Royce Nicholls

Royce Nicholls (aka Nicholas) was a guitarist, bass player, singer and songwriter from Australia.

Nicholls was the bass player for Melbourne band, The Fabulous Blue Jays, who were brought to Brisbane to back singer Tony Worsley.

Whilst there they backed other artists on the Sunshine label including Toni McCann in 1965.

Toni abandoned her solo career and Nicholls departed the Fabulous Blue Jays and they formed a performing and writing duo and released several recordings in the 1960s. During this period, they married.

Toni and Royce toured England, Europe and Japan where they played clubs and lounges and also appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Returning to Australia they recorded ''Fraser Island / Australia Revisited'' in 1971 under the name The Meeples on the M7 label.

Toni and Royce were popular on the club and cabaret scene and toured Queensland Arts Council children’s programs around Australian schools for nine years. They eventually recorded under the name of Toni McRae and Royce Edwards and released three albums.

Sadly, in later years Royce was stricken with multiple sclerosis and eventually had to move into a nursing home and died on 8 Sept 2013.