Nicholas G. Bliss
June 11, 1921 – December 13, 2011
Nicholas Bliss was a Chicago area jazz trumpeter who came to some prominence during the 1970s. Born in Iowa, Bliss moved with his family to Chicago when he was just seven years old. He took up the trumpet during high school and was awarded a scholarship to De Paul University to study music. Before long, Bliss was making a name for himself throughout the nightclubs of Chicago. During the ’70s, he led a Dixieland band at the city’s storied private prohibition styled speakeasy, the Gaslight Club. It has been reported that the nightclub was Hugh Hefner’s inspiration for his Playboy Clubs. Bliss performed at the Gaslight Club for many years and also acted as its talent booker for a time. When the nightclub added locations in Paris, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington DC, he oversaw the musicians at those locales as well. After retiring from performing, Bliss became president of the local musicians union, serving from 1977 to 1982. Nicholas Bliss died of kidney failure on December 13, 2011. He was 90.
Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.