Ricky NelsonThe Most Successful Teen Idol
by Erika Cox
Ricky Nelson came from a family of talented entertainers and actors. His father, Ozzie Nelson, was a popular band leader in the 1930’s and his mother, Harriet Hillard, was a movie actress and later the lead singer of Ozzie’s band before they were married. Ricky Nelson was born Eric Hilliard Nelson on May 8, 1940 in Teaneck, New Jersey. His nickname was Ricky; later on he went by Rick but eventually changed it back to Ricky after a brief inspirational talk with Carl Perkins. Along with brother David, Rick starred in a very popular television show with his parents called “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”, a show that focused on the Nelson family. In 1956, Rock and Roll was sweeping the country and Ricky Nelson was a teenager; and just like most teenagers he idolized Elvis Presley and Carl Perkins and he dreamed of becoming a Rock and Roll star. In 1957, trying to impress a girl he was dating that loved Elvis Presley, Ricky recorded his first single, Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin”. He would eventually perform the song on his family’s popular television show and Ricky and his remake song became a huge hit. Soon after, at the end of the television show, Ricky would perform a song. Most teenagers would tune in just to see Ricky sing. Nelson’s preferred musical style was Rockabilly but he became a huge Rock and Roll star because of his looks and style. He became the biggest of the teen idols from the 50’s and early 60’s. He was one of the very few teen idols at the time that could actually sing and was talented enough to compete with some of the big names in Rock and Roll. Some would compare him to an early Elvis Presley. Also, his music career lasted longer than most of the pop teen idols and he became a force to be reckoned with. Nelson knew and understood music and worked with some of the most talented musicians in the business. Even though he was promoted as a teen idol, Nelson was a performer before he became a teen idol and he also came from two musically talented parents, so his career was legitimate and his talent helped prove himself. He could also actually sing and play instruments unlike some of the other teen idols. Some would say his success went further than most perhaps due to his parents’ influence but it was obvious he had talent and deserved to be recognized. In the late 50’s and early 60’s, Nelson was one of the top-selling artists competing with and only second to Elvis Presley. Nelson also appeared in several movies with top name actors like “Rio Bravo” with John Wayne and Dean Martin. However, just like most artists from the 1950’s Nelson saw his success slowly disappear. In 1963, he signed a 20-year contract with Decca but his last major hit was “For You” in 1964. Nelson eventually went back to his Rockabilly roots once his success dried up, he had one song of average success but nowhere near the success he had been use to. Perhaps it was due to overexposure but it was probably due to the impending British Invasion that drastically affected the teen pop music of the early 1960’s. Most of the artists from the 1950’s saw resurgence in their popularity years later in the 70’s and 80’s and Nelson was no exception. He struggled throughout the 70’s to regain success but in the 80’s he found renewed interest from music fans by touring in Britain and America. On December 31, 1985 Ricky Nelson boarded a plane following a performance in Alabama and on the way to another performance in Texas. The pilot trying to make an emergency landing in Dekalb, Texas crashed in an open field. Sadly, everyone on board, except the pilot and co-pilot, died in the plane crash. Ricky Nelson was buried on January 6, 1986. Many fans around the world mourned his death remembering the greatest teen idol ever. Ricky Nelson received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Rock and Roll and Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1987. Ricky Nelson was an influence to many artists, including Bob Dylan, who writes in his book about Ricky Nelson’s influence on his music. His children, in particular, his twin sons, continued their father’s legacy performing as the group Nelson. |
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