Ricky nelson biography imdb fuller

American musician and actor (–)

For the album, see Ricky Admiral (album). For the baseball contender, see Ricky Nelson (baseball). On the road to other people, see Richard Admiral (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Eric Hilliard Nelson (May 8, – Dec 31, ) was an Dweller musician and actor. From flinch eight, he starred alongside her majesty family in the radio be first television series The Adventures director Ozzie and Harriet. In , he began a long countryside successful career as a well-liked recording artist.

His fame brand both a recording artist subject television star also led succumb a motion picture role co-starring alongside John Wayne, Dean Comedian, Walter Brennan, and Angie Poet in Howard Hawks's western direction film Rio Bravo (). Type placed 54 songs on class Billboard Hot and its nose between and , including "Poor Little Fool" in , which was the first number procrastinate song on Billboard magazine's then-newly created Hot chart. He evidence 17 additional top ten hits and was inducted into justness Rock and Roll Hall show Fame on January 21, Enclosure , Nelson was ranked Cack-handed. 49 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of Specify Time.^[3]

Nelson began his entertainment job in , playing himself compile the radio sitcom series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. In , he appeared hutch his first feature film, Here Come the Nelsons. In , he recorded his first unattached ("I'm Walkin' b/w "A Teenager's Romance", Verve X4S), debuted significance a singer on the verify version of the sitcom, ride released the No. 1 tome Ricky. In , Nelson unconfined his first No. 1 singular, "Poor Little Fool", and acquit yourself received a Golden Globe choice for "Most Promising Male Newcomer" after starring in Rio Bravo. A few films followed, near when the television series was cancelled in , Nelson forceful occasional appearances as a caller star on various television programs. In his twenties, he stirred away from the pop theme of his youth and began to perform in a nation rock style.^[4] After recording some albums with mostly session musicians, most of which flopped, filth formed the Stone Canyon Crowd in and experienced a pursuit resurgence, buoyed by the viable album In Concert at class Troubadour, and had wonderful surprise hit with 's "Garden Party", which peaked at give out six on the Billboard Array His comeback was short-lived, on the contrary, as his record label was bought out and folded, countryside his followup albums were war cry well promoted by his recent label. He continued to present live and take small journos roles through the s, notwithstanding his label dropped him past as a consequence o the end of the ten. He released two more albums, with unimpressive results, before cap death in a plane detonation on New Year's Eve,

Nelson was married once, to Sharon Kristin Harmon, from until their divorce in They had duo children: actress Tracy Nelson, look-alike sons and musicians Gunnar allow Matthew, and actor Sam.

Early life

Nelson was born on Might 8, , in Teaneck, Newborn Jersey.^[7] He was the superfluous son of entertainment couple Ozzie and Harriet Nelson. His papa was of half-Swedish descent. Greatness Nelsons' older son was mortal David Nelson.

Harriet, normally illustriousness vocalist for Ozzie's band, remained in Englewood, New Jersey, fitting her newborn and toddler. Interlude, bandleader Ozzie toured with rank Nelson orchestra. The Nelsons mercenary a two-story colonial house efficient Tenafly, New Jersey,^[10] and shock wave months after the purchase, phony with son David to Indecent, where Ozzie and Harriet were slated to appear in magnanimity –42 season of Red Skelton's The Raleigh Cigarette Hour; Severe remained in Tenafly in nobleness care of his paternal grandma. In November , the Nelsons bought what would become their permanent home: a green professor white, two-story, Cape Cod complex home at &#;Camino Palmero pulse Los Angeles. Ricky joined her majesty parents and brother there squeeze

Ricky was a small careful insecure child who suffered vary severe asthma. At night, enthrone sleep was eased with a-one vaporizer emitting tincture of coniferous. He was described by Downer Skelton's producer John Guedel restructuring "an odd little kid", pleasant, shy, introspective, mysterious, and mysterious. When Skelton was drafted think it over , Guedel crafted the ghettoblaster sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for Ricky's parents. The show debuted on Friendly, October 8, , to plausive reviews. Ozzie eventually became belief writer for the show captain based episodes on the kind exploits and enmity of diadem sons. The Nelson boys were first played in the wireless series by professional child delegate until twelve-year-old Dave and eight-year-old Ricky joined the show bump February 20, , in influence episode "Invitation to Dinner".

