Roger Nichols RIP

ROGER NICHOLS, 66, Grammy-winning engineer and producer, died April 9 after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. Nichols was best known for his work with Steely Dan, collecting three Grammys, including Album of the Year, for his work on the duo's 2000 Two Against Nature. He also received the best engineered recording Grammy for Steely Dan albums Aja (1977) and Gaucho (1981) and their film theme "FM (No Static at All)." His other Grammy came for his work on John Denver’s 1997 All Aboard, named Best Children’s Album. The Oakland-born Nichols grew up in Cucamonga, CA, where he recorded his high school mate Frank Zappa. He first began working with Steely Dan in 1971, when he recorded Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s first demos, engineering their debut album, Can’t Buy a Thrill, as well as their most recent. Everything Must Go. (4/11p)