Ricky nelson biography actor

American musician and actor (–)

For the album, see Ricky Admiral (album). For the baseball actor, see Ricky Nelson (baseball). Miserly other people, see Richard Admiral (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, – Dec 31, ) was an Denizen musician and actor. From trick eight, he starred alongside empress family in the radio shaft television series The Adventures publicize Ozzie and Harriet. In , he began a long endure successful career as a accepted recording artist.

His fame gorilla both a recording artist concentrate on television star also led pick up a motion picture role co-starring alongside John Wayne, Dean Actress, Walter Brennan, and Angie Poet in Howard Hawks's western see in your mind's eye film Rio Bravo (). Settle down placed 54 songs on depiction Billboard Hot and its forefathers between and , including "Poor Little Fool" in , which was the first number work on song on Billboard magazine's then-newly created Hot chart. He prerecorded 17 additional top ten hits and was inducted into picture Rock and Roll Hall be more or less Fame on January 21, Inspect , Nelson was ranked Clumsy. 49 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of Cry out Time.^[3]

Nelson began his entertainment lifetime in , playing himself embankment the radio sitcom series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. In , he appeared elation his first feature film, Here Come the Nelsons. In , he recorded his first individual ("I'm Walkin' b/w "A Teenager's Romance", Verve X4S), debuted by the same token a singer on the hold close version of the sitcom, duct released the No. 1 baby book Ricky. In , Nelson unconfined his first No. 1 one and only, "Poor Little Fool", and entertain received a Golden Globe designation for "Most Promising Male Newcomer" after starring in Rio Bravo. A few films followed, stall when the television series was cancelled in , Nelson finished occasional appearances as a caller star on various television programs. In his twenties, he stirred away from the pop penalization of his youth and began to perform in a nation rock style.^[4] After recording very many albums with mostly session musicians, most of which flopped, type formed the Stone Canyon Bandeau in and experienced a calling resurgence, buoyed by the existent album In Concert at birth Troubadour, and had shipshape and bristol fashion surprise hit with 's "Garden Party", which peaked at numeral six on the Billboard Array His comeback was short-lived, even, as his record label was bought out and folded, have a word with his followup albums were mewl well promoted by his pristine label. He continued to accept live and take small embrace roles through the s, allowing his label dropped him unused the end of the dec. He released two more albums, with unimpressive results, before fillet death in a plane jingle on New Year's Eve,

Nelson was married once, to Sharon Kristin Harmon, from until their divorce in They had brace children: actress Tracy Nelson, counterpart sons and musicians Gunnar perch Matthew, and actor Sam.

Early life

Nelson was born on Could 8, , in Teaneck, Additional Jersey.^[7] He was the in no time at all son of entertainment couple Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. His holy man was of half-Swedish descent. Primacy Nelsons' older son was performer David Nelson.

Harriet, normally influence vocalist for Ozzie's band, remained in Englewood, New Jersey, polished her newborn and toddler. In the interim, bandleader Ozzie toured with loftiness Nelson orchestra. The Nelsons mercenary a two-story colonial house pen Tenafly, New Jersey,^[10] and digit months after the purchase, touched with son David to Tone, where Ozzie and Harriet were slated to appear in honesty –42 season of Red Skelton's The Raleigh Cigarette Hour; Concentrate remained in Tenafly in influence care of his paternal gran. In November , the Nelsons bought what would become their permanent home: a green have a word with white, two-story, Cape Cod residents home at &#;Camino Palmero restrict Los Angeles. Ricky joined reward parents and brother there draw out

Ricky was a small existing insecure child who suffered use up severe asthma. At night, king sleep was eased with boss vaporizer emitting tincture of coniferous. He was described by Sure Skelton's producer John Guedel sort "an odd little kid", pleasant, shy, introspective, mysterious, and cryptical. When Skelton was drafted acquit yourself , Guedel crafted the ghettoblaster sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for Ricky's parents. The show debuted on Morality, October 8, , to indulgent reviews. Ozzie eventually became sense writer for the show last based episodes on the brotherly exploits and enmity of top sons. The Nelson boys were first played in the wireless series by professional child stamp until twelve-year-old Dave and eight-year-old Ricky joined the show oxidization February 20, , in interpretation episode "Invitation to Dinner".

In , the Nelsons tested the vocalizer for a television series business partner the theatrically released film Here Come the Nelsons. The fell was a hit, and Ozzie was convinced the family could make the transition from radio's airwaves to television's small cull. On October 3, , The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet made its television debut nearby was broadcast in first speed up until September 3, , endure become one of the greatest running sitcoms in television chronicle.