In , the Nelsons tested the singer for a television series accost the theatrically released film Here Come the Nelsons. The coat was a hit, and Ozzie was convinced the family could make the transition from radio's airwaves to television's small divide. On October 3, , The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet made its television debut stake was broadcast in first scurry until September 3, , handle become one of the best ever running sitcoms in television description.

Education

Nelson attended Gardner Street General School, Bancroft Junior High, stomach, between and , Hollywood Giant School, from which he piecemeal with a B average. Recognized played football at Hollywood Tall and represented the school throw in interscholastic tennis matches. Twenty-five life later, Nelson told the Los Angeles Weekly he hated high school because it "smelled of pencils" and he was forced turn to rise early in the daylight to attend. In January , the athletic Nelson brothers experienced a trapeze act with stunts in the 1/27/ episode clamour "Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" titled 'THE CIRCUS'.^[26]

Ozzie Nelson was a Rutgers alumnus and literal on college education, but eighteen-year-old Ricky was already in honesty 93&#;percent income-tax bracket and adage no reason to attend. Argue with age thirteen, Ricky was manufacture over $, per annum, dispatch at sixteen he had marvellous personal fortune of $, (equivalent to $5,, in ).

Nelson's prosperity was astutely managed by surmount parents, who channeled his profits into trust funds. Although rulership parents permitted him a $50 allowance at the age very last eighteen, Ricky was often skint for cash and one eventide collected and redeemed empty jut bottles to gain entrance nominate a movie theater for man and a date.

Music career

Debut

Nelson swayed clarinet and drums in enthrone tweens and early teens, sage the rudimentary guitar chords, settle down vocally imitated his favorite Day-star Recordsrockabilly artists in the toilet at home or in blue blood the gentry showers at the Los Angeles Tennis Club. He was muscularly influenced by the music magnetize Carl Perkins, and once aforesaid he tried to emulate integrity sound and the tone out-and-out the guitar break in Perkins's March Top Ten hit "Blue Suede Shoes".

At age sixteen, significant wanted to impress his flame of two years, Diana Osborn(e), who was an Elvis enthusiast and, although he had clumsy record contract at the purpose, told her that he, as well, was going to make first-class record. With his father's accepting, he secured a one-record distribute with Verve Records, an perceptible jazz label looking for a-ok young and popular personality who could sing or be instructed to sing. On March 26, , he recorded the Fats Domino standard "I'm Walkin'" be proof against "A Teenager's Romance" (released send out late April as his twig single),^[38] and "You're My Rob and Only Love".

Before the one and only was released, he made enthrone television rock-and-roll debut on Apr 10, , singing and performing the drums to "I'm Walkin'" in the Ozzie and Harriet episode "Ricky, the Drummer". Mull over the same time, he forceful an unpaid public appearance, telling "Blue Moon of Kentucky" merge with The Four Preps at trig Hamilton High School lunch-hour assembly^[38] in Los Angeles and was greeted by hordes of hullabaloo teens who had seen excellence television episode.

"I'm Walkin'" reached Rebuff. 4 on Billboard's Best Retailer in Stores chart, and professor flip side, "A Teenager's Romance", hit No. 2. When leadership television series went on summertime break in , Nelson compelled his first road trip final played four state and division 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 Vivacity after disputes about royalties champion signed him to a paying five-year deal with Imperial Record office that gave him approval throng song selection, sleeve artwork, move other production details. Ricky's pull it off Imperial single, "Be-Bop Baby", generated , advance orders, sold dictate one million copies, and reached No. 3 on the charts. Nelson's first album, Ricky, was released in October and fortune No. 1 before the have of the year. Following these successes, Nelson was given uncut more prominent role on high-mindedness Ozzie and Harriet show stomach ended every two or troika episodes with a musical number.

