Fayard Nicholas passes away

[Matt Deckard]

From Rusty Frank of Rusty's Rhythm Club

---
To all the Friends and Fans of Fayard Nicholas,

Our friend, our legend, our hero, our idol, our humanitarian – Fayard
Nicholas – passed away peacefully at home Tuesday night at 8:30pm,
January 24, 2006. He was surrounded by friends and his loving wife,
Katherine Hopkins Nicholas.

Fayard was brought home from the hospital last week. Countless friends
and family came by to spend time, chat, watch Nicholas Brothers’ clips,
sing, laugh, share stories, and just “be� with one of our favorite
people on the planet earth.

I just got off the phone with Fayard’s son, Tony, and he said to me it
was as though all the great legends of tap dance were calling out to
Fayard, “Hey! Fayard! We can’t start the show up here with out you!�
Harold Nicholas, Gregory Hines, Eleanor Powell, Cholly Atkins, Honi Coles,
Gene Kelly, Paul Kennedy, John Bubbles, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller, Hal
Leroy, Peg Leg Bates… and all of them, they’re all there, and yelling
down to earth… “Fayard! We can’t start the show! You’re putting Heaven
on hold! What are you waiting for? Get up there!�

Tony went on to say, he imagined that once his dad got up there will
all the rest of them, he looked around and said, “My goodness! This is
wonderful! I hope to tell you! Everything is copasetic!�

Tony finished by saying, “Now he’s there and they can start the show!

----------

Fayard's son Tony, Fayard's younger sister Dorothy, and Fayard's wife
Katherine wanted to make sure to let you know that the family can’t
begin to tell you how much it’s all meant. Your support… all of you from
every part of the globe. Every card that you sent, every email that
you sent, every donation that you made, large and small, everything
helped.

I know how it helped. I know that you kept their spirits lifted through
this excruciatingly tyring time. I know that your donations helped get
Katherine and Fayard out of debt. I know that it got them on top of
their bills. I know that it allowed Katherine the release of worrying
about money; she knew that she could do everything possible for her
husband, and she did. Everything humanly possible was done for him.

Once they left the hospital last week, medical expenses were
unbelievable, but your donations made it possible for Katherine to bring her
husband home for his last days. Your donations made it possible for her
and Fayard to get out of the hospital environment, and to be in the peace
of their own apartment.

Be assured that there will be a “Celebration� of Fayard’s life coming
up. I will let you know when I have the details. We can join together
and laugh and shout and sing and dance this man’s praises. I, for one,
will be there with my shoes on!

Now, may I personally thank you all from the bottom of my heart for
what you have done. You have come together as one family, one voice,
helping this beloved man and his wife in their hour of need. You have made
my heart swell.

Thank you.

And now, in our man's words, "Hey now! Everything is copasetic."

Dancingly,
Rusty
http://rustyfrank.com

---------------

Fayard was one of the icons of dance!-- Matt

 

[Trickeration]

Fayard was such a sweet man. Rob and I really enjoyed the times we got to talk with him and his wife. We first met him about 2 years ago. Chester invited us to a rehearsal so I could meet Fayard. I'll never forget watching him sing Chatanooga Choo Choo with Chester's band just as he did with Glenn Miller in Orchestar Wives. Wow! Fayard will be missed by so many. :cry: Trix

 

[scotrace]

The Absolute Best

Fred, Gene, Yada Yada.

The Nicholas brothers could Dance AND swing. They were tops in my book.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Fayard was such a sweet man. Rob and I really enjoyed the times we got to talk with him and his wife. We first met him about 2 years ago. Chester invited us to a rehearsal so I could meet Fayard. I'll never forget watching him sing Chatanooga Choo Choo with Chester's band just as he did with Glenn Miller in Orchestar Wives. Wow! Fayard will be missed by so many. :cry: Trix

Just hung out with Chester last night... really nice man, glad he's back on the floor... His band is one of my favourites.

 

[Wild Root]

Long live him and his brother!

I'll never forget the first time I saw them dance in Sun Valley Serenade! I couldn't believe their dancing! And in Orchestra Wives it was just amazing!!!

I recall going to Camp Hollywood for the first time, I was talking with some one about Glenn Miller movies, and they told me that some one who was in both of them was there that night!!! I just about died when I heard that it was Fayard. My friend pointed him out to me and I made tracks over to his table. I introduced my self and told him that I was so happy to meet such a legend of tap and of the movies I love. He was SO NICE! So open and friendly I couldn't believe it. We sat there talking about his movies and about his work. We sat there talking like old friends. I had my photo taken with him that night and I still have it. I have seen him ever so often since then but, I will never forget meeting him for the first time. He was so nice and funny! That man had life and spunk at his age. I couldn't believe it. He even came to the Green Hotel to see some swing dancing. Only a hand full of people knew who he was. I sat and talked with him and just enjoyed being with some one so famous.

He will be missed, but I know he's happier now where he is. I'm almost going to cry but, I'm happy for him. God bless him and his family.

Long live the Nicholas Brothers!

Fayard is on the bottom left next to his mother.
=WR=