Legendary Carpenters composer dies aged 84 as tributes pour in for the We've Only Just Begun hitmaker

Daily Mail ^ | 23 May 2025 | By JESSICA JANES

[Ezekiel]

We've Only Just Begun composer Roger Nichols has died aged 84.

The multi-instrumentalist behind the Carpenters' biggest hit passed away peacefully at his home on May 17, but no cause of death has been given.

His songwriting partner Paul Williams, 84, confirmed the news on Instagram on Thursday, writing: 'The first song, Roger Nichols and I wrote was called "It’s hard to say goodbye…" Sadly, we hit the nail on the head.

>>>

One of Roger's best-known creations We've Only Just Begun, was originally a jingle for a Crocker National Bank commercial.

Roger and Paul were commissioned to write it after a bank executive heard Roger's album, and it was composed in a matter of hours on the last day before the deadline.

Richard Carpenter, 78, heard the jingle on TV and believed it had hit potential, so he approached Paul and asked him if he had a complete version of the track.

[shaggy eel]

,,, Roger Nichols was engineer on the production of Steely Dan’s “Aja” and “Gaucho” albums. Absolute art.

[angelrod]

Sorry to hear!

[Fledermaus]

But not big Enos.

[newfreep]

Roger Nichols, the long time engineer for Steely Dan, died in 2011.

Roger Nichols, the songwriter, is a different dude.

[shaggy eel]

,,, whoa!! I got that wrong - thanks.

[newfreep]

Roger Nichols was the chief engineer for all of the SD albums.

Interesting Wiki page..and why his nickname was “The Immortal”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Nichols_(recording_engineer)

An excerpt:
Nichols and some friends created their own recording studio, Quantum Studios, in Torrance, California in 1965. The facility originally was a four-car garage; it was converted into a four-track studio to record high school bands.

A hi-fi supply store, created as a side business by Nichols and his partners, brought in clients and contacts that led to recording commercials, with future stars Karen Carpenter and Larry Carlton performing on some of the spots;