Dominic Antonio Nicholas Lucanese (August 22, 1897 – July 28, 1982), better known by his stage name Nick Lucas, was an American jazz singer and guitarist. He was the first jazz guitarist to record as a soloist. His popularity during his lifetime came from his reputation as a singer. His signature song was "Tiptoe Through the Tulips".
Background and career
Formative years Lucas was born into an Italian-American family in Newark, New Jersey on August 22, 1897, his parents hailing from Ariano di Puglia, Campania. He had eight siblings, five of whom surpassed their formative years.
His father, Otto, a landscaper and tree surgeon, was illiterate in English, although he was able to speak it; owing to his poor health, the family had relocated to the country—particularly Silver Lake—around 1900. A year subsequent, he tasked his son, Frank, a renowned accordionist, to teach the young Nick, then known as Dominic, a musical instrument. Since he was "too small to comfortably handle a guitar or banjo," the mandolin was deemed to be a suitable alternative for the young boy.
By 1905, Dominic had developed a routine comprising both his academics and musical pursuits, the latter used as a means of assisting his family with respect to income. Consequently, he was unable to receive adequate sleep and thus was prone to sleeping through his classes.
In 1913, upon graduating from grammar school, he was presented with a choice from his father concerning whether he would opt for continuing his education or apprenticing; he chose the latter. Given his youth and musical aptitude, his coworkers would find it questionable as to why he was laboring among them.
Upon the commencement of his relationship with his future wife, Catherine Ciffrodella, he decided that it would be best for him to resign and capitalize upon his talent and passion. He henceforth had begun performing at local cafes, during which he adopted his reputed stage name: Nick Lucas.
Recording career In 1912, at the age of fifteen, Lucas delivered his inaugural record performance, in particular for Thomas Edison's phonograph company. He retrospectively described the inventor as a "very nice man who was genuinely interested in the proper recording of string instruments."
In 1922, at the age of 25, he gained renown with his hit renditions of "Pickin' the Guitar" and "Teasin' the Frets" for Pathé. In 1923, Gibson Guitars proposed to build him a concert guitar with a deeper body. Known as the "Nick Lucas Special," it became a popular model with guitarists such as Bob Dylan. It was this guitar's outline that was later used as the basis for the Gibson Les Paul solid body electric guitar. Also in 1923, he began recording for Brunswick and remained one of their exclusive artists until 1932.
In 1929, Lucas co-starred in the Warner Bros. two-color Technicolor musical, Gold Diggers of Broadway, in which he introduced the two hit songs "Painting the Clouds with Sunshine" and "Tiptoe Through the Tulips", which survives in a fully synchronized and preserved Vitaphone disc. The same year, Lucas was featured in the studio's all-star revue, The Show of Shows. Lucas turned down Warner Bros. seven-year contract offer, which went instead to fellow crooner Dick Powell.
In April 1930, Warner bought Brunswick and gave him his own orchestra, billed on his records as "The Crooning Troubadours". This arrangement lasted until December 1931, when Warner licensed Brunswick to the American Record Corporation (ARC). The new owners were not as extravagant as Warner Bros. had previously been and Lucas lost his orchestra and eventually left Brunswick in 1932. He made two recordings for Durium in 1932 for their Hit of the Week series. These would prove to be his last major recordings.
Lucas spent the rest of his career performing on radio, in night clubs and dance halls. He made a number of recordings for small or independent labels, including Cavalier, where he was billed as the "Cavalier Troubadour." In 1944, he reprised some of his old hits in soundies movie musicals and filmed another group of songs for Snader Telescriptions in 1951, including his hit of "Walkin' My Baby Back Home".
He signed with Accent in 1955 and remained with the label for 25 years. Lucas once made an extended eight-month tour of Australia when he was on the road. In the mid-1970s he came to the attention of a new generation, being heard on the soundtracks of a handful of period films, after he was chosen to record the vocal refrains for The Great Gatsby. As of 2026, Nick Lucas has had one of the longest singing careers ever, spanning 69 years.
Personal life Nick Lucas enjoyed a long marriage of 53 years to Catherine Ciffrodella, whom he married on August 22, 1917. They had one daughter, Emily Lucas Bissell (1918–2013) and three grandchildren.
