
Jess Nicks is the late father of Stephanie Lynn Nicks popularly known as Stevie Nicks. Jess’ daughter Stevie is a successful singer, songwriter, and producer. She has enjoyed success both as a member of the band, Fleetwood Mac and as a solo artist. She was named one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time and one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone. As a solo artist, she has won eight Grammy Award nominations and two American Music Award nominations.
Jess Nicks: Bio Summary
Name | Jess Nicks |
Famous as | father of Stevie Nicks |
Date of birth | 2 July 1925 |
Place of birth | Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA |
Died | 10 Aug 2005 (aged 80) |
Nationality | American |
Spouse | Barbara Nicks |
Children | Stevie Nicks and Chris Nicks |
Parents | Aaron Jesse Nicks and Effie Myrtle Cox |
Who Was Stevie Nicks’ Father, Jess Nicks?
Jess Nicks also known as Aaron Jess Seth Nicks Jr. was born on 2 July 1925, in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA to Aaron Jesse Nicks and Effie Myrtle Cox. He is not the only child of his parents. He is the brother of Johnathon William Nicks and Gene Rogers Nicks. In 1943, Jess graduated from high school.
Jess Nicks joined the Navy and served as a Chief Warrant Officer, according to a source. In July 1947, he met Barbara Nicks, the woman who would become his wife. Barbara became Jess’ wife in August 1947. Their union produced two children, Stephanie Lynn Nicks, also known as Stevie Nicks, and Christopher “Chris” Nicks.
Jess Nicks and Barbara Nicks’ daughter Stevie Nicks became a singer and songwriter. Jess’s father taught Stevie to sing duets with him by the time she was at the age of four. When Stevie was a child, she could not pronounce her name ‘Stephanie’. Instead of Stephanie, she would say ‘Tee-Dee’. This led to her nickname “Stevie”.
“I could not pronounce the word ‘Stephanie’ when I was little,” Stevie Nicks said. “My pronunciation of it came out ‘Tee-Dee,’ which turned into Stevie.” Meanwhile, Jess Nicks became president of Armour-Dial and executive vice president of Greyhound. He later became a music promoter after his daughter gained success as a singer.
Jess Nicks’ work made him and his wife and children move around a lot. His frequent relocation as a vice president of Greyhound led the family to live in Phoenix, Albuquerque, El Paso, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Jess shared a great bond with his wife Barbara Nicks and his two children, Stevie Nicks and Chris Nicks.
With a little help from his daughter and her friends, Jess became an occasional concert promoter, booking Fleetwood Mac into the Phoenix Civil Plaza for a 1975 fund-raiser, and two years later for an encore at the University of Arizona. He built Compton Terrace. He booked stars including Kenny Rogers, Willy Nelson and, Fleetwood Mac, his daughter Stevie’s band.
Jess sold his concert venue and land in the late 1990s back to the Indians, who he originally purchased it from in the early 1980’s. He was active in the Arizona chapter of the American Heart Association, serving as a director and at one point, as chairman of the board. He organized special events for the group, including an annual charity gold tournament, held at Camelback Country Club.
ALSO, READ: Barbara Nicks: What Happened To Stevie Nicks’ Mother?
Jess Nicks and his daughter Stevie Nicks worked to raise funds for the Arizona Heart Foundation. He served on the board of directors for The Arizona Heart Institute for several years and was very passionate and instrumental in getting the Arizona Heart Hospital built. He was a driving force in seeing the culmination of the Arizona Heart Institute Research and Development building funded.
After living in various cities across the country, Jess and his wife Barbara settled in Paradise Valley in the 1970s. The couple remained married until Jess Nicks passed away. Barbara was involved in philanthropy work with such charities as St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, The City of Hope, Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Salvation Army.
How Did Stevie Nicks’ Father Die?
Jess Nicks died on 10 August 2005, at age 80, in Scottsdale, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. He died of heart failure. He had suffered from heart disease since 1974, undergoing three open-heart operations, sources say. After his death, his daughter Stevie Nicks revealed in a statement: “My father died today at 3:06pm. He was a force of nature. He waited until the Fleetwood Mac Tour was over~ I asked him for that.”
“He waited until this summer tour was over~ I asked him for that. He couldn’t leave us during a tour~ he knew that. The last show was Saturday in Vegas. I got here to Phoenix Sunday night. It is Wednesday night. He waited for me. So now I can cry. I can go to his ocean house with him. His dream house on the water. The porch that he loved.”
“And wanted to build here. A place to watch the sunset. And have a little vodka. A couch to take a nap on. While he watched the sun go down. He did it all, this man of character. He rocked big companies in big business, and he rocked big bands at his venue at Compton Terrace. He was a major player in both realms.”
“In my father’s painting. The house by the sea. In the dream house. By the water. Go my father and me.” Jess Nicks’ wife Barbara Nicks, died in Paradise Valley, Ariz., on 29 December 2011, following a battle with pneumonia. She was 84.
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