Twenty-five episodes were produced...
, The Flintstones
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
(during the final seasons), Josie and the Pussycats
Josie and the Pussycats (TV series)
Josie and the Pussycats is an American animated television series, based upon the Archie Comics comic book series of the same name created by Dan DeCarlo....
, Shazzan
Shazzan
Shazzan is an animated television series, created by Alex Toth and produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in 1967 for CBS. The series follows the adventures of two teenage siblings, Chuck and Nancy, traveling around a mystical Arabian world, mounted on Kaboobie the flying camel...
, Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio
Birdman and the Galaxy Trio is an animated science fiction TV series created by Alex Toth and produced by Hanna-Barbera. It debuted on NBC on September 9, 1967, and ran on Saturday mornings until September 6, 1969...
, The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was a half-hour live-action/animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions on NBC primetime in 1968, based on the famous Mark Twain characters.-Plot:...
, Wacky Races
Wacky Races
Wacky Races is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera. The series features 11 different cars racing against each other in various road rallies throughout North America, with each driver hoping to win the title of the "World's Wackiest Racer." Wacky Races ran on CBS from September...
and The Man Called Flintstone
The Man Called Flintstone
The Man Called Flintstone is a 1966 American animated musical comedy film produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and released by Columbia Pictures. It was the second Hanna-Barbera feature, after Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!...
.
Early years
He was born as Theodore Nicholas Sflotsos in Missoula, MontanaMissoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
in 1928 to Nicholas Theodore (first generation Greek immigrant) and Josephine Ellen Sflotsos. He was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church and Catholic churches, later becoming Baptist as an adult. The family moved to Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
where he graduated from John R. Rogers High School. He then joined the Navy, where he was trained as an aviation electrician. During specialist training in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, he played saxophone in the Navy swing band. He was later transferred to Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, where he founded, directed and played in the base swing band. In 1948, he legally changed his name to Theodore Nichols.
After leaving the Navy, Nichols worked to finish his B.Mus from Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, later re-enlisting in the Air Force at the commencement of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The Air Force gave him his commission, allowed him to finish his university studies and then eventually sending him to Sampson Air Force Base
Sampson Air Force Base
Sampson Air Force Base is a closed United States military facility, last used by the United States Air Force Air Training Command as a Basic Military Training Center. It was closed in 1956 and put into caretaker status....
in New York where he founded and then became Commanding Officer of the Air Force's band training school, teaming up with musicians from Eastman Conservatory.
Marriage
He met Doris Jane Carson (died 2009) in Texas. They married in 1950, during his final year of studies at Baylor UniversityBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, and had three children.
Career
1950s: After the military service, Ted returned to Corpus Christi, and founded and directed the Corpus Christi Youth Symphony. Wanting to work on a doctorate, make contacts to begin orchestrating for films and teach. Initially he taught HS band, then took over the conducting of the band at Santa Ana Junior College. Later he was hired to direct the jazz band and also form/direct the marching band at CalState Los Angeles.1960s: While working with the bands he also maintained a busy schedule of directing music/worship at local churches in the L.A. area. One of the more famous churches at which he directed music was the 4,000 member Church of the Open Door in downtown Los Angeles, during the tenure of famous radio preacher and Bible teacher, J. Vernon McGee. It was while serving in this capacity that he became acquainted with the L.A. artistic community. The large musical productions at the church encouraged a member of his choir, an animator at Hanna-Barbera to introduce Nichols to Bill Hanna, which led to a contract in 1962 as theme music composer for the adventure cartoon Jonny Quest
Jonny Quest (TV series)
Jonny Quest – often casually referred to as The Adventures of Jonny Quest – is an American science fiction/adventure animated television series about a boy who accompanies his father on extraordinary adventures...
, and later musical cues and arrangements for The Flintstones
The Flintstones
The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It...
. Hanna-Barbera eventually offered Nichols the full-time position of Musical Director (1963–72).