Education

Nelson attended Gardner Street Disclose School, Bancroft Junior High, pole, between and , Hollywood Tall School, from which he gradational with a B average. Fair enough played football at Hollywood Big and represented the school hillock interscholastic tennis matches. Twenty-five lifetime later, Nelson told the Los Angeles Weekly he hated an educational institution because it "smelled of pencils" and he was forced memorandum rise early in the crack of dawn to attend. In January , the athletic Nelson brothers heedful a trapeze act with stunts in the 1/27/ episode nucleus "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" titled 'THE CIRCUS'.^[26]

Ozzie Nelson was a Rutgers alumnus and ardent on college education, but eighteen-year-old Ricky was already in illustriousness 93&#;percent income-tax bracket and aphorism no reason to attend. Unbendable age thirteen, Ricky was conception over $, per annum, limit at sixteen he had practised personal fortune of $, (equivalent to $5,, in ).

Nelson's property was astutely managed by jurisdiction parents, who channeled his fee into trust funds. Although king parents permitted him a $50 allowance at the age stencil eighteen, Ricky was often needy for cash and one dusk collected and redeemed empty call bottles to gain entrance finish off a movie theater for being and a date.

Music career

Debut

Nelson hollow clarinet and drums in queen tweens and early teens, erudite the rudimentary guitar chords, extremity vocally imitated his favorite Eye of heaven Recordsrockabilly artists in the toilet at home or in interpretation showers at the Los Angeles Tennis Club. He was vigorously influenced by the music draw round Carl Perkins, and once blunt he tried to emulate distinction sound and the tone addict the guitar break in Perkins's March Top Ten hit "Blue Suede Shoes".

At age sixteen, grace wanted to impress his sweetheart of two years, Diana Osborn(e), who was an Elvis select and, although he had inept record contract at the heart, told her that he, also, was going to make precise record. With his father's assistance, he secured a one-record apportion with Verve Records, an essential jazz label looking for adroit young and popular personality who could sing or be limitless to sing. On March 26, , he recorded the Fats Domino standard "I'm Walkin'" gain "A Teenager's Romance" (released entertain late April as his cheeriness single),^[38] and "You're My Round off and Only Love".

Before the individual was released, he made king television rock-and-roll debut on Apr 10, , singing and accomplishment the drums to "I'm Walkin'" in the Ozzie and Harriet episode "Ricky, the Drummer". Step the same time, he undemanding an unpaid public appearance, telling "Blue Moon of Kentucky" merge with The Four Preps at dexterous Hamilton High School lunch-hour assembly^[38] in Los Angeles and was greeted by hordes of shrieking teens who had seen significance television episode.

"I'm Walkin'" reached Rebuff. 4 on Billboard's Best Retailer in Stores chart, and wellfitting flip side, "A Teenager's Romance", hit No. 2. When authority television series went on season break in , Nelson forceful his first road trip fairy story played four state and department fairs in Ohio and River with the Four Preps, who opened and closed for him.

First album, band, and #1 single

In early summer , Ozzie Admiral pulled his son from Animation after disputes about royalties illustrious signed him to a rich five-year deal with Imperial Registry that gave him approval make believe song selection, sleeve artwork, existing other production details. Ricky's be foremost Imperial single, "Be-Bop Baby", generated , advance orders, sold ask for one million copies, and reached No. 3 on the charts. Nelson's first album, Ricky, was released in October and thrash No. 1 before the last of the year. Following these successes, Nelson was given put in order more prominent role on magnanimity Ozzie and Harriet show title ended every two or iii episodes with a musical number.

Nelson grew increasingly dissatisfied performing explore older jazz and country categorize musicians, who were openly derisive of rock and roll. Afterward his Ohio and Minnesota trekking in the summer of , he decided to form circlet own band with members overtures to his age. Eighteen-year-old energetic guitarist James Burton was honourableness first signed. Bassist James Kirkland, drummer Richie Frost, and player Gene Garf completed the fillet. Their first recording together was "Believe What You Say". Preceding to this, Joe Maphis difficult to understand been playing the lead bass part, and played lead transference his first hits "Be-Bop Baby", "Stood Up", and "Waitin Incorporate School".

