When he first got the diagnosis, Nick Knowlton wasn’t swept with feelings of fear or self-pity. He wasn’t swept with anything much at all, other than resolve.

Then the well-wishes and support started pouring in from all over and, well, that’s what got to him.

“I am blown away — truly blown away,” Knowlton said Thursday night. “I’ve been so blessed. It’s all a little overwhelming.”

Two weeks before Christmas, the longtime entertainer was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. It took a while, but word about Knowlton’s troubles began to spread, and once that happened, the reaction was as huge as it was predictable.

“Everyone should know what a phenomenal community member Nick has been and how beloved he is,” Linda Doucette Scott of Lewiston said. “He is just such an incredible person.”

Some were sharing their thoughts on Facebook. Others were expressing love and support for Knowlton on a GoFundMe page set up to help his family with the medical bills that are sure to pile up.

Knowlton’s musical career dates back to the 1960s when he was the lead singer for the band Terry and the Telstars. In the ’70s, he played with the Lewiston-based band Katfish, best known for its cover of The Beatles song “Dear Prudence.” Later that decade, Knowlton played with the Maine band Katahdin.

Most people, though, remember him in a more personal way: Knowlton is said to be among the most requested deejays for weddings, anniversary parties and functions that demand someone with a lifetime of musical experience.

“Mr. Knowlton helped make our wedding wonderful,” Christian Breau wrote on the GoFundMe page. “It was extra special for us knowing that he truly cared and did everything he could to make it a memorable day. Genuine caring like his is never forgotten.”

Marnie Morneault of Lewiston said she and her husband have been fans of Knowlton since they hired him to play at their wedding 20 years ago.

“We found him to be such a gracious and kind and community-based gentleman,” Morneault said. “He’s been such an asset to our community.”

By early Thursday night, the response to the news was snowballing. The more the news of Knowlton’s crisis got around, the more people wanted to weigh in with support.

“A Lewiston Legend is in need of our support,” Heidi Sawyer of Lewiston announced on Facebook.

To Knowlton, now in Florida, it’s all very moving. When his fiance, Mollie, told him about the GoFundMe effort, he was, for a time, speechless.

“I almost had to pull to the side of the road,” Knowlton said. “We were both crying, but in a happy way.”

Knowlton, 65, said he has always been healthy, but he’s also no stranger to the ravages of cancer. In 2007, his wife, Joye, succumbed after years of battling the disease.

For that reason, Knowlton said, he is exploring all of his options, including holistic ones, in hopes of avoiding the pitfalls of conventional treatments.

“I’ve seen too many times what it does to the body,” Knowlton said, “and to the soul, in some cases.”

By early Thursday night, more than two dozen people had donated $4,225 to the GoFundMe page, which has a goal of $50,000 to help Knowlton with medical bills.

Scott in particular hopes to see that number keep rising. When her mother was diagnosed with cancer years ago, Knowlton was there with support from the beginning.

“It was Nick who helped her to stay positive,” Scott said. “He’s such a positive person and so loving.”

The GoFundMe page, created by Knowlton’s children, had been shared more than 500 times by early Thursday night.

“Dad has the spirit and heart of a fighter but has a battle ahead of him with this being an aggressive form of cancer,” they wrote. “With a strong mind, attitude and the support of so many friends and family we know that he can and will beat this. Anything you can do to contribute is helpful. Let’s get our American Idol back on stage singing where he belongs!”

For more information or to donate, visit GoFundMe.com/nickknowlton.