May 2, 2024

The Roots’ Manager, Rich Nichols, Dead At 55

The Roots‘ manager, Rich Nichols, died on Thursday afternoon after he was taken off of life support in the Philadelphia hospital where he had been for months.

The veteran hip-hop band and driving musical force behind “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” issued this statement to Okayplayer.com:

“The Roots Family are devastated to announce the passing of Richard Nichols, the band’s longtime manager, after a long battle with leukemia. Nichols, 55, a Philadelphia native, managed the band from its inception in 1992, and was instrumental in every aspect of The Roots’ creative, cultural, and professional life over the past two decades. Nichols is survived by his wife, Mercedes Martinez, his sons Amiri Nichols and Rakim Nichols, his sisters Rochelle Nichols-Solomon, Rebecca Dennis, his brothers Russell Nichols and Reginald Nichols, and the many individuals and artists he mentored in his lifetime.”

The news also drew reaction from the band and their musical friends as well.

Mentally been many places, but I’m Brooklyn’s own. Hip-hop gives me life!

@RobMarkman

About the author  ⁄ Rob Markman

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