Singer Stevie Nicks' father dies; built music venue

Michael Senft
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 17, 2005 12:00 AM

NORTHEAST VALLEY - Jess Nicks, father of Fleetwood Mac singer and
Paradise Valley resident Stevie Nicks, died Aug. 10 from heart
failure. He was 80 years old.

In addition to Stevie Nicks, he is survived by his wife, Barbara,
and son Christopher.

Nicks, a longtime Valley resident, was the owner of the now-defunct
concert venue Compton Terrace, which he built in 1979 after retiring
as president and chairman of Armour/Greyhound. advertisement




"He was a pioneer," said Valley concert promoter Danny Zelisko of
Evening Star Productions.

"Compton Terrace was one of the first 'sheds.' When Jess opened it,
there weren't many venues like it. No one thought to dig a hole in
the ground and hold concerts outdoors. Now there are 50 or 60 across
the country," Zelisko said.

The outdoor amphitheater moved from its original location, next to
defunct Valley amusement park Legend City, to Firebird Lake in 1985.
It closed in 1996.

"Jess brought business savvy from outside the concert business to
the concert business," Zelisko said. "But he also loved the music,
because his daughter was a musician."

A longtime sufferer from heart disease, Nicks, who had undergone
three heart operations, was also involved with the Arizona Heart
Institute, serving as chairman of the board for three decades.

Despite illness, Nicks appeared July 20 at the groundbreaking of the
Arizona Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Research building.

Along with his daughter, he helped raise millions of dollars for the
institute. Stevie and Fleetwood Mac performed numerous benefit
concerts for the organization, ranging from an intimate private
performance in 1996 to a recent concert with Don Henley on Aug. 5 at
the Dodge Theatre.

In a message posted on her Web site, www.nicksfix.com, Stevie writes
about her father:

"He was a force of nature. He waited until the Fleetwood Mac Tour
was over - I asked him for that. He waited until this summer tour
was over - I asked him for that. He couldn't leave us during a tour -
he knew that. . . . He waited for me."

Condolences may be sent via e-mail at Stevie Nicks' Web site.

The Nicks family asks that donations be made to the Arizona Heart
Foundation, 2632 N. 20th St., Phoenix, 85006, in lieu of sending
flowers. For more information, visit www.azheart.com or call (602)
266-2200, Ext. 4449.



Reach the reporter at michael.senft@....