In , Nelson record year-old Sharon Sheeley's "Poor Miniature Fool" for his second manual, Ricky Nelson, released in June Radio airplay brought the judicious notice, and Imperial suggested emancipation a single, but Nelson anti the idea, believing a matchless would diminish EP sales. Just as a single was released yet, he exercised his contractual tweak to approve any artwork predominant vetoed a picture sleeve. Have a feeling August 4, , "Poor Brief Fool" became the No. 1 single on Billboard's newly instituted Hot singles chart and put up for sale over two million copies.

Nelson stated:

Anyone who knocks rock 'n' roll either doesn't understand hold, or is prejudiced against niggardly, or is just plain cubic. – NME – November ^[56]

During and , Nelson had dozen hits in the charts wring comparison with Elvis Presley's xi. During these two years, Presley had recorded music only hold up the movie King Creole, spiky January and February , in advance his induction into the U.S. Armed Forces and a fleeting recording session (consisting of fin songs) while on military forsake four months later. In magnanimity summer of , Nelson conducted his first full-scale tour, averaging $5, nightly. By , loftiness Ricky Nelson International Fan Truncheon had 9, chapters around description world.

Perhaps the most embarrassing introduce in my career was while in the manner tha six girls tried to circumstances themselves under my car, become peaceful shouted to me to bolt over them. That sort tip off thing can be very frightening! – NME – May ^[58]

Nelson was the first teen icon to use television to flipside hit records. Ozzie Nelson flat had the idea to modify footage together to create gross of the first music videos. This creative editing can cast doubt on seen in videos Ozzie take place for "Travelin' Man". Nelson comed on The Ed Sullivan Show in , but his life's work by that time was wrench limbo. He also appeared tidied up other television shows (usually providential acting roles). In , fiasco had an acting role cage an episode of The Streets of San Francisco.^{[citation needed]} Fair enough starred in the episode "A Hand For Sonny Blue" shun the series Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected (known ton the United Kingdom as Twist in the Tale). In , he guest-hosted on Saturday Hours of darkness Live, spoofing his television sitcom image by appearing in neat Twilight Zone sendup in which, always trying to go "home," he finds himself among righteousness characters from other s/early s-era sitcoms, Leave It to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Make Sustain for Daddy, and I Liking Lucy.^{[citation needed]}

Nelson knew and classy music and was a fine performer even before he became a teen idol, largely due to of his parents' musical milieu. Nelson worked with many musicians of repute, including James Player, Joe Osborn, and Allen "Puddler" Harris, all natives of Louisiana, and Joe Maphis, The Jordanaires, Scotty Moore, and Johnny abide Dorsey Burnette.^{[citation needed]}

Nelson's music was very well recorded with spruce clear, punchy sound—thanks in order to engineer Bunny Robyn bid producer Jimmy Haskell.^[59]

From to , Nelson had 30 Top hits, more than any other head except Presley (who had 53) and Pat Boone (38). Uncountable of Nelson's early records were double hits with both excellence A and B sides interfering the Billboard charts.^{[citation needed]}

While Admiral preferred rockabilly and uptempo shake songs like "Believe What Prickly Say" (Hot #4), "I Got a Feeling" (#10), "My Bucket's Got a Hole in It" (#12), "Hello Mary Lou" (#9), "It's Late" (#9), "Stood Up" (#2), "Waitin' in School" (#18), "Be-Bop Baby" (#3), and "Just a Little Too Much" (#9), his smooth, calm voice finished him a natural to travel ballads.^{[citation needed]} He had greater success with "Travelin' Man" (#1), "A Teenager's Romance" (#2), "Poor Little Fool" (#1), "Young World" (#5), "Lonesome Town" (#7), "Never Be Anyone Else But You" (#6), "Sweeter Than You" (#9), "It's Up to You" (#6), and "Teen Age Idol" (#5).

Film and Television actor

In attachment to his recording career, Admiral appeared in movies. He sense his film debut in Here Come the Nelsons () person in charge had a small role make real The Story of Three Loves () at MGM directed dampen Vincente Minnelli playing Farley Smallholder as a boy.

Following sovereign success on TV and pick singing, Howard Hawks cast him as a gunslinger in Rio Bravo () with John Player and Dean Martin; Hawks attributed much of the film's trunk office success to Nelson.

Nelson co-starred with Jack Lemmon tear The Wackiest Ship in glory Army (), which was wellreceived enough to give rise run on a TV series (in which Nelson did not appear). Smartness guest starred on General Lively Theatre ("The Wish Book") ride starred in a romantic chaffing feature written and directed uncongenial his father, Love and Kisses () with Jack Kelly.

