Nelson, Ricky (1940-1985)

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Nelson, Ricky (1940-1985)

Decades before MTV (Music Television), the synergy between television and the music industry was manifested by the career of Ricky Nelson. The first rock 'n' roll star created by television, Nelson was the youngest and most precocious member of the Nelsons, on the long-running The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. For 14 years, "Ricky" virtually grew up in front of America. To viewers coast-to-coast, he was a surrogate son, brother, and friend. When he began to sing, he became a fantasy boyfriend and one of the leading teenage idols of the 1950s and early 1960s. But if being a member of "America's favorite family" had made possible his music career, it also became a burden—as did the teen idol designation. As a result, Nelson's artistry and status as a musical innovator has long been overlooked.

In fact, he was startlingly versatile, equally at home with rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, rhythm and blues, ballads, and country western music. A devotee of the break-through sounds that emanated from Sam Phillips' Sun Records, he aggressively sought to collaborate with the era's most creative talents. Early on, he worked with rockabilly greats Johnny and Dorsey Burnette and with legendary guitarist James Burton. Later, Nelson assembled the Stone Canyon Band; their country-rock helped pave the way for what came to be known as the "California sound." Not coincidentally, Stone Canyon member Randy Meisner went on to found the group that perfected that sound—the Eagles.

Born Eric Hilliard Nelson, Ricky grew up in a musical family. Father Ozzie was a former band leader. Wife Harriet Hilliard Nelson had been the band's singer. During the 1940s, their married life became impetus for the radio show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. Ricky was just nine when he and his older brother, David, joined the cast, playing themselves. They moved onto the big screen with the 1952 movie Here Come the Nelsons. It inspired the television series, which debuted on ABC on October 3, 1952.

As depicted by the Nelsons, Eisenhower-era family life was one of quiet complacency. Ozzie had no discernible job, Harriet was usually in the kitchen, and the boys' most frequent line of dialogue was "Hi, Pop. Hi, Mom." As a youngster, Ricky was known for his bristly crew-cut, wise-cracks, and panache with punch lines. As a teenager, he became known for his good looks, including heavy-lidded blue eyes, and pouty mouth.

Ozzie helped arrange the session that resulted in Ricky's first record, a rendition of Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin."' Nelson performed the song in an April 1957 Ozzie and Harriet episode entitled "Ricky the Drummer." Released two weeks later on Verve Records, it went Top Ten and became a million-seller. Ozzie liked to point out that Ozzie and Harriet helped to make rock 'n' roll respectable. The elder Nelson also recognized the potential of a television-music tie-in. At the time, the series was being watched by an estimated ten million teenagers a week; Ricky's performances became powerful marketing tools—as did Ricky, who became a favorite of teenage fan magazines.

Under contract by Imperial Records, he also became a consistent hit-maker. Over a five-year period he had more than 35 songs on the charts, 15 of them Top Ten—among his most recognizable tunes: "Poor Little Fool," "Lonesome Town," "It's Late," "Teenage Idol," "Hello Mary Lou," and "Travelin' Man." The last, Nelson's biggest hit, sold six million copies. As presented on Ozzie and Harriet, it also pre-dated the music videos of the MTV-era. Conceived by Ozzie, it was performed in a segment in which the singing Ricky was superimposed over travelogue footage. As Nelson grew older, he understandably attempted to discard his teen idol image, dropping the "y" from his name to become Rick Nelson and appearing in non-musical movies, such as the Howard Hawks-directed Rio Bravo. He also became less interested in the family series.

When the series ended in 1966, Rick attempted new musical directions. Exploring the Nashville sound, he cut a pair of critically-lauded albums. In 1969, his interest in literary-oriented artists like Bob Dylan and Tim Hardin, and Los Angeles' country-folk movement, led to his formation of the Stone Canyon Band, with whom he delivered an evocative version of Dylan's "She Belongs to Me."

But he could not shake his past. At a 1971 Madison Square Garden revival concert, his changed look—including long hair—caught the audience off-guard. When he moved from vintage tunes to newer ones, the crowd erupted in boos. A visibly shaken Nelson later wrote and recorded "Garden Party," in which he declared that he would rather drive a truck than perpetually sing his old songs. Nelson's final Top Ten hit ironically revived interest in his teen idol past.

The consummate performer eventually returned to singing golden oldies. And by 1983 he was again being booked as "Ricky Nelson." His final performance took place at P.J.'s Alley, a small, dark bar in Guntersville, Alabama, on December 30, 1985. Nelson was killed in a plane crash on December 31, while travelling to a New Year's Eve show. The death of America's favorite television son made front page headlines.

Today, a third generation of Nelsons continues in show business. During his marriage to Kris Harmon, daughter of football great Tom Harmon, Nelson fathered four children. Daughter Tracy Nelson is an actress. Twin sons Matthew and Gunnar, billed as Nelson, enjoyed a number one hit in 1990. Meanwhile, Ricky Nelson continues to enjoy rediscovery, as a musician and as a man. At the time of his death it was discovered that Nelson's system contained traces of cocaine and other drugs. Fans were startled. What had happened to the perfect son from the perfect family? Friends and relations have since come forward to admit that there were numerous discrepancies between the television and the real-life Nelsons. In truth, they were just as dysfunctional as most families. Far from being perfect, Ricky was just as human as the rest of us.

—Pat H. Broeske