R.I.P.: Roger Nichols, Songwriter Penned Hits For The Carpenters

Roger Nichols (1941-2025)

Roger Nichols, the songwriter behind the Carpenters’ iconic hit “We’ve Only Just Begun” and other classics, passed away at 84 on May 17, 2025. His longtime collaborator, Paul Williams, announced the news on social media, noting Nichols died peacefully at home with his wife, Terry, and daughters, Claire and Caitlin, by his side. No cause of death was specified.

The LATimes reports Williams reflected on their partnership, saying, “Our first song was ‘It’s hard to say goodbye,’ and sadly, that rings true. Roger was as disciplined as he was gifted. His melodies carried such emotion that my lyrics flowed effortlessly from them. He made it easy.”

A Montana native, Nichols released his debut solo album, Roger Nichols & the Small Circle of Friends, in 1968 on A&M Records. Now a cult classic in California pop-rock, it featured contributions from Randy Newman, Van Dyke Parks, and Lenny Waronker. Nichols’ breakthrough came with a poignant jingle for Crocker-Citizens National Bank, which caught the ear of Richard Carpenter. 

This led to Nichols and Williams extending the jingle into “We’ve Only Just Begun,” a 1970 Carpenters hit that earned a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year.

Nichols, with Williams and others, penned Carpenters staples like “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” “Let Me Be the One,” and “I Kept on Loving You.” His songwriting also reached artists like the Monkees, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Petula Clark, and Art Garfunkel.

Claire Nichols, in a comment on Williams’ post, wrote, “My mom, Terri, and sisters, Caroline and Caitlin, are incredibly proud of who he was and the legacy he leaves behind.”