Nick Lucas, known as the "crooning Troubadour" of the "Roaring Twenties", was an influential singer and guitarist. Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1897 as Dominic Nicholas Anthony Lucanese, Nick learned to play the guitar, mandolin, and banjo at an early age. He and his brother Frank would play at Italian weddings and christenings, on street corners, and in saloons.
Nick became a popular recording artist, renowned for his beautiful singing and exceptional guitar playing. He made the first solo jazz guitar record for Pathe in 1922, writing original compositions "Picking the Guitar" and "Teasin' the Frets". These songs paved the way for future generations of guitarists.
In 1922, Nick introduced the song "Yes, We Have No Bananas" while playing with the Russo-Fiorito Orchestra at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Fellow guitarist Eddie Lang often praised Nick's fast runs and graceful playing.
In 1923, Nick approached Gibson Company to create a custom guitar that would project and provide a balanced sound for his vocalizations. This guitar, known as the Nick Lucas Special, was the first custom-made signature guitar. Gibson continued to produce this model from 1927 to 1940, with Delta blues great Charley Patton also playing a Nick Lucas model.
Nick's 1926 tour of Europe set records at the London Palladium and the Cafe de Paris. He never performed again in Britain.
When Nick appeared in the 1929 film Gold Diggers of Broadway, he introduced two songs, "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine" and "Tiptoe Through the Tulips", with the latter becoming his only number one hit, selling over 2 million records.
Nick continued to perform and record throughout his career, appearing on radio shows, playing at the El Captain Theater, and on television shows such as the Ed Sullivan show. He appeared in the 1974 film The Great Gatsby, singing three songs.
Nick Lucas died in Newark, New Jersey on July 28, 1982, leaving behind a legacy that influenced many musicians, including Joe Pass, Merle Travis, Bing Crosby, and Eddie Dean.
