I actually missed his birthday by a couple days, he would have been 82 on May 8th, had he lived.

I’ve got a Rick Nelson story.

Not long after we were married, my wife I took a job on a horse breeding and training farm up around Santa Ynez, California. This would have been the mid-80s. The owners of the horse farm had quite a lot of show business connections and David Nelson, Rick’s older brother, came up for the weekend.

The veterinarian and I were preg checking some mares when the owner brought David into the breeding barn to watch. It wasn’t very long after Rick’s death, and all I could think of to say is, “Sorry about your brother; I was a fan.” He nodded his head, said thanks, and gave a half-smile.

Just those few words made a connection though, and later that weekend we sat out behind a barn and talked—for a long time. I grew up watching “Ozzie and Harriet,” and here I was sitting with my back to the barn while David chain-smoked cigarettes, and we talked a lot about Rick. I can tell you without hesitation, the two of them were close, very close, and David’s heart ached from his death.

I’ll add that I really was a fan. I thought the music he was making with the Stone Canyon Band was really good.
I think he would’ve created some really memorable music.

Cool story! I also watched Ozzie and Harriet and enjoyed Ricky Nelson's music. In the band I was in we played a couple of Ricky Nelson songs, "Travelin Man", which I sang. I also played the lead guitar part on "Travelin Man" in the fashion of James Burton. We of course also did "Hello Mary Lou".

Nice remembrance.

He did some great songs.

Wasn't much of an actor, though.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
He did some great songs.

Wasn't much of an actor, though.

I thought he did a pretty fair job as the young confident without being cocky gunslinger “Colorado” in Rio Bravo. Of course he didn’t have to carry a film that had the likes of John Wayne, Dean Martin Walter Brennan and Angie Dickinson. It’s in the top 5, maybe top 3 of John Wayne’s Westerns.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
He did some great songs.

Wasn't much of an actor, though.

I had to go look it up. I recalled a tv show where he played a killer and a pimp who lured young girls into prostitution. Turns out it was an episode of Streets of San Francisco, the series with Karl Malden and Michael Douglas. As I recall, he was chilling in that role.

Thanks for bringing Rick Nelson up, TMats, huge fan.
No pretense in that voice, so simple and pure. Even his early stuff had great backup too.

Yeah the late '50s is when his tunes captivated me. These were my late pre-teen years and still remind me of crushes I had back then.

Haven't we all been "Poor Little Fools" I know I have!!

I can tell you this...as a 10 year old with a radio in 1957, Ricky Nelson was huge. His songs were playing constantly...it was music you could dance to and everybody did.

Of course having the great James Burton as your lead guitarist didn't hurt either.

I remember trying to comb my hair like him. Just didn’t happen. Lol I’ve always loved his music.

Matt and “ Gunn” “ Gunnar” are customers and friends of mine , lots of wonderful stuff!!