Ricky Nelson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ricky Nelson
Nelson in a publicity photo for Decca Records in 1966
Background information
Birth name	Eric Hilliard Nelson
Also known as	Rick Nelson
Born	(1940-05-08)May 8, 1940 Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	December 31, 1985(1985-12-31) (aged 45) De Kalb, Texas, U.S.
Genres	Rockabilly rock and roll pop country rock
Occupation(s)	Musician songwriter actor
Years active	1949–1985
Labels	Verve, Imperial, London, Renown Records, Decca/MCA, Epic
Associated acts	Fats Domino, Carl Perkins, James Burton

Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was a famous American musician and actor. He started his career at age eight, starring with his family in the radio and TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

In 1957, Ricky Nelson began a very successful music career. He was so popular that the term "teen idol" was first used to describe him! His fame as a singer and TV star also led him to act in movies. He co-starred with big names like John Wayne and Dean Martin in the western film Rio Bravo (1959).

Ricky Nelson had many hit songs. He placed 54 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1957 and 1973. His song "Poor Little Fool" was the very first number one song on Billboard magazine's new Hot 100 chart in 1958. He had 19 more songs that reached the top ten. Ricky Nelson was honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1996, TV Guide ranked him among the 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.

Nelson's entertainment journey began in 1949, playing himself on the radio show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. In 1952, he appeared in his first movie, Here Come the Nelsons. By 1957, he released his first single and sang on the TV version of his family's show. His first album, Ricky, quickly became a number one hit.

In 1958, "Poor Little Fool" became his first number one single. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for "Most Promising Male Newcomer" after Rio Bravo. After the TV series ended in 1966, Nelson continued to act in various TV programs. As he grew older, he changed his music style from pop to country rock. He formed the Stone Canyon Band in 1969 and found new success with the song "Garden Party" in 1972. He continued to perform live and act in small TV roles through the 1970s. Sadly, he died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve, 1985.

Ricky Nelson was married to Sharon Kristin Harmon from 1963 to 1982. They had four children: actress Tracy Nelson, twin sons and musicians Gunnar and Matthew, and actor Sam.

Early Life and Family

Ricky Nelson was born on May 8, 1940, in Teaneck, New Jersey. He was the second son of famous entertainers Harriet Hilliard Nelson and Ozzie Nelson. His older brother was actor David Nelson.

When Ricky was a baby, his parents moved to Hollywood for their careers. Ricky joined them in Los Angeles in 1942. He was a small child and had asthma.

In 1944, a radio show called The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet was created for his parents. The show became very popular. Ricky and his brother David joined the show in 1949, playing themselves. David was twelve, and Ricky was eight.

The Nelson family, 1952

In 1952, the Nelson family made a movie called Here Come the Nelsons. It was a big success, which led to The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet becoming a TV show. The TV show started on October 3, 1952, and ran until 1966. It became one of the longest-running TV sitcoms ever!

Education and Early Success

Ricky Nelson went to Gardner Street Public School and Bancroft Junior High. From 1954 to 1958, he attended Hollywood High School, where he played football and tennis. He later said he didn't enjoy school much.

Ricky's father, Ozzie, wanted him to go to college. However, by age eighteen, Ricky was already earning a lot of money. At thirteen, he was making over $100,000 a year! His parents wisely put his earnings into trust funds. Even with all his money, Ricky sometimes had to collect empty soda bottles to get enough cash to go to the movies with a date.

Music Career Highlights

Becoming a Musician

Ricky Nelson headshot

As a young boy, Ricky played the clarinet and drums. He also learned basic guitar chords. He loved to imitate his favorite rockabilly singers from Sun Records. He was especially inspired by Carl Perkins and his song "Blue Suede Shoes".

When he was sixteen, Ricky wanted to impress his girlfriend, who was a big Elvis Presley fan. Even without a record deal, he told her he would make a record too. With his father's help, he signed a deal with Verve Records. On March 26, 1957, he recorded "I'm Walkin'" and "A Teenager's Romance".

Before his first song was released, Ricky made his rock-and-roll TV debut on April 10, 1957. He sang and played drums to "I'm Walkin'" on an Ozzie and Harriet episode. Soon after, he sang "Blue Moon of Kentucky" at a high school assembly. He was met by many screaming teens who had seen him on TV!

His song "I'm Walkin'" reached number 4 on the Billboard charts, and "A Teenager's Romance" reached number 2.

First Album and Band

In 1957, Ricky's father signed him to a new deal with Imperial Records. This deal gave Ricky control over his songs and album artwork. His first Imperial single, "Be-Bop Baby", sold over one million copies and reached number 3 on the charts. Ricky's first album, Ricky, was released in October 1957 and quickly became a number one album. After this success, Ricky started performing a musical number at the end of many Ozzie and Harriet episodes.

