David Nichtern
{{short description|American musician and composer}}
{{infobox person
|image=DavidNichtern.jpg
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1948|2|19}}
|birth_place=Manhattan
|occupation=Television, film, composer, songwriter, music industry, yoga
|children=Ethan Nichtern
}}
David Nichtern (born 19 February 1948){{cite web|url=https://lithub.com/how-loving-the-princess-bride-led-me-to-buddhism/|title=How Loving The Princess Bride Led Me to Buddhism|work=Lit Hub|author=Ethan Nichern|date=22 September 2017}} is an American songwriter and television composer, soundtrack artist and Buddhist teacher of the Shambala tradition of Chögyam Trungpa.
Biography
Born and raised in Manhattan, Nichtern is the son of Sol Nichtern, a prominent New York psychiatrist and writer, and Broadway producer Claire Nichtern, the first female Tony Award winner.{{cite web |url=http://www.berklee.edu/bt/163/alum_profile1.html |title=David Nichternand "Midnight at the Oasis" |publisher=Mark Small; Berkeley.com |accessdate=2008-07-26}} Having begun practicing music at age eight, he began his career as a professional musician during his college years at Columbia University. He served as director of sales for the New England Digital Corporation in the 1980s. He is the founder of music-marketing company Nudgie Music LLC, and its divisions Dharma Moon and 5 Points Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.nudgie.com/DNbio.html |title=Dharma Moon - David Nichtern Bio |publisher=www.nudgie.com |accessdate=2008-07-26 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619032524/http://www.nudgie.com/DNbio.html |archivedate=2008-06-19 |url-status=dead }} He wrote the song "Midnight at the Oasis."{{cite web|url=http://www.davidnichtern.com/music.html |title=David Nichtern official website - Music |publisher=David Nichtern |year=2007 |accessdate=2008-07-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927023910/http://www.davidnichtern.com/music.html |archivedate=September 27, 2008 }}
He has his own world/fusion band, Drala{{cite web|url=http://www.omyoga.com/staff/Davidnbio.htm |title=David Nichtern bio at OM yoga center's official website |publisher=Cyndi Lee |year=2004 |accessdate=2008-07-23 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706162604/http://www.omyoga.com/staff/Davidnbio.htm |archivedate=July 6, 2008 }}
Beginning in 1970, Nichtern became a student of the Shambhala Buddhist tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and was taught by the founder, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Nichtern has since become a senior teacher. Nichtern has been the Director of Expansion for Shambhala Training, and co-director of the Karme Choling Meditation Center in Vermont.
Nichtern's son, Ethan Nichtern, is a Buddhist teacher and author.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
5 Points Records
5 Points Records is a privately held label based in New York City founded by Nichtern. Its sister companies include the world-lifestyle label Dharma Moon, the custom label 5 Points V.I.P. and the music publishing company Nudgie Tunes.{{Cite web |url=http://www.5pointsrecords.com/ |title=5 Points Records |access-date=2019-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111075154/http://www.5pointsrecords.com/ |archive-date=2010-01-11 |url-status=dead }}
The label's first release, the first installment of the Rare Elements series, included works by Sultan Khan remixed by modern artists, including Thievery Corporation.[http://www.properlychilled.com/music/label/profile.php?view=10 5 Points Records – Profile – Properly Chilled – Downtempo Music & Culture]
Awards and nominations
Nichtern was nominated for ten Daytime Emmy awards from 2000 to 2006, in the category "Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series", for his work on One Life to Live and As the World Turns. He won the award in 2000, for One Life to Live, 2001 for As the World Turns, and 2005 for One Life to Live. He was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year for "Midnight at the Oasis."
Composing credits
- The Student Teachers (1973)
- White Line Fever (1975)
- Sapphire Man (1988)
- The Big Picture (1989)
- One Life to Live (1995–2007)
- As the World Turns
Soundtrack credits
- The Big Picture (1989)
- Perfect Witness (1989)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.davidnichtern.com/ DavidNichtern.com]
- {{IMDb name|0629939|David Nichtern}}
- [http://www.emusic.com/artist/David-Nichtern-MP3-Download/11572184.html David Nichtern] at Emusic.com
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Category:Musicians from Manhattan
Category:American male composers
Category:21st-century American composers
Category:American male songwriters
Category:Daytime Emmy Award winners
Category:Tibetan Buddhists from the United States
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:The Beyman Bros members
Category:Columbia University alumni