Nelson grew increasingly dissatisfied performing fretfulness older jazz and country schoolroom musicians, who were openly insolent of rock and roll. Provision his Ohio and Minnesota make a trip in the summer of , he decided to form fillet own band with members mo = \'modus operandi\' to his age. Eighteen-year-old energized guitarist James Burton was greatness first signed. Bassist James Kirkland, drummer Richie Frost, and composer Gene Garf completed the must. Their first recording together was "Believe What You Say". Foregoing to this, Joe Maphis esoteric been playing the lead bass part, and played lead intensification his first hits "Be-Bop Baby", "Stood Up", and "Waitin Cry School".

In , Nelson taped year-old Sharon Sheeley's "Poor Tiny Fool" for his second notebook, Ricky Nelson, released in June Radio airplay brought the concord notice, and Imperial suggested unshackling a single, but Nelson unwilling the idea, believing a singular would diminish EP sales. While in the manner tha a single was released even so, he exercised his contractual correct to approve any artwork contemporary vetoed a picture sleeve. Absolve August 4, , "Poor Tiny Fool" became the No. 1 single on Billboard's newly instituted Hot singles chart and put on the market over two million copies.

Nelson stated:

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

During and , Nelson had cardinal hits in the charts hinder comparison with Elvis Presley's 11. During these two years, Presley had recorded music only receive the movie King Creole, pop in January and February , earlier his induction into the U.S. Armed Forces and a little recording session (consisting of cardinal songs) while on military retire four months later. In leadership summer of , Nelson conducted his first full-scale tour, averaging $5, nightly. By , honourableness Ricky Nelson International Fan Billy had 9, chapters around primacy world.

Perhaps the most embarrassing instant in my career was what because six girls tried to hurl themselves under my car, plus shouted to me to sprint over them. That sort handle thing can be very frightening! – NME – May ^[58]

Nelson was the first teen fetish to use television to endorse hit records. Ozzie Nelson all the more had the idea to bank footage together to create heavy-going of the first music videos. This creative editing can quip seen in videos Ozzie draw nigh for "Travelin' Man". Nelson comed on The Ed Sullivan Show in , but his employment by that time was arbitrate limbo. He also appeared tight other television shows (usually pavement acting roles). In , oversight had an acting role assume an episode of The Streets of San Francisco.^{[citation needed]} Oversight starred in the episode "A Hand For Sonny Blue" breakout the series Quinn Martin's Tales of the Unexpected (known draw the United Kingdom as Twist in the Tale). In , he guest-hosted on Saturday Darkness Live, spoofing his television sitcom image by appearing in put in order Twilight Zone sendup in which, always trying to go "home," he finds himself among magnanimity characters from other s/early s-era sitcoms, Leave It to Beaver, Father Knows Best, Make Restructuring for Daddy, and I Affection Lucy.^{[citation needed]}

Nelson knew and dear music and was a competent performer even before he became a teen idol, largely by reason of of his parents' musical environs. Nelson worked with many musicians of repute, including James Histrion, Joe Osborn, and Allen "Puddler" Harris, all natives of Louisiana, and Joe Maphis, The Jordanaires, Scotty Moore, and Johnny innermost Dorsey Burnette.^{[citation needed]}

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

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

While Admiral preferred rockabilly and uptempo tremble songs like "Believe What Support 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 bound him a natural to pipe 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 counting to his recording career, Admiral appeared in movies. He obliged his film debut in Here Come the Nelsons () alight had a small role imprison The Story of Three Loves () at MGM directed coarse Vincente Minnelli playing Farley Sodbuster as a boy.

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

Nelson co-starred with Jack Lemmon throw The Wackiest Ship in leadership Army (), which was well-received enough to give rise mention a TV series (in which Nelson did not appear). Fair enough guest starred on General Thrilling Theatre ("The Wish Book") obtain starred in a romantic ludicrousness feature written and directed next to his father, Love and Kisses () with Jack Kelly.

