Billy Nichols

William Lee Nichols (April 30, 1940 – November 30, 2025) was an American guitarist and soul songwriter from Carrollton, Mississippi. He was the writer of "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)", a number two Billboard Hot 100 hit for the funk group B. T. Express in 1974.

Early life Nichols was one of nine children born to Laura Bell and Tom Sanders. Sanders was a farmer who played blues guitar in his spare time. Inspired by his father and blues musicians he heard on the radio, Nichols taught himself guitar.

Aged 14, Nichols' family moved to Springfield, Massachusetts, where Nichols played with various bands including a gospel group named The Bells of Harmony.

In 1963, Nichols joined Jimmy Vick and The Victors and recorded a single. The group was mentioned in Billboard and got some local radio airplay but by November, the group broke up.

Career In 1964, Nichols moved to Detroit and stayed with his uncle. He was hired by Motown Records where his first job was playing with Martha and the Vandellas. Nichols was also in the Motown Road Band led by Choker Campbell. In 1965 he became the musical director for Marvin Gaye.

Nichols first break as a songwriter came in 1966 when Billy Stewart took Nichols to the Chess Records in Chicago to record his song "To Love, to Love".

Rappers such as Will Smith, Beanie Sigel, EPMD, Master P, Ice Cube, P. Diddy, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Dr. Dre, and De La Soul have sampled Nichols' music. A sample of his song "Do It", heard in the song entitled "Addictive" performed by recording artist Truth Hurts, won him two BMI awards for most urban airplay for the year 2002.

Discography Shake A Leg (Sue, 1969) Treat Your Neighbor (Mercury 1970) Give Your Body up to the Music (West End Records, 1979) Diamond Ring (West End Records 1979) Whip Your Body (Whip It, Whip It, Whip It) (Boss Records) Love Stuff (Boss Records, 2003) One Day (At a Time) (Boss Records, 2014)

As sideman With Bernard Purdie Purdie Good! (Prestige, 1971) Stand By Me (Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get) (Mega, 1971) Shaft (Prestige, 1971) Soul Is... Pretty Purdie (Flying Dutchman, 1972)