Stevie Nicks

FHsC...wktn

1 Feb 2024

Stevie Nicks

Stephanie Lynn Nicks, born on May 26, 1948, is renowned as an American singer, songwriter, and producer, celebrated for her contributions to Fleetwood Mac and her successful solo career.

Nicks commenced her musical journey alongside Lindsey Buckingham, her then-boyfriend, forming the duo Buckingham Nicks. Although their album received limited success, Nicks's career flourished when she joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975. With Nicks onboard, Fleetwood Mac became one of the most commercially successful bands in history, selling over 120 million records globally. Their album "Rumours," featuring Nicks prominently, attained 20× platinum certification in the US, becoming one of the best-selling albums worldwide.

In 1981, while still part of Fleetwood Mac, Nicks embarked on her solo career with the release of "Bella Donna," a studio album that soared to the top of the Billboard 200 chart and achieved multiplatinum status. Over the years, Nicks has released eight studio solo albums and contributed to seven studio albums with Fleetwood Mac, collectively selling 65 million certified copies in the US alone.

Acknowledged as the "Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll" by Rolling Stone after her debut solo album, Nicks has been honored as one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters and 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by the same publication. Her iconic songs such as "Landslide," "Rhiannon," "Dreams," and "Edge of Seventeen" have earned her a place in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Nicks holds the distinction of being the first woman inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998 and then as a solo artist in 2019. Throughout her career, she has garnered eight Grammy Award nominations and two American Music Award nominations as a solo artist, along with various accolades with Fleetwood Mac, including a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1978 for "Rumours." Notably, albums like "Fleetwood Mac," "Rumours," and "Bella Donna" have been recognized in the "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums" chart by Billboard. "Rumours" was also acclaimed as the seventh-greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone.

Stevie Nicks, born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, is the daughter of Jess and Barbara Nicks, with roots tracing back to German, English, Welsh, and Irish ancestry.
Nicks's early exposure to music came from her grandfather, Aaron Jess "A.J." Nicks Sr., who taught her to sing duets from a young age. Nicks's mother, protective by nature, nurtured her daughter's love for fairy tales and kept her at home more than usual.
As a toddler, Nicks could only pronounce her name as "tee-dee," which eventually led to her nickname "Stevie."

Her musical influences spanned a variety of genres, from Top 40 R&B to folk and rockabilly. Nicks's father's job led to the family relocating frequently across several cities, exposing her to different musical cultures and experiences. At the age of 16, she received a Goya guitar as a birthday gift, igniting her passion for songwriting.

During her high school years at Arcadia High School in California, Nicks joined her first band, the Changing Times, where she honed her skills in folk rock and vocal harmonies.
It was during her senior year at Menlo-Atherton High School that Nicks met Lindsey Buckingham, her future musical and romantic partner. Their musical connection blossomed as they performed together, eventually leading to Nicks joining Buckingham in his band Fritz.
Nicks and Buckingham attended San José State University, where Nicks initially pursued a major in speech communication with plans to become an English teacher. However, with her father's support, she decided to drop out of college to pursue a career in music alongside Buckingham.

This decision marked the beginning of Nicks's iconic journey in the music industry, where her distinctive voice and songwriting talents would leave an indelible mark on rock and roll history.

After the dissolution of Fritz in 1972, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham continued their musical journey as a duo, recording demo tapes in Daly City, California, using Buckingham's father's tape machine at his coffee-roasting plant. Despite their efforts, their debut album, "Buckingham Nicks," released by Polydor Records in 1973, failed to achieve commercial success, leading to the duo being dropped by the label.

Facing financial struggles and Buckingham falling ill with mononucleosis, Nicks took on multiple jobs, including waiting tables and cleaning producer Keith Olsen's house, where they briefly resided. During this challenging period, Nicks also began using cocaine, initially believing it to be harmless recreation.

While Buckingham toured with the Everly Brothers in 1972, Nicks stayed behind, focusing on songwriting. It was during this time that she penned iconic tracks like "Rhiannon," inspired by a character in a novel, and "Landslide," influenced by her experiences in Aspen and her turbulent relationship with Buckingham.

In late 1974, Mick Fleetwood, drummer of Fleetwood Mac, heard a Buckingham Nicks track and was impressed by Buckingham's guitar work. Following the departure of guitarist Bob Welch, Fleetwood invited Buckingham to join Fleetwood Mac. However, Buckingham insisted that Nicks be included, considering them a package deal. The addition of Nicks and Buckingham to Fleetwood Mac marked a transformative moment for the band, infusing their sound with new harmonies and pop sensibilities.

The incorporation of Nicks and Buckingham revitalized Fleetwood Mac, setting the stage for their monumental success in the years to come and cementing Nicks's place as one of rock's most iconic figures.