Grady Nichols

Grady Nichols first encountered the saxophone in sixth grade and developed an immediate affinity for the instrument. Raised in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, he received lessons from legendary saxophonist Joe Davis during high school. Following his graduation from John Brown University, Nichols settled in Tulsa, where audiences took note of his fusion of jazz and gospel elements. His debut album, Between You and Me, arrived in 1996 as a predominantly live recording, with Mysterious Intentions appearing the next year. Stage appearances and collaborations with the O'Jays, Bill Champlin, Herb Alpert, and Huey Lewis & the News helped refine his technique and establish him among the jazz scene’s emerging talents. In 2001 he issued In the Fullness of Time and soon afterward returned to the studio to complete his fourth album, Sophistication. Beyond land-based engagements, Nichols has performed aboard multiple cruise lines, appeared on the gospel broadcast Hour of Power, and delivered a reinterpretation of the Star Trek theme that drew admiration from William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. He also curates an annual charity concert that has featured acts including the Beach Boys and has played at the World Pulse Festival in Indiana.