Later years and death Lucas became friends with Tiny Tim, who considered him an inspiration and who borrowed "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" as his own theme song. Most people believe that Tiny Tim was the original singer of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips". Lucas sang the song to him when he married Miss Vicki on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on December 17, 1969. Nick Lucas was interviewed all throughout the 1970s and the early 1980s.
In 1974, his renditions of the songs, "I'm Gonna Charleston Back to Charleston", "When You and I Were Seventeen" and "Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue" were featured on the soundtrack of The Great Gatsby (1974), selected by the film's musical director Nelson Riddle.
In 1975, Nick Lucas performed a sold-out show at Mayfair Music Hall in Santa Monica, California. In 1977, he celebrated his 80th birthday. This footage is available on YouTube. In 1980, Lucas rode in the Rose Bowl Parade on his float 'Tiptoe Through the Tulips'. In 1981, Lucas collaborated with Riddle one last time to sing 4 minutes of his best-selling hits. This was one of his last public appearances.
On July 28, 1982, less than a month before his 85th birthday, Nick Lucas died in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from complications of double pneumonia. He was interred with his wife Catherine in the "Shrine of Remembrance" in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Filmography
Film
TitleDirectorYear and CompanyGold Diggers of BroadwayRoy Del RuthWarner Bros. 1929The Show of ShowsJohn G. AdolfiWarner Bros. 1929Nick Lucas SongVitaphone - 1929Organloguing the Hits With Nick LucasMaster Art Products - 1931Home AgainMaster Art Products - 1933On the Air and OffUniversal - 1933What This Country NeedsVitaphone - 1934Nick Lucas and His TroubadoursJoseph HenaberyVitaphone - 1936Vitaphone HeadlinersVitaphone - 1936Yankee Doodle HomeArthur DreifussColumbia - 1939Congamania (Nick sings "In a Little Spanish Town")Larry CaballosUniversal - 1940Goodnight, Wherever You AreSoundies - 1944An Hour Never PassesSoundies - 1944Tiptoe Through the Tulips With MeSoundies - 1944Side By SideSoundies - 1944Big Time RevueWarner Bros. - 1947Disc JockeyWill JasonAllied Artists - 1951I'm Looking at The World Thru Rose Colored GlassesSnader - 1951I Love the Sunshine of your SmileSnader - 1951Get Out Those Old RecordsSnader - 1951Mexicali RoseSnader - 1951Marie, Ah, MarieSnader - 1951Bela BimbaSnader - 1951Walkin' My Baby Back HomeSnader - 1951The Great GatsbyJack ClaytonParamount - 1974 (voice only)The Day of The LocustJohn SchlesingerParamount - 1975 (voice only)Hearts of the WestHoward ZieffMGM - 1975 (Voice only) (Final film role)
Theatre
Sweetheart Time1926Show Girl1929Blackouts Of 19491949
Television
The Lawrence Welk ShowABC, 1962-1965
Discography
Albums +Studio AlbumsTitleYearLabelTiptoe Thru The Tulips With Nick Lucas 1953CavalierTiptoe Thru The Tulips With Nick Lucas - Extended Version1957CavalierPainting The Clouds With Sunshine1957Decca"The Nick Lucas" Souvenir Album1968AccentRose Colored Glasses1969AccentAn Evening With Nick Lucas1982Take Two The Singing Troubadour1983ASV/Living Era +Compilation AlbumsTitleYearLabelTiptoe Thru The Tulips2000ASV/Living EraPainting The Clouds With Sunshine2001SoundiesThe Crooning Troubadour2002Crystal Stream AudioSouvenir Album2006Melody ManFirst and Last Accents2007Melody ManSinging Troubadour2010HallmarkNick Lucas #12011M. C. ProductionsNick Lucas #22011M. C. ProductionsNick Lucas–1920's Jazz Vocals and Guitar Encore 1; 1925-19262014Vintage RecordingsNick Lucas–1920's Jazz Vocals and Guitar Encore 2; 1926-19272015Vintage RecordingsNick Lucas–1920's Jazz Vocals and Guitar Encore 3; 1928-19322015Vintage RecordingsThe Singing Troubadour2015Vintage MusicLooking Over A Four-Leaf Clover2016Emerald EchoesGolden Song Spotlight2018Melody ManPresenting Nick Lucas2022Universal Digital EnterprisesPicking The Guitar2024TransatlanticaAt His Best2025E. N. Digital
