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Carpenters Hitmaker Dead at 84! You Won’t Believe How He Died!

BBG News

We’ve Only Just Begun composer Roger Nichols has died aged 84. 

I sadly report that the gifted multi-instrumentalist who contributed significantly to the success of the Carpenters’ most iconic songs took his final peaceful breath at home on May 17th. The reason behind his passing remains undisclosed as of now.

On Instagram, Paul Williams, his longtime songwriting partner, announced the news on Thursday. In his post, he wrote: “The first tune Roger Nichols and I created was titled ‘It’s hard to say goodbye…’ Regrettably, we had struck a poignant chord.

Four days ago, Roger Nichols passed away peacefully, surrounded by his cherished family – his beloved wife Terry, as well as his two daughters, Claire and Caitlin, who filled him with such pride. These family members represented the fulfillment of his deepest dreams, bringing him immeasurable joy.

In collaboration, they composed both the melodies and the words for numerous well-known Carpenters songs, such as “Rainy Days and Mondays” and “I Won’t Last a Day Without You.

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Notable artists such as Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Petula Clark, and The Monkees have covered their tunes.

‘My mother, Terri, along with my sisters Caroline and Caitlin, are all incredibly proud of the man he was and amazed by the impactful legacy he has left behind.’

As the news spread, an outpouring of tributes came from fans, one of them expressed: ‘Rainy days and Mondays, we’ve only just begun, I won’t last a day without you… Your collaboration made its indelible impression, enduring forever.’

‘Just like you and other men, you possess a unique circumstance in human life – immortality through art. Every time one of your songs plays, you seem to come back to life in some way. It’s said that all souls live forever… Love and gratitude.’

‘My sympathies! Roger, I felt never got all the recognition for his work as he should’ve. 

It seems as though there are numerous talented songwriters who remain relatively unknown, as their compositions are often sung by more famous musicians and groups.

I frequently find myself smiling at multiple records bearing the names ‘Roger Nichols & Paul Williams’. My thoughts and prayers go out to Roger and those close to him.

I wasn’t hoping for this news as it’s the start of my day. For quite some time, I’ve admired Roger as a brilliant mind, and the duo you mention as among the most exceptional songwriting pairs… full stop.

Rediscovering an untouched Roger Nichols-Paul Williams masterpiece is truly a delightful surprise.

They found: ‘Eternally grateful to you both, and farewell to Roger. It’s an honor to be part of the select group of friends who truly appreciated everything he contributed to the world.’

One of Roger’s most famous compositions, “We’ve Only Just Begun,” initially served as a catchy tune for a Crocker National Bank advertisement.

Roger and Paul were tasked to create it following a bank executive appreciating Roger’s music album. Remarkably, they managed to complete it within just a few hours right before the submission deadline.

When Richard Carpenter, aged 78, heard the catchy tune on TV, he thought it had great commercial appeal. So, he reached out to Paul and inquired if he possessed the full version of the song.

As a devoted admirer, I initially lacked a comprehensive rendition, but swiftly expanded upon it. Notably, The Carpenters later recorded this modified piece, which achieved tremendous success towards the end of 1970.

The hit was nominated for the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Contemporary Song.

The musical team known as the Carpenters consisted of brother and sister, with Karen Carpenter serving as the lead vocalist. Unfortunately, Karen passed away in February 1983 at only 32 years old.

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2025-05-23 14:05

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