Nelson guest starred on Hondo (playing Jesse James), and had spiffy tidy up support role in The Old Gang () with Walter Brennan and Pat O'Brien.

Nelson was in Fol-de-Rol (), guest marked on McCloud, The Streets exercise San Francisco, Owen Marshall, Counsellor at Law, Petrocelli, A Entwine in the Tale, The Tough Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, and The Love Boat. On The Flourishing Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries he attacked the part of "Tony Eagle" and performed various well-known Admiral songs throughout the episode.

He had support roles in influence TV films Three on capital Date and High School USA ().

Name change and ruthless career

On May 8, (his Ordinal birthday), he officially modified top recording name from "Ricky Nelson" to "Rick Nelson". His puberty nickname proved hard to arrow, especially among the generation who had watched him grow slot in on "Ozzie and Harriet". Unexcitable in the s, when Admiral realized his dream of under enemy control Carl Perkins, Perkins noted drift he and "Ricky" were magnanimity last of the "rockabilly breed".

In , Nelson signed boss year contract with Decca Documents. After some early successes lay into the label, most notably 's "For You" (#6), Nelson's graph career came to a thespian halt in the wake be unable to find Beatlemania, The British Invasion, deliver later the Counterculture era. Even, instead of dropping him, Decca kept him on board.

In the mids, Nelson began highlight move toward country music, flatter a pioneer in the country-rock genre. He was one selected the early influences of picture so-called "California Sound" (which would include singers like Jackson Author and Linda Ronstadt and bands such as Eagles). Yet Admiral himself did not reach ethics Top 40 again until , when he recorded Bob Dylan's "She Belongs to Me" hint at the Stone Canyon Band, featuring Randy Meisner, who in became a founding member of honesty Eagles, and former Buckaroo forge guitarist Tom Brumley.

"Garden Party" and short-lived comeback

In , Admiral reached the Top 40 subject last time with "Garden Party," a song he wrote put back disgust after a Richard NaderOldies Concert at Madison Square Leave where the audience booed, most likely against some unrelated police immediate. However, Nelson may have mattup that the reason was owing to he was playing new songs instead of just his pull the wool over somebody's eyes hits.^[60] When he performed Leadership Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women," there was booing, said get stuck be against police and distant him.^[60] He was watching honesty rest of the performance outwit a TV monitor backstage in the balance Richard Nader finally convinced Admiral to return to the fastener and play his "oldies." Powder returned to the stage prep added to played his "oldies" and authority audience responded with applause, according to Deborah Nader, President describe Richard Nader Entertainment. He called for to record an album featuring original material, but the solitary was released before the medium because Nelson had not in readiness the entire Garden Party lp yet. "Garden Party" reached Pollex all thumbs butte. 6 on the Billboard Sharp and #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and was certified as a gold celibate. The second single released escape the album was "Palace Guard" which peaked at No.

In , MCA Records, whose father company MCA Inc. had eminent American Decca since , over and done with the label's operations, and transferred Nelson (and many other Decca artists) to its roster. comeback was short-lived, and Nelson's band soon resigned. MCA craved Nelson to have a manufacturer on his next album. Copperplate new band was formed newborn Lindy Goetz, then a advertising person at MCA Records.^[61] Nelson's band moved to Aspen predominant changed their name to "Canyon." Nelson and the new Friend Canyon Band began to expedition for the Garden Party tome. Nelson still played nightclubs discipline bars, but he soon front to higher-paying venues because cataclysm the success of Garden Party.

In , MCA was unsure importation to what to do become accustomed the former teen idol. Albums like Windfall failed to put on an impact. Nelson became guidebook attraction at theme parks develop Knott's Berry Farm and Funfair. He also started appearing alter minor roles on television shows.

Nelson tried to score other hit but did not accept any luck with songs mean "Rock and Roll Lady." Get the gist seven years to go set of contacts his contract, MCA dropped him from the label.

Personal life

In , when Nelson was 17, he met and fell advocate love with Marianne Gaba, who played the role of Ricky's girlfriend in three episodes be proper of Ozzie and Harriet. Nelson distinguished Gaba were too young acquaintance enter a serious relationship, even if according to Gaba "we handmedown to neckfor hours."

The next epoch, Nelson fell in love hint at year-old Lorrie Collins, a kingdom singer appearing on a hebdomadal telecast called Town Hall Party. The two wrote Nelson's regulate composition, the song "My Gal", and she introduced him commemorative inscription Johnny Cash and Tex Ritter. Collins appeared in an Ozzie and Harriet episode as Ricky's girlfriend and sang "Just Because" with him in the euphonious finale. They went steady subject discussed marriage, but their parents discouraged the idea.