Singles +1922-1949YearTitleUSLabelCertifications1922Picking The Guitar—Pathe1922Teasing the Frets—Pathe1924Dreamer of Dreams—Brunswick1924My Best Girl4Brunswick1924Because They All Love You—Brunswick1924Somebody Like You— Brunswick1925If I Can't Have You— Brunswick1925I've Named My Pillow After You—Brunswick1925When I Think Of You—Brunswick1925The Only, Only One—Brunswick1925Isn't She The Sweetest Thing—Brunswick1925By the Light Of The Stars—Brunswick1925I Might Have Known—Brunswick1925I'm Tired Of Everything But You—Brunswick1925I Found Somebody to Love—Brunswick1925Brown Eyes, Why Are You Blue2Brunswick1925Sleepy Time Gal3Brunswick1925Smile, A Little Bit, Smile—Brunswick1925Who's Who Are You—Brunswick1925Forever and Ever with You—Brunswick1926A Cup of Coffee, A Sandwich, and You—Brunswick1926Always4Brunswick1926Adorable—Brunswick1926No Foolin'—Brunswick1926Bye Bye Blackbird4Brunswick1926My Bundle Of Love—Brunswick1926I'm Glad I Found A Girl Like You—Brunswick1926Let Me Live and Love You Just For Tonight—Brunswick1926How Many Times—Brunswick1926Sleepy Head—Brunswick1926Looking at the World Thru Rose Colored Glasses—Brunswick1926When You're Lonely—Brunswick1926Precious—Brunswick1926Hello Bluebird—Brunswick1926I'd Love to Call You My Sweetheart—Brunswick1926Because I Love You—Brunswick1926I've Got The Girl—Brunswick1927Put Your Arms Where They Belong—Brunswick1927In A Little Spanish Town—Brunswick1927I'm Looking Over A Four-Leaf Clover—Brunswick1927High, High, High Up In The Hills— Brunswick1927I'm Looking For A Girl Named Mary—Brunswick1927Underneath The Weeping Willow— Brunswick1927Moonbeam! Kiss Her For Me—Brunswick1927So Blue13 Brunswick1927Side By Side2Brunswick1927Why Should I Say That I'm Sorry—Brunswick1927Rosy Cheeks—Brunswick1927Underneath The Stars with You—Brunswick1927Sing Me A Baby Song—Brunswick1927Broken Hearted10Brunswick1927Sweet Someone—Brunswick1927I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me—Brunswick1927Among My Souvenirs—Brunswick1927My Blue Heaven7Brunswick1927The Song Is Ended—Brunswick1927Kiss and Make Up—Brunswick1927Keep Sweeping The Cobwebs Off The Moon—Brunswick1927Together12 Brunswick1927Without You Sweetheart—Brunswick1928My Ohio Home—Brunswick1928Sunshine—Brunswick1928I'm Waiting For Ships That Never Come In—Brunswick1928I Still Love You—Brunswick1928It Must Be Love—Brunswick1928I Can't Do Without You—Brunswick1928Just Like A Melody From Out Of The Sky—Brunswick1928When You Said Goodnight—Brunswick1928You're A Real Sweetheart—Brunswick1928For Old Times Sake—Brunswick1928Someday, Somewhere— Brunswick1928Chiquita—Brunswick1928My Tonia—Brunswick1928The Song I Love—Brunswick1928When The World Is At Rest—Brunswick1928I'll Never Ask For More—Brunswick1929I'll Get By12Brunswick1929You're Not Asking Me(I'm Telling You)—Brunswick1929Some Rainy Day—Brunswick1929How About Me—Brunswick1929Old Timer—Brunswick1929Heart O' Mine—Brunswick1929I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling—Brunswick1929Coquette—Brunswick1929My Song of the Nile (from Drag)—Brunswick1929Painting The Clouds With Sunshine2VitaphoneOver 1 Millon Copies Sold1929Tiptoe Thru The Tulips1VitaphoneOver 1 Millon Copies Sold
Stayed At No. 1
for 10 Weeks1929In A Kitchenette