Nick Lucas

Dominic Antonio Nicholas Lucanese (August 22, 1897 – July 28, 1982), better known by his stage name Nick Lucas, was an American jazz singer and guitarist. He was the first jazz guitarist to record as a soloist. His popularity during his lifetime came from his reputation as a singer. His signature song was "Tiptoe Through the Tulips".

Background and career

Formative years Lucas was born into an Italian-American family in Newark, New Jersey on August 22, 1897, his parents hailing from Ariano di Puglia, Campania. He had eight siblings, five of whom surpassed their formative years.

His father, Otto, a landscaper and tree surgeon, was illiterate in English, although he was able to speak it; owing to his poor health, the family had relocated to the country—particularly Silver Lake—around 1900. A year subsequent, he tasked his son, Frank, a renowned accordionist, to teach the young Nick, then known as Dominic, a musical instrument. Since he was "too small to comfortably handle a guitar or banjo," the mandolin was deemed to be a suitable alternative for the young boy.

By 1905, Dominic had developed a routine comprising both his academics and musical pursuits, the latter used as a means of assisting his family with respect to income. Consequently, he was unable to receive adequate sleep and thus was prone to sleeping through his classes. Lucas once made an extended eight-month tour of Australia when he was on the road. In the mid-1970s he came to the attention of a new generation, being heard on the soundtracks of a handful of period films, after he was chosen to record the vocal refrains for The Great Gatsby. As of 2026, Nick Lucas has had one of the longest singing careers ever, spanning 69 years.

Personal life Nick Lucas enjoyed a long marriage of 53 years to Catherine Ciffrodella, whom he married on August 22, 1917. They had one daughter, Emily Lucas Bissell (1918–2013) and three grandchildren.

Later years and death Lucas became friends with Tiny Tim, who considered him an inspiration and who borrowed "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" as his own theme song. Most people believe that Tiny Tim was the original singer of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips". Lucas sang the song to him when he married Miss Vicki on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on December 17, 1969. Nick Lucas was interviewed all throughout the 1970s and the early 1980s.

In 1974, his renditions of the songs, "I'm Gonna Charleston Back to Charleston", "When You and I Were Seventeen" and "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue" were featured on the soundtrack of The Great Gatsby (1974), selected by the film's musical director Nelson Riddle.

In 1975, Nick Lucas performed a sold-out show at Mayfair Music Hall in Santa Monica, California. In 1977, he celebrated his 80th birthday. This footage is available on YouTube. In 1980, Lucas rode in the Rose Bowl Parade on his float 'Tiptoe Through the Tulips'. In 1981, Lucas collaborated with Riddle one last time to sing 4 minutes of his best-selling hits. This was one of his last public appearances.

On July 28, 1982, less than a month before his 85th birthday, Nick Lucas died in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from complications of double pneumonia. He was interred with his wife Catherine in the "Shrine of Remembrance" in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Filmography

Film

(voice only)The Day of The LocustJohn SchlesingerParamount - 1975 (voice only)Hearts of the WestHoward ZieffMGM - 1975 (Voice only) (Final film role)

Theatre

Television

The Lawrence Welk ShowABC, 1962-1965

Discography

Albums Encore 1; 1925-19262014Vintage RecordingsNick Lucas–1920's Jazz Vocals and Guitar Encore 2; 1926-19272015Vintage RecordingsNick Lucas–1920's Jazz Vocals and Guitar

Singles Copies Sold

Stayed At No. 1

MacGregor1936You'll Never Get To Heaven—C. P. MacGregor1936Till The Clock Strikes Three—C. P. MacGregor1936The Moon Got In My Eyes—C. P. MacGregor1936A Sailboat In the Moonlight—C. P. MacGregor1936The Dream In My Heart—C. P. MacGregor1936We Can't Go On This Way—C. P. MacGregor1936Strangers In The Dark—C. P. MacGregor1936Tiptoe Thru The Tulips—C. P. MacGregor1936Side by Side—C. P. MacGregor1936Little Old Fashioned Music Box—C. P. MacGregor1936The Miller's Daughter Marianne—C. P. MacGregor1936Tomorrow Is Another Day—C. P. MacGregor1936Gone With The Wind—C. P. MacGregor1936My Cabin of Dreams—C. P. MacGregor1936When I Look at You—C. P. MacGregor1936Pickin' The Guitar—C. P. MacGregor1936Vieni, Vieni—C. P. MacGregor1936You Can't Stop Me from Dreaming—C. P. MacGregor1936In A Little Carolina Town—C. P. MacGregor1936Please Pardon Us We're in Love—C. P. MacGregor1946I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover—C. P. MacGregor1946In A Little Spanish Town—C. P. MacGregor1946Three Little Words—C. P. MacGregor1946Oh, How I Miss You Tonight—C. P. MacGregor1946Always—C. P. MacGregor1946It Looks Like Rain In Cherry Blossom Lane—C. P. MacGregor1946I'll Get By—C. P. MacGregor1946The Song Is Ended—C. P. MacGregor1946Mexicali Rose—C. P. MacGregor1946Painting The Clouds With Sunshine—C. P. MacGregor1946Tangerine—C. P. MacGregor1946The Gay Ranchero—C. P. MacGregor1946Minnie The Mermaid—C. P. MacGregor1946Just Like A Melody From Out of the Sky—C. P. MacGregor1946You Are Everything I Love—C. P. MacGregor1946Among My Souvenirs—C. P. MacGregor1946Charley My Boy—C. P. MacGregor1946Broken Hearted—C. P.