Tri-Cities mom wasn’t expecting this from a Kennewick waiter

A West Richland mom got a surprise when a Kennewick Olive Garden waiter stepped up to sing “Happy Birthday” to her 17-year-old twins.

What Amy Haddox did not know is that waiter Alphonso “Alphy” Nichols is familiar to local music fans.

But she knew that her daughters Hannah and Ella were hearing something special when Nichols sang the solo, his voice soaring through the dining room.

She videoed the song and when it was posted on the “The Bitchy Waiter” Facebook page, it was viewed by more than 87,000 people.

One person commented on Haddox’s Facebook page, “We went to Olive Garden one night and suddenly it was everyone’s birthday!”

Many waiters find anything else to do to avoid singing “Happy Birthday” to a customer, said the Bitchy Waiter post.

“But this server at Olive Garden is stepping up to the plate,” the post said. “Good job. Olive Garden, give this guy a raise!”

A co-worker posted on Facebook that Nichols always makes time to sing to diners.

“We have guests straight up ask for him, and I feel like after this video we will have a lot more,” she said.

Nichols did not immediately respond to a Tri-City Herald request for an interview, but the Herald has written about him twice before.

When Lil Wayne came to Kennewick in 2017, Nichols, or “Young Rich Nics,” was one of the Tri-City performers signed to local label West Coast Records who took the stage with the hip-hop superstar.

He also was part of the group Blackhouse, which won best of show at the 2005 Tri-Cities Talent Show.

You can hear more from him at his YouTube channel, Alphy Nics.

This story was originally published December 3, 2019 at 10:10 AM.