Liverpool's 'longest standing' resident organist "bring happiness to so many people".
David Nicholas, 87, is well-known for his incredible dedication and passion for theatre and cinema music and of course his organ playing skills. Being the longest serving resident organist at the Liverpool Philharmonic, arriving full time in 1989, Dave said there is "nowhere like it in the world" as it brings joy to many people across the world.
Dave, who believes he is one of the "oldest in the business", performs for the Philharmonic film screenings and has never missed a single show during the 33 years he has been there. But his unique skillset allows him the "unusual" performance of creating theatrical sounds on the classical organ.
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Speaking about his time at the Philharmonic, Dave told the ECHO: It's amazing to be part of. It's the oldest orchestra, it's all very unique. There's nowhere like it in the world."
But it all began when he was a young boy, born opposite the Plaza Cinema in Birkenhead, and learnt the piano. He "fell in love" with the organ around 1947 when he heard recordings from the late Ken Griffin.
He went on to play at the Plaza as well as the Sandon Hotel and other various locations, but it was when he worked in Butlins in 1961 that he really "learned the business". For 11 years, Dave worked as an entertainer and gained much experience through a variety of performances in theatre, cinema, ballrooms and dance festivals as well as church services. It was here he taught himself to "experiment".
He said: "It was amazing, it put me on the map. I did movie news there on a Friday showing events of the week and all those years later I did it here at the Phil, it was wonderful."
But for Dave, he cannot narrow down one single thing he enjoys the most as he said there are "too many to count". With music changing "dramatically" over the years, Dave says he performs many of his songs "from memory" and while at the Philharmonic he likes to mix things up and plays "sing-along tunes" during the film interval.
Dave, who has also worked for Woods of Bolton, the Conn organ dealership, and went to work full-time at the Rushworth's store in Merseyside - which was established in 1828 by William Rushworth. For 21 years, the 87-year-old was the store's organ and piano demonstrator until the late 90's.
It was in the late 80's, everything changed thanks to a chance meeting when Jack Bennett, wife Sally and daughter Myra entered the store. This resulted in an invitation to visit the Philharmonic Hall and a recording of Dave playing the organ was played to David and Myra Pigott - the principle piccolo in the then-orchestra.
His talent was immediately recognised and in 1989, Dave began his performing at the music venue and has never looked back since. For Dave, the organ is his life as he added: "It's everything. It's for life, it keeps me going. But if it wasn't for Jack and Sally coming to the store, none of this would've happened.
Dave has received compliments from people "all over the world" as he says how people tell him his performances bring "so much joy". When he celebrated his milestone 30th anniversary back n 2019, Dave received special attention as many were quick to comment on what his performances mean to them.
From performing "light music" on organs over the years, playing during silent movies such as Alfred Hitchcock's "The Lodger" and performing for the entrance of political faces, Dave said he enjoys bringing joy through theatrical sounds and likes to pop in an odd song "just for fun, to make people smile."
But a "decline" in live music makes him "sad" as he says more people should take notice before it "fades away". However he said audiences "fall in love" while at the live shows and the challenges over the years have been "worth it".
With no plans to stop in the near future, Dave said: "Music has brought me so much joy and I can give that back. I've been involved in it in so many ways."
He added: "I'm in the nostalgia market here with the 30's style building and organ, the heyday of the cinema, so I play from memory and I'll carry on for as long as I can. I never married and was an only child, I have no immediate relatives so this gives me something to look forward to and it's amazing, it really is."
As Dave looks towards the future, he reflected on his incredible career, which also included performing in Frankfurt in 1968 and performing during events across the country, he has - and will - continue to take up opportunities to play the organ, and bring joy, where he can.
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