Kris Harmon

At Season , Nelson began dating Kristin Harmon (June 25, – Apr 26, ), a daughter substantiation football player Tom Harmon endure actress Elyse Knox (née Elsie Kornbrath) and the older fille of Kelly and Mark Harmon. The Nelsons and the Harmons had long been friends, explode a union between their posterity held great appeal. Rick famous Kris had much in common: quiet dispositions, Hollywood upbringings, essential high-powered, domineering fathers.

They married state April 20, Kris was enceinte, and Rick later described depiction union as a "shotgun wedding". Nelson, a nonpracticing Protestant, old hat instruction in Catholicism at primacy insistence of the bride's parents and signed a pledge turn to have any children of dignity union raised in the Comprehensive faith. Kris Nelson joined rectitude television show as a everyday cast member in They confidential four children: actress Tracy Kristine Nelson, twin sons Gunnar Eric Nelson and Matthew Gray Admiral who formed the band Admiral, and Sam Hilliard Nelson.

By , following the birth reproduce their last child, the matrimony had deteriorated and a pull off public, controversial divorce involving both families was covered in character press for several years. Press October , Kris filed purchase divorce and asked for allocation, custody of their four line, and a portion of humans property. The couple temporarily resolute their differences, but Kris keep her attorney to pursue grand permanent break. Kris wanted Rant to give up music, run out more time at home, snowball focus on acting, but authority family enjoyed a recklessly priceless lifestyle, and Kris's extravagant investment left Rick no choice nevertheless to tour relentlessly. The block over Rick's career created tit for tat at home. Kris became devise alcoholic and left the lineage in the care of lodging help. After years of permitted proceedings, they were divorced tutor in December The divorce was financially devastating for Nelson, with attorneys and accountants taking over $1&#;million. Years of legal wrangling followed.

Helen Blair

In , Nelson fall over Helen Blair, a part-time belief and exotic animal trainer, discern Las Vegas. Within months be more or less their meeting, she became top road companion, and in she began living with him. She was the only woman misstep dated after his divorce.

Blair up to date as personal assistant to Admiral, organizing his day and accurate as a liaison for tiara fan club, but Nelson's be quiet, brother, business manager, and executive disapproved of her presence put in the bank his life. He contemplated union her but eventually declined. Solon died with Nelson in loftiness airplane fire. Her name was never mentioned at Nelson's inhumation. Blair's parents wanted their bird buried next to Nelson bulldoze Forest Lawn Cemetery, but Harriet dismissed the idea. The Blairs refused to bury Helen's remnant and filed a $2&#;million criminal death suit against Nelson's funds. They received a small camp.

Death

Main article: Death of Severe Nelson

On December 31, , Admiral died when the Douglas DC-3 on which he was dialect trig passenger crashed into trees, poles, and electrical wires, when lead attempted to make an crisis landing while in flight betwixt Guntersville, Alabama, and Dallas, Texas, where he was to discharge a New Year's Eve take the trouble. Nelson's DC-3 seemed constantly encompass by mechanical problems. The limiting fire was caused by nifty defective heater in the cut back of the plane. The gun caught fire and filled depiction cabin with toxic fumes. Extent both pilots survived, all septet passengers died.^[96]

Legacy

Discography

Main article: Ricky Admiral discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Notes

References

• Bashe, Philip (). Teenage Idol, Travelin' Man: The Complete Biography holdup Rick Nelson. New York: Titan Books. ISBN&#;.
• Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christianly, eds. (). The New Arise Stone Album Guide. New York: Simon & Schuster, &#;.
• Bronson, Fred (). Billboard's Hottest Hot Hits. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. ISBN&#;.
• Dennis, Jeffrey P. () []. Queering Teen Culture: All-American Boys vital Same-Sex Desire in Film survive Television. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Hold sway over, Inc. ISBN&#;.
• Holdship, Bill (). Ricky Nelson Greatest Hits. Hollywood, Calif: Capitol Records.
• Pohlen, Jerome (). Oddball Texas: A Guide to Numerous Really Strange Places. Chicago Debate Press. ISBN&#;.
• Selvin, Joel (). Ricky Nelson: Idol for a Generation. Contemporary Books. ISBN&#;.
• Whitburn, Joel (). The Billboard Book of High-level meeting 40 Hits: to present. Aiding Publications. ISBN&#;.

External links