Dan Nichols

Daniel Nichols (born 1969) is an American Jewish rock musician and founder of the band, E18hteen.

Not to be confused with Kari Swenson's kidnapper who was captured in 1984 and released on parole in 1991.

Dan Nichols
Dan Nichols at a Shabbat gathering for Rodef Sholom where he is artist-in-residence.
Background information
Genres	Jewish rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, piano, keyboards, guitar
Labels	CD Baby
Associated acts	Dan Nichols & E18hteen
Website	www.dannicholsmusic.com

Biography

Dan Nichols was born in 1969 in Indiana. He attended Pike Township Schools in Indianapolis.[1] He and his parents converted to Judaism when he was 7, after his mother "went on a quest for spirituality".[2] He attended Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation and camped at Goldman Union in Zionsville, Indiana.[1] He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife Elysha and daughter Ava.[3] Nichols is an alum of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received a bachelor's degree in music in 1992.

Music career

Dan Nichols and Eighteen live at the Osher Marin JCC. October 2010.

In 1994, while living in Nashville, Tennessee, Nichols met Mason Cooper and created the band, Eighteen, performing rock music with Jewish themes and Hebrew prayers.[4] Prior to Eighteen, Nichols was a member of the band Olskies.[5] Nichols previously worked as a cantorial soloist at Congregation Micah in Brentwood, Tennessee,[3][6] and also has a background in opera.[7] Nichols performs at synagogues, Hillels, Jewish Community Centers and Jewish youth camps nationwide.[8] His work has been recognized by the Union for Reform Judaism and NFTY who have featured him as an artist at Biennials and Conventions,[9] and included his music on their Ruach compilation albums and songbooks.[10] Since 2001, Nichols has been a faculty member of the annual songleading conference, Hava Nashira in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. In 2006, NFTY awarded Nichols its highest honor, Lifetime Membership, in recognition of his years of commitment and outstanding contribution to Reform Jewish youth.[11] In 2008, Nichols and Eighteen performed a live concert for Sirius XM's Radio Hanukkah Jewish Stars concert series,[12] and a concert at Masada for Israel's 60th anniversary.[13] Dan Nichols has also been Rodef Sholom's artist in residence since 2008.[14] Nichols is the subject of the 2013 documentary film Road to Eden: Rock & Roll Sukkot which follows Dan and his band Eighteen as they travelled in an RV across the American South during the holiday of Sukkot.[15] In 2015, Dan released an album of acoustic music on an album called Beautiful and Broken with guest artist Elana Arian. His newest album, I Believe was released in August 2016. I Believe features cover art designed by Sarah Edelstein.

Discography

• Life (1996)[4]
• The Day After Tomorrow (1997)[3]
• Be Strong (2001)[5]
• Kol HaShabbat (2002)
• My Heart is in the East (2004)
• The Roots (2008)
• To the Mountains (2009)
• The Sound of What Cannot Be Seen (2012)
• Road to Eden Soundtrack (2014)
• Beautiful & Broken (2015)
• I Believe (2016)
• I Will Not Fear (2019)
• One Who Will Struggle: Music for Prayer (2020)

Compilations

Greatest Hits

• 18 on 18 (2010)

NFTY Compilations

• "L'takein (The Na Na Song)" appears on Ruach 5761[10]
• "Pitchu Li" and "Kehillah Kedoshah" appear on Ruach 5763[10]
• "My Heart is in the East" appears on Ruach 5765[16]
• "Hashkiveinu" and "LeDor VaDor" appear on Ruach 5767[17]
• "Or Chadash" and "Esai Einei" appear on Ruach 5769
• "Sweet as Honey" and "Hoshiah" appear on Ruach 5771
• "All this Rain" and "Mayim" appear on Ruach 5773
• "Eternity Utters a Day" appears on Ruach 5775

Celebrate Series

• "Kumi Lach" appears on Celebrate Jewish Love Songs

Collaborations

• The Remix - EP with Alan Goodis (2015)
• So is Life! - Boxt, Dreskin, Nelson & Nichols (2016)

References

1. Cebula, Judith, "Band has Rock Message for Jews Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine", The Indianapolis Star February 20, 1999
2. Daniels, Cynthia (August 28, 2004). "Teenagers Get Down With Jewish Rock". Los Angeles Times.
3. Snider, Keith, "Soul Music Archived 2009-07-04 at the Wayback Machine", Nashville Banner, January 27, 1998
4. Cohen, Don "Lucky Number Archived 2009-07-04 at the Wayback Machine", Jewish South, Atlanta Jewish Times, Jewish Renaissance Media, October 2003
5. Fenske, Sarah, "Kosher Jam", The Cleveland Scene, November 6, 2002
6. Walen, Drew, "Jew Rock Man! Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine", Nashville City Paper, October 26, 2001
7. Daniels, Cynthia (2004-08-28). "Beliefs; Teenagers Get Down With Jewish Rock". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
8. Granieri, Laurie, "Instrument of God Archived 2011-07-13 at the Wayback Machine",Home News Tribune, New Jersey, September 10, 2006
9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2010-06-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
10. Eglash, Joel N., Ruach 5761 & 5763 songbook, URJ Press, 2003, page 4
11. "http://www.nfty.org/about/awards/lifemembership/ Archived 2011-05-16 at the Wayback Machine"
12. "SIRIUS XM to Launch the Nationwide Hanukkah Channel Featuring Prominent Jewish Leaders, Entertainers and Artists Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine" December 19, 2008
13. Goodman, Jessica, "Reflections On An Amazing NFTY Summer Experience Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine"
14. Dan Nichols, Our Artist-in-residence is back this year. Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine Congregation Rodef Sholom, 2009
15. Road to Eden: Rock & Roll Sukkot on IMDb
16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2010-06-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-06-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)