Ricky wanted to play with musicians closer to his own age. He formed his own band with guitarist James Burton, bassist James Kirkland, drummer Richie Frost, and pianist Gene Garf. Their first song together was "Believe What You Say".

In 1958, Ricky recorded "Poor Little Fool". This song became the number one single on Billboard's new Hot 100 chart on August 4, 1958. It sold over two million copies!

Nelson publicity photo, 1960

In 1958 and 1959, Ricky Nelson had more hit songs than Elvis Presley. By 1960, the Ricky Nelson International Fan Club had 9,000 chapters around the world!

Ricky was the first teen idol to use television to help promote his hit records. His father, Ozzie, even created some of the first music videos by editing together TV show footage. Ricky appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967 and acted in other TV shows. In 1979, he hosted Saturday Night Live, where he made fun of his old TV show image.

Ricky Nelson loved music and was a talented performer. He worked with many great musicians. His music was known for its clear and powerful sound. From 1957 to 1962, Ricky had 30 songs in the Top 40. Only Elvis Presley and Pat Boone had more. Many of Ricky's early records had two hit songs, with both sides reaching the Billboard charts.

Ricky enjoyed rockabilly and upbeat rock songs. But his smooth voice also made him great at singing slower songs, called ballads. He had big hits with songs like "Travelin' Man" (number 1), "Poor Little Fool" (number 1), and "Teen Age Idol" (number 5), which seemed to be about himself.

Film Acting Career

Besides his music, Ricky Nelson also appeared in movies. His first film role was in Here Come the Nelsons (1952). He also had a small part in The Story of Three Loves (1953).

After his success in TV and music, director Howard Hawks cast him as a gunslinger in Rio Bravo (1959). He starred alongside John Wayne and Dean Martin. Many people believed Ricky's presence helped make the movie a big hit.

Nelson also co-starred with Jack Lemmon in The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1960). He also starred in a romantic comedy called Love and Kisses (1965), which his father wrote and directed.

Ricky Nelson also made guest appearances on many TV shows. These included Hondo, McCloud, The Streets of San Francisco, and The Love Boat.

Name Change and Later Career

On his 21st birthday, May 8, 1961, Ricky officially changed his recording name to "Rick Nelson." However, many people who watched him grow up on "Ozzie and Harriet" still called him "Ricky."

In 1963, Rick signed a long contract with Decca Records. After some early hits, his chart success slowed down with the rise of Beatlemania and the British Invasion. But Decca kept him on their label.

In the mid-1960s, Rick started moving towards country music. He became a pioneer in the country rock style. He influenced the "California Sound" that included artists like Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt. Rick didn't have another Top 40 hit until 1970 with his song "She Belongs to Me."

"Garden Party" and Comeback

Nelson performing on The Jim Nabors Show in 1970

In 1972, Rick Nelson had one last Top 40 hit with "Garden Party." He wrote this song after a concert where some audience members seemed unhappy when he played new songs instead of just his old hits. "Garden Party" reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified as a gold single.

His comeback was short-lived. Rick continued to play at nightclubs and bars, and then at larger venues because of "Garden Party." However, his record label eventually dropped him.

Personal Life

In 1961, Ricky began dating Kristin Harmon. Her father was football player Tom Harmon, and her mother was actress Elyse Knox. The Nelson and Harmon families were already friends.

Ricky and Kris married on April 20, 1963. They had four children: Tracy Kristine Nelson, twin sons Gunnar Eric Nelson and Matthew Gray Nelson (who formed the band Nelson), and Sam Hilliard Nelson.

Ricky and Kristin Nelson in 1964

After many years, Ricky and Kris decided to divorce in December 1982.

In 1980, Nelson met Helen Blair. She became his companion on the road. She was with him until his death.

In 1985, Ricky Nelson began a "Comeback tour" with Fats Domino. He started using "Ricky" in his name again. He sang his famous songs and released a greatest hits album. His comeback was cut short when his plane crashed on New Year's Eve.

Death

On December 31, 1985, Ricky Nelson died when the plane he was on crashed. The plane was trying to make an emergency landing while flying between Alabama and Texas. Both pilots survived, but all seven passengers, including Ricky, died.

Legacy

• In 1994, Ricky Nelson received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in California.
• In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Nelson among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
• In 2005, a documentary called Ricky Nelson Sings was shown on PBS. It featured interviews with his children and other musicians.
• Famous baseball player Rickey Henderson was named after Ricky Nelson.

Discography

• Ricky (1957)
• Ricky Nelson (1958)
• Ricky Sings Again (1959)
• Rick Is 21 (1961)
• Rick Sings Nelson (1970)
• Rudy the Fifth (1971)
• Garden Party (1972)
• Windfall (1974)
• All My Best (1985)

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Ricky Nelson para niños