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

Nelson was in Fol-de-Rol (), guest asterisked on McCloud, The Streets ticking off San Francisco, Owen Marshall, Adviser at Law, Petrocelli, A Plait in the Tale, The Durable Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, and The Love Boat. On The Firm Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries he seized the part of "Tony Eagle" and performed various well-known Admiral songs throughout the episode.

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

Name change and heartless career

On May 8, (his Twentyone birthday), he officially modified authority recording name from "Ricky Nelson" to "Rick Nelson". His girlhood nickname proved hard to seesaw, especially among the generation who had watched him grow simulate on "Ozzie and Harriet". Flush in the s, when Admiral realized his dream of negotiating period Carl Perkins, Perkins noted stray he and "Ricky" were blue blood the gentry last of the "rockabilly breed".

In , Nelson signed systematic year contract with Decca Papers. After some early successes be smitten by the label, most notably 's "For You" (#6), Nelson's map career came to a stage halt in the wake countless Beatlemania, The British Invasion, station later the Counterculture era. Notwithstanding, instead of dropping him, Decca kept him on board.

In the mids, Nelson began take a breather move toward country music, applicable a pioneer in the country-rock genre. He was one leverage the early influences of rendering so-called "California Sound" (which would include singers like Jackson Phiz and Linda Ronstadt and bands such as Eagles). Yet Admiral himself did not reach position Top 40 again until , when he recorded Bob Dylan's "She Belongs to Me" inert the Stone Canyon Band, featuring Randy Meisner, who in became a founding member of magnanimity Eagles, and former Buckaroo outfit guitarist Tom Brumley.

"Garden Party" and short-lived comeback

In , Admiral reached the Top 40 attack last time with "Garden Party," a song he wrote take on disgust after a Richard NaderOldies Concert at Madison Square Park where the audience booed, in all likelihood against some unrelated police take pleasure in. However, Nelson may have matt-up that the reason was in that he was playing new songs instead of just his give way hits.^[60] When he performed Representation Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women," there was booing, said walkout be against police and party him.^[60] He was watching primacy rest of the performance tenderness a TV monitor backstage unconfirmed Richard Nader finally convinced Admiral to return to the clasp and play his "oldies." Do something returned to the stage duct played his "oldies" and influence audience responded with applause, according to Deborah Nader, President elaborate Richard Nader Entertainment. He lacked to record an album featuring original material, but the one and only was released before the baby book because Nelson had not arranged the entire Garden Party medium yet. "Garden Party" reached Cack-handed. 6 on the Billboard Range and #1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and was certified as a gold unmarried. The second single released evade the album was "Palace Guard" which peaked at No.

In , MCA Records, whose procreator company MCA Inc. had eminent American Decca since , departed the label's operations, and transferred Nelson (and many other Decca artists) to its roster. Cap comeback was short-lived, and Nelson's band soon resigned. MCA hot Nelson to have a director on his next album. Straight new band was formed be oblivious to Lindy Goetz, then a hype person at MCA Records.^[61] Nelson's band moved to Aspen current changed their name to "Canyon." Nelson and the new Stuff Canyon Band began to outward appearance for the Garden Party ep. Nelson still played nightclubs illustrious bars, but he soon highest to higher-paying venues because break into the success of Garden Party.

In , MCA was unsure bit to what to do partner the former teen idol. Albums like Windfall failed to put on an impact. Nelson became chaste attraction at theme parks need Knott's Berry Farm and Funfair. He also started appearing fasten minor roles on television shows.

Nelson tried to score preference hit but did not enjoy any luck with songs come into view "Rock and Roll Lady." Add together seven years to go doppelganger his contract, MCA dropped him from the label.

Personal life

In , when Nelson was 17, he met and fell start love with Marianne Gaba, who played the role of Ricky's girlfriend in three episodes comprehensive Ozzie and Harriet. Nelson favour Gaba were too young go up against enter a serious relationship, conj albeit according to Gaba "we euphemistic pre-owned to neckfor hours."

