Biography for
Ricky Nelson (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

8 May 1940, Teaneck, New Jersey, USA

Date of Death

31 December 1985, De Kalb, Texas, USA (plane crash)

Birth Name

Eric Hilliard Nelson

Height

6' (1.83 m)

Spouse

Kristin Harmon

(20 April 1963 - November 1982) (divorced) 4 children

Trade Mark

He slowly bats his eyes in a longing, 'come hither' fashion while singing

Trivia

Younger brother of actor/director, David Nelson.

He was engaged to Helen Blair at the time of his death. She was killed in the plane crash with him and his band.

Father of Tracy Nelson, Matthew Nelson, Gunnar Nelson and Sam Nelson.

Son of Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard.

Interred at Forest Lawn (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles, California, USA, on the right as you walk in, on the steep slope under the third tree, two rows above Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard.

Johnny Cash wrote the song "Restless Kid" for him to sing in Howard Hawks' Rio Bravo (1959). However, music director Dimitri Tiomkin insisted that Nelson perform the folk song "Cindy" and Dimitri Tiomkin's own "My Rifle, My Pony and Me". Johnny Cash's evocative "Restless Kid", which sums up Ricky's Rio Bravo (1959) character "Colorado" in less than two minutes, never appeared in the film. Instead, it was released on Nelson's third album, "Ricky Sings Again" (Imperial LP 9061 [mono]/Imperial LP 12090 [stereo], 1959).

Ex-brother-in-law of Mark Harmon and Kelly Harmon.

When Rick Nelson appeared at The Rock Revival at Madison Square Garden in 1971, he was unaware that he was to appear in clothing from the era of the height of his popularity. Not aware of this he appeared in contemporary clothing and was booed because of this. Afterwards, and as a result of this, he wrote the hit song, "Garden Party".

Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall Fame in 1987.

One of the most popular teen idols on the late 1950's and early 1960's, his many hit records, primarily on the Imperial and American Decca labels, include "I'm Walkin'", "Travelin' Man", "Poor Little Fool", "For You", "Fools Rush In", "It's Late", and "Garden Party". Most of these songs were originally introduced on "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" (1952) TV show.

Ever since his death in a private plane crash on New Year's Eve, 1985, it had been speculated that the fire that caused the crash was the result of drug use - supposedly freebasing cocaine - either by Nelson himself or by one of his crew. This theory has since been discredited by, among other sources, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board in their official report on the crash. Their evidence shows that the cause originally given for the crash (an on-board heater short-circuiting and catching fire) is the correct one.

Ranked #2 in TV Guide's list of "TV's 25 Greatest Teen Idols" (23 January 2005 issue).

He was voted the 91st Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone.

Was the first teen idol to use television as a way to promote hit records. His version of "I'm Walkin' " made #4 on the Billboard singles chart and sold over a million copies after he performed it on TV.

His hit single "Garden Party," which in the fall of 1972 reached #6 and went gold, was about his experience during a Madison Square Garden concert. In fact, when in that song he sang "But if memories were all I sang, I'd rather drive a truck," he meant it.

He at first had no ambition to be a rock singer. When a girlfriend told him that she was in love with Elvis Presley, Rick told her that he was a rock singer, too. He hurriedly cut a cover of Fats Domino's song "I'm Walkin'", which became a big hit and started his musical career.

Friends with John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 596-599. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.

Ex-son-in-law of Tom Harmon and Elyse Knox.

Ricky's children Tracy Nelson, Matthew Nelson, and Gunnar Nelson always maintained that their father's 1985 plane crash death was the result of a malfunctioning heater and not of alleged drug use on board the plane.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1515 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

Was one of two rock stars to have never appeared on "New American Bandstand 1965" (1952). The other was Elvis Presley, though Elvis did speak on the phone on Bandstand to host Dick Clark on January 8, 1960, Elvis' 25th birthday. He was overseas in the army(1958-1960)at the time. On that show Elvis accepted a Special Award for " "1959 Record Of The Year" for " A Big Hunk Of Love"/"My Wish Came True", a 2 sided hit, from from the Summer of 1959. Little Richard did not appear on "Bandstand" until 1964. By that time, RnR was in its' 2nd generation and "Bandstand" had left is' after school format and became a weekly show, moving from Philadelphia to LA.

Stepuncle of Teri Nelson and John Nelson.

He performed his debut single ""Im Walkin", a cover of Fats Domino's mega hit, on "The Perry Como Kraft Music Hall, in 1957. In addition to films, from 1958-1965 he performed his songs for the TV audience, only on "The Adventures of "Ozzie And Harriet", until 1966, when he appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show".

Personal Quotes

A career is a series of comebacks.

Where Are They Now

(1992) Release of the book, "Teenage Idol, Travelin' Man: The Complete Biography of Rick Nelson" by Philip Bashe.

(1990) Release of the book, "Ricky Nelson: Idol For a Generation" by Joel Selvin.