History Rock & Roll Radio History: Rick Nelson...One Of The Earliest Rockabilly Cats !

A couple of weeks back, DAVID NELSON p***ed away. David was the last link to one of Radio/TV's longest running dynasties the "Ozzie & Harriet" Show. With that in mind, I again went to my Audio Archives to pull out one of my favorite Interviews: The Legendary Rick Nelson in October, 1981 to share with my friends here at the H.A.M.B.



ROCK & ROLL RADIO HISTORY: RICK NELSON...ONE OF THE FIRST "TEEN IDOLS" & ONE OF EARLIEST "ROCKABILLY CATS" !


RICK NELSON was one of the earliest Superstars Of Rock & Roll, and Elvis' closest rival during the mid-fifties. He was in all regards one of the '50's first "Teen Idols" and was there when they coined the term "Rockabilly Cat".

With hit records like "Be Bop Baby", "Poor Little Fool", "There'll Never Be Anyone Else But You", "Travelin' Man", "Hello Mary Lou"...and many, many others his place in R&R History was set into place.

In this Exclusive October, 1981, Interview, Rick talks with me about his early years, how his girlfriend gave him the idea to record to begin with, and his first Million Seller: "I'M WALKIN' ". (NOTE: Legendary Guitarist, JAMES BURTON, plays lead with Rick's group. He's a Hall Of Fame Member himself, and one of Jimmie Vaughan's all-time favorites/idols,)

Please enjoy this story, which is one of my All-Time Favorite Interviews, with a man who was a "car guy" just like the rest of us, and was truly a Hall Of Fame Legend. Just click-on here to listen...and make sure your speakers are turned up. http://d10514412.u46.c5.ixwebhosting.com/gpage100.html

RIP: Ozzie, Harriet, David & Rick And thank you for all those years of fun & entertainment that you gave us...from 1944 to 1966.

Jonnie King www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

I love"Stood up,broken hearted,again"!

 

There is an awesome picture of Rick in the new Rodder' Journal. He looks like he is about 14years old,sitting in a quarter midget smoking a cigarette

 

Always thought "Young World" was one of Ricky's best efforts, and who can forget the episode with Tony La Masa's Roadster! Of course that brings to mind the story that he wanted to buy it, but Ozzie thought it was too much for "some old '32 Ford!" Went on to act with "The Duke" John Wayne and Dean Martin in Rio Bravo, and did a great job in that. BTW, you're right about James Burton, one of the greats, later played with the "King" , Elvis, and can still play!

 

A great ballad singer.

 

Two things!

1.) Musicians should not fly on airplanes!

2.) Musicians should not procreate!

 

Jonnie. Nice web site. CK it out lads

 

Ricky had a good voice and his early stuff in Imperial Records (IIRC) is pretty damn good...that said, I also think he was kinda scrubbed clean for the white audience.

 

The Nelsons were either from Joisey or lived here for a while. Bergen county. Maybe from when Ozzie had a band?

 

Yes, Ricky was born in Teaneck on 8 May 40. His true name was Eric Hilliard Nelson. A legend from the great era of R&R and the great era of hot rods.

Thanks, Jonnie, for posting the interview and tunes. Sorry to hear of David's p***ing.

 

Ricky Nelson was a cool dude, a tragic ending that is the price of stardom sometimes. Some of his rockabilly was top notch and the dude was way to good looking. I met him in the lobby of a motel in Waterloo Iowa once, he was very nice and ask if I had attended the show in town the previous night. Bummer I was unaware of it, he just laughed and said, well next time, less than a year later he had the freaky accident. ~sololobo~

 

Didn't Norm Grab(can't spell the rest of his name) appear on a couple of their shows? I remember seeing him on a couple.

 

Thanks for the link. Saw Ricky Nelson at the Coral Ballroom when I was in high school. It was a great show and alot different than I expected when he started playing the Stones. The girl I was with had never heard him and thought he was really something. I made a mental note not to take dates in the future to concerts of someone so good looking. I think he had a lot of good music left in him when he died.

 

sololobo...

All that you said above was very true. Rick was one of the kindest, most generous of all who I've Interviewed through the years...with a great sense of humour.

TO ALL WHO'VE POSTED ABOVE...

Sincere thanks to all of you for your kind comments !

It's a privilege to share this Special Rick Nelson Interview with you as, with the rest of my Interviews, I've tried to Archive & Preserve these Audio Histories of the R&C Hall Of Fame Legends, as well as those I've been ***ociated with in the Music Industry so that they won't be forgotten...and their voices will be heard WorldWide by many who will never have the pleasure of meeting them, seeing them, OR, EVER hearing them tell their stories.

Rick was one of those who was truly a Legend, really a car buff like we are, and, as was mentioned above, died way too soon.

When you listen to his voice in the Interview you can sense his honesty, intelligence, and, kindness...that ALL shines through.

Thanks again ! As we all know, the H.A.M.B. is a GREAT place to share thoughts, ideas, videos, pix, and, in my case, rare audio glimpses into the lives of those who help make our R&C Industry, and our daily lives, better...just by being there !

Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

PS: Here's some info about Rick that many have forgotten through the years. He was married to Kristin Harmon. Kristin's Dad was the Legendary Football Great, and announcer, Tom Harmon.

AND, Kristin's brother is Mark Harmon...the star of NCIS.

 

Right you are Big John ! Sorry I didn't answer this sooner...been a busy day or two.

"Young World", a great song ! Hit the Charts in March, 1962, and one of my faves "Teenage Idol", broke into the Billboard Hot 100 in August, 1962...just a couple of days before my birthday.

Rick later turned into a really good actor...held his own with many. But, music (and cars) were always his first loves.

AND, even though he truly was one of the earliest Teen Idols, you can hear how modest Rick was about the whole situation by the sincere tone of his voice as you listen to the Interview.

Music & Cars; Cars & Music...ALWAYS the best of both worlds !

Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

Hey Slick Willy, you hit the nail on the head brother. What was going on with Ricky's kids man? Holy ****... Hopefully they grew out of that 80's hair farmer thing. I bet grandpa Ozzie was spinning in his grave when ***-1 and ***-2 started rocking out.

 

Slick Willy/Curly Hand...

Sorry guys, Ricky's kids might have looked like that in the 80's, but NOT today. Gotta admit we all had a good laugh at that...but, then just about ALL the Groups in the 80's were part of the "Big Hair/Lotta Hair" Bands.

However, have you seen Steven Tyler from Aerosmith TODAY ? Same hair in 2011 as in the 1975 ! Just about worse than Rick's sons in the 80's

BUT this the thread isn't about anything negative or Rick's sons. It's about Rick's Legend & History. And he was ALWAYS cool from the 50's to when he died in 1985.

SPECIAL NOTE: RICK NELSON was Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame on January 21, 1987. John Fogerty from Creedence Clearwater Revival presented the Award.

JK www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

Thanks Jonnie...a very interesting post.

 

Jonnie, I totally agree with the "look" thing. I was just putting in a sarcastic 80's reference. Thanks for the thread and history lesson!

Oh... and Steven Tyler lives in my town and we get the honor of seeing him without the makeup a little too often!!

 

I saw Ricks kids at EPCOT about 3 yrs ago & they have really grown up.They put on a great tribute show to there father & where real nice to anyone with "RN" stuff like albums.They signed everything for everybody & where real personal with everyone, spending alot of time in the audience after the show.
Also you can "youtube" the O&H episode , its in 3 parts! Funnt thing is Ricky doesn't drive the car, David does.Its worth seeing!
JimV

 

Slick Willy,

Thanks for the input ! Tyler is one R&R hitmaker I haven't met, and you're probably right about seeing him "in real life" !

I've played Aerosmith's records on the Radio since their early days back in '73 when they released "Dream On". Really have put together a super string of hits during their History. And, like you Slick, I have nothing against Tyler at all, just using him as a "current example" of someone who's "look" hasn't moved forward since those early days.

Again, thanks for taking the time to view & add to the thread.

Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

Those chicks look like dudes.

 

NOTE TO SOME "YOUNGER" H.A.M.B. CRUISERS...

That Time Period of the 50's was the birth of the "Music Revolution" that REALLY lead to "CRUSIN", AND the lifestyle that all of us Gearheads enjoy to this very day !

It was an era of blending rock/country/rhythm & blues/pop music to listeners across-the-board. Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis, and lots of others were cranking out hit-after-hit.

BUT, RICK NELSON had a Secret Weapon that had never been tried to the fullest extent yet: A weekly TV Show ! And that's one of the cool things we talk about in the Interview.

Again: Cars & Music; Music & Cars...ALL ROADS LEAD TO CRUSIN' with your Radio crankin' out those "Blasts From The Past" !

Jonnie King www.legends.thewwbc.net
​

 

Always loved it when at the end of some shows, Ricky would sing a song!!!
Also David was not a bad singer either...

 

Great web site Jonnie! Thanks for the memories.

 

HarryT & Hdonlybob...

Thanks so much for your kind comments !

Those of us who "were there" in those days have so many fond memories of watching those shows & hearing Rick sing. That's why Interviewing him and finding out what a really nice guy he was in "real life" was such a great experience !

BTW: As I mentioned earlier, fellow rodder/musician/great car guy, JIMMIE VAUGHAN, told me in an Interview I did with him that he too looked forward every week to Rick's closing song because, as a fledgling guitarist in those days he loved watching James Burton's guitar work with Rick's group. Later as a pro, Jimmie got to jam with Burton...which was one of his highlights in a long, fantastic career.

STAY SAFE EVERYBODY ! BIG RAIN/ICE/SLEET/SNOW STORMS headed throughout this Area Tonite, Tomorrow & Wednesday ! I'm hoping for safe journeys for my H.A.M.B. Friends and that all of your houses, cars, families & friends withstand all of this with NO DAMAGE !

Jonnie King www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

I was a grade behind tyler( tollarico) in HS in Yonkers & he really hasn't changed since then!!lol
JimV