Sad news in the world of entertainment... the great Fayard Nicholas has finally lost his battle. After suffering a big stroke, he has been in rocky shape for the last few months, and he finally slipped away last evening. This is a huge loss for the entertainment world, as Fayard and his brother Harold were a one of a kind act, the likes of which we will never see again. They were some of the best. The loss of Fayard is a huge one, and it is truly the end of an era. News had been that he was doing a bit better... but, things can change so suddenly with this sort of situation. He was sent home from the hospital the other day, and we worried that that might be a bad sign. It was. He has been sent home those few days ago, to peacefully live out his last few days. We (the family and I) just watched several of their (Nicholas Brothers) films the other evening... *sigh*... Truly a sad, sad happening.
You will always be in our hearts, Fayard. RIP.
Love you!
--Becca
Fayard and Rusty Frank...
Rusty Frank's Fayard website (check it out!):
http://rustyfrank.com/fayardnicholas.htm
A video clip of Fayard and Harold and one of their incredible routines (Check this out--please! These guys were mind-blowingly good!):
http://maxwelldemille.com/fayard-media.asp
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The official word (from the Rusty Frank mailing list... check her website for more...):
To all the Friends and Fans of Fayard Nicholas,
Our friend, our legend, our hero, our idol, our humanitarian * Fayard
Nicholas * passed away peacefully at home tonight at 8:30pm, January 24,
2006. He was surrounded by friends and his loving wife, Katherine Hopkins
Nicholas.
Fayard was brought home from the hospital last week. Countless friends
and family came by to spend time, chat, watch Nicholas Brothers’ clips,
sing, laugh, share stories, and just “be” with one of our favorite people
on the planet earth.
I just got off the phone with Fayard’s son, Tony, and he said to me it was
as though all the great legends of tap dance were calling out to Fayard,
“Hey! Fayard! We can’t start the show up here with out you!” Harold
Nicholas, Gregory Hines, Eleanor Powell, Cholly Atkins, Honi Coles, Gene
Kelly, Paul Kennedy, John Bubbles, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller, Hal Leroy,
Peg Leg Bates… and all of them, they’re all there, and yelling down to
earth… “Fayard! We can’t start the show! You’re putting Heaven on
hold! What are you waiting for? Get up there!”
Tony went on to say, he imagined that once his dad got up there will all
the rest of them, he looked around and said, “My goodness! This is
wonderful! I hope to tell you! Everything is copasetic!”
Tony finished by saying, “Now he’s there and they can start the show!
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Fayard's son Tony, Fayard's younger sister Dorothy, and Fayard's
wife Katherine wanted to make sure to let you know that the family can’t
begin to tell you how much it’s all meant. Your support… all of you from
every part of the globe. Every card that you sent, every email that you
sent, every donation that you made, large and small, everything helped.
I know how it helped. I know that you kept their spirits lifted through
this excruciatingly tyring time. I know that your donations helped get
Katherine and Fayard out of debt. I know that it got them on top of their
bills. I know that it allowed Katherine the release of worrying about
money; she knew that she could do everything possible for her husband, and
she did. Everything humanly possible was done for him.
Once they left the hospital last week, medical expenses were unbelievable,
but your donations made it possible for Katherine to bring her husband
home for his last days. Your donations made it possible for her and
Fayard to get out of the hospital environment, and to be in the peace of
their own apartment.
Be assured that there will be a “Celebration” of Fayard’s life coming
up. I will let you know when I have the details. We can join together
and laugh and shout and sing and dance this man’s praises. I, for one,
will be there with my shoes on!
Now, may I personally thank you all from the bottom of my heart for what
you have done. You have come together as one family, one voice, helping
this beloved man and his wife in their hour of need. You have made my
heart swell.
Thank you.
And now, in our man's words, "Hey now! Everything is copasetic."
Dancingly,
Rusty
http://rustyfrank.com
P.S. Yes, I will keep the fund open for a bit longer, if you would still
like to make a contribution towards the outstanding hospital bills and
some cushion for Katherine’s future, while she gets back on her feet in
these weeks and months to come.
....
And, another obit story, from the AP:
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/...C-RSSFeeds0312
RIP Fayard Nicholas...
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