Youngest son Ricky, who grew up in front of North American television viewers, had a life that went beyond being the perfect son on the show. He was courting a girl and he wanted to impress her, which seems like it should not have been so hard to do being the TV star Ricky Nelson and all. Regardless, it was not going well in the romance department. It was 1957 and as he drove down Laurel Canyon with his heart throb, Elvis came on the radio. His date began to swoon, not over Ricky, but at the Elvis tune. Ricky knew of only one way to get the attention of this fickle music lover. He said: "By the way, I am going to be cutting a record soon." She laughed at him. He took her home.
When Ricky got home himself, he looked up his dad. If anyone could make it happen, it would be Ozzie Nelson. Ozzie listened to his son and thought that the idea of Ricky singing made lots of sense. In fact, it was a great idea--join in the excitement over this new rock n' roll music craze. Use the national stage to turn Ricky into a star. Dad knew that Ricky was no musical wonder and only had fair pipes. Ozzie, being a musician, realized that if he put a great band behind the boy -- which he did -- Ricky could make some hits. Ozzie was right. It ends up that, of the solo male artists of the early rock era, Ricky Nelson and his rockabilly style was right behind Elvis as a hit-maker. If you are my age, you probably remember many of those songs. This performance below was his first single, you will see his family in the audience if you watch it. You might call it a song for a girl.
Ricky was the first rock n' roll star created by television and he went on to have a number of other big hits. This is the one I remember the best.
If you are old enough to remember the Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, you will remember that most weeks they would end the sitcom about five minutes early. Then Ozzie or Harriet would introduce Ricky and his latest musical offering. What a great way this was to create a hit record. It was a classic case of cross-promotion. Exposure of one medium was good for the other.
Oh, if you wonder what ever happened to the girl in this story, Ricky said that a year or so later, after he was a recording star, she came by the house. She sat in the car while a mutual friend knocked on the Nelson's door. The friend said that the girl really needed to see Ricky. Ricky went outside to the car and she complained that he never called, he never spoke to her. She missed him and wanted to get together. Rick said: "Okay, I will call you sometime." He never did.
That was one girl, who found out early in life, that Rick Nelson really was a travelin' man.
Note: In my radio days I met Rick twice and MC'd his act twice. I really liked the last hit he ever recorded prior to his death -- Garden Party.
For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar 
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's. I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.
Wow....love it. I love song and music. I'm a freak...a bit. Needless to say, I've never heard this history. Thanks for the info.
Larry, Glad you liked it. I have a number of music history blogs. Check them out here.
http://activerain.com/blogs/kingofthehouse/tags/stories%20behind%20the%20music
Thanks Steven - I use to wath Ozzie and Harriet every week. They don't make families, tv shows, or music like this anymore! Maybe that has some to do with the economy crashing the way it is.
Oh yeah, I remember Ozzie and Harriett. Never missed an episode, especially when they started having Ricky sing after the show. I always kinda liked his easy going manner, not bad to look at, and not really a bad singer.
My mom took me to see Ricky (then) Nelson when I was 2 at Disneyland. My first concert! : ) I really liked many of his songs, Garden Party especially. Thanks for the story!
I loved Ozzie and Harriet as a kid. They were fun. As a teen I enjoyed Ricky and his songs.
I don't remember ever watching Ozzie and Harriet but I remember these songs. Watching them was enjoyable after reading your history. My observation, though, is that he was no Elvis!! What was the story of his death?
Barbara,
How can you have not seen Ozzie and Harriet. That is plain un-American.
Barbara,
He was another who died in a plane crash. The stories at the time were that it involved drug use, and an in air explosion, far as I know the family disputes that story. Not sure if the real truth is known.
That story about Ricky Nelson is probably the most interesting one that you have told us about. Thanks for sharing.
Sean Allen
Sean,
I would have pegged you as a Ricky Nelson kind of guy, scooter and all. Glad you find the story blogs entertaining enough to read them.
Great story about Ricky. It was a nice little break.
Thank you.
Steve,
Glad you found it interesting. It was a fun TV show back in the old days.
Steve, there are two reasons tht I wouldn't have seen the shows. I was too busy raisin' kids and studying for college exams or they were back when my family had no TV. What were the years anyhow? Perhaps I could get cds and catch up now on all I've missed out on!
What a fun story - I loved Ricky Nelson - and like you his Garden Party!
Hey, Steven. Garden Party was released in 1972 and made it up to #6 on the Billboard chart. Rick died on December 31, 1985, in a plane crash in DeKalb, Texas. "Gardeny Party" was his last big hit, but it wasn't "recorded shortly before his death."
I was in Dallas on December 31, 1985, to see Rick Nelson in concert and, on January 1, 1986, to see my beloved Texas Aggies, ranked #11, in the 1986 Cotton Bowl to play #16 Auburn and Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson. A&M won 36-16, but I watched it on Television while listening to Rick Nelson records. I was too devastated to go to the game. I have two unused tickets from those two days, one for Nelson's concert and one for the Aggie football game.
Russel,
Yeah, You are right, some years elapsed there after Garden Party. Working in radio it seemed like not much time went by, but both times I MC'd his show were after Garden Party, so years passed. Older I get the faster time goes.Garden Party was the end of his hit making life, and it had been some time prior to that since the last hit, but he kept touring with the large collection of classic material.
Rick was still adored in Europe, probably much more so than here. I believe he had just had a greatly successful tour of Europe that convinced him to see if he could make the same thing happen here. Unfortunately, his attempt was cut short by the plane crash.