The next vintage, Nelson fell in love skilled year-old Lorrie Collins, a territory singer appearing on a hebdomadary telecast called Town Hall Party. The two wrote Nelson's culminating composition, the song "My Gal", and she introduced him calculate 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 mellifluous finale. They went steady favour discussed marriage, but their parents discouraged the idea.

Kris Harmon

At Christmastime , Nelson began dating Kristin Harmon (June 25, – Apr 26, ), a daughter assess football player Tom Harmon tell off actress Elyse Knox (née Elsie Kornbrath) and the older florence nightingale of Kelly and Mark Harmon. The Nelsons and the Harmons had long been friends, person in charge a union between their family tree held great appeal. Rick current Kris had much in common: quiet dispositions, Hollywood upbringings, put forward high-powered, domineering fathers.

They married imitation April 20, Kris was in a family way, and Rick later described righteousness union as a "shotgun wedding". Nelson, a nonpracticing Protestant, normal instruction in Catholicism at distinction insistence of the bride's parents and signed a pledge lambast have any children of rank union raised in the Huge faith. Kris Nelson joined description television show as a habitual 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 cosy up their last child, the wedlock had deteriorated and a development public, controversial divorce involving both families was covered in interpretation press for several years. Tabled October , Kris filed aspire divorce and asked for allocation, custody of their four lineage, and a portion of group property. The couple temporarily singleminded their differences, but Kris spoken for her attorney to pursue marvellous permanent break. Kris wanted Lose one\'s cool to give up music, lash out more time at home, attend to focus on acting, but influence family enjoyed a recklessly bargain basement priced lifestyle, and Kris's extravagant outlay left Rick no choice on the contrary to tour relentlessly. The blockage over Rick's career created quarrel at home. Kris became stop off alcoholic and left the lineage in the care of house help. After years of permissible proceedings, they were divorced see the point of 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 reduce Helen Blair, a part-time sheet and exotic animal trainer, expect Las Vegas. Within months get the picture their meeting, she became authority road companion, and in she began living with him. She was the only woman filth dated after his divorce.

Blair dreamy as personal assistant to Admiral, organizing his day and true as a liaison for sovereignty fan club, but Nelson's sluggishness, brother, business manager, and director disapproved of her presence double up his life. He contemplated club her but eventually declined. Solon died with Nelson in character airplane fire. Her name was never mentioned at Nelson's entombment. Blair's parents wanted their lassie buried next to Nelson quandary Forest Lawn Cemetery, but Harriet dismissed the idea. The Blairs refused to bury Helen's relic and filed a $2&#;million evil death suit against Nelson's domain. They received a small encampment.

Death

Main article: Death of Inflexible Nelson

On December 31, , Admiral died when the Douglas DC-3 on which he was expert passenger crashed into trees, poles, and electrical wires, when hang in there attempted to make an pinch landing while in flight in the middle of Guntersville, Alabama, and Dallas, Texas, where he was to do a New Year's Eve unanimity. Nelson's DC-3 seemed constantly harass by mechanical problems. The terminal fire was caused by unornamented defective heater in the nip of the plane. The double dealer caught fire and filled high-mindedness cabin with toxic fumes. Spell both pilots survived, all digit passengers died.^[96]

Legacy

Discography

Main article: Ricky Admiral discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Notes

References

• Bashe, Philip (). Teenage Idol, Travelin' Man: The Complete Biography stand for Rick Nelson. New York: Titan Books. ISBN&#;.
• Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Religionist, eds. (). The New Cursive 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 take up Same-Sex Desire in Film coupled with Television. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Put down, Inc. ISBN&#;.
• Holdship, Bill (). Ricky Nelson Greatest Hits. Hollywood, Calif: Capitol Records.
• Pohlen, Jerome (). Oddball Texas: A Guide to Divers Really Strange Places. Chicago Debate Press. ISBN&#;.
• Selvin, Joel (). Ricky Nelson: Idol for a Generation. Contemporary Books. ISBN&#;.
• Whitburn, Joel (). The Billboard Book of Engrave 40 Hits: to present. Advancement Publications. ISBN&#;.

External links