Ricky Nelson, born Eric Hilliard Nelson on May 8, 1940, in Teaneck, New Jersey, became one of rock and roll’s earliest teen idols. He gained national attention at a young age when he and his brother joined the cast of their parents’ hit sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, which aired for an impressive 16 years.
During his time on the show, Ricky attended Gardner Street Public School and later Hollywood High School. However, academics weren’t his strong suit, much to the frustration of his father, Ozzie Nelson, who wanted Ricky to attend college. Eventually, Ricky’s booming success—earning over $100,000 annually—made his parents accept his decision to forgo further education.
Ricky’s musical breakthrough came when, at just 17 years old, he performed “I’m Walking” in an episode titled Ricky, the Drummer. The song quickly became a hit, reaching number 4 on Billboard’s Best Sellers list. This performance launched his career in music, and he went on to release numerous hits such as “Garden Party,” “Fools Rush In,” “For You,” “Poor Little Fool,” and “Travelin’ Man.”
In 1963, Ricky married Kristin Harmon, a woman with a background similar to his own. Together, they had four children: Sam Hilliard Nelson, twins Matthew Gray Nelson and Gunnar Eric Nelson, and daughter Tracy Kristine Nelson.
Initially, their marriage seemed ideal, but problems eventually emerged as they embraced a hippy lifestyle, including heavy drinking. Their relationship deteriorated, leading Kristin to file for divorce and receive temporary custody of the children. Both Ricky and Kristin accused each other of poor parenting during the split.
Tragically, not long after the separation, Ricky died in a plane crash.
Despite his success, Ricky had always been uneasy about flying. He even sought therapy to cope with his fear of flying so that he could continue touring and meeting his fans. For a New Year’s show in Dallas, Ricky originally planned to take his twin sons along. However, a last-minute premonition led him to change his mind, and he called them to cancel their plans.
“We were supposed to be on the plane on that trip. Our dad called us right before we were supposed to come down to Alabama and meet him and fly with him to the New Year’s show in Dallas,” Gunnar later revealed.
Sadly, the DC-3 plane Ricky boarded, along with his girlfriend Helen Blaine, caught fire. Though the pilot managed to land the plane, all the passengers perished. The cause of the crash was rumored to be a faulty gasoline heater, but the exact reason remains unclear.
Ricky’s instinctual decision to keep his sons off the ill-fated flight saved their lives, preventing a much greater tragedy.
Today, Ricky’s sons, Matthew and Gunnar, are accomplished musicians who proudly carry on their father’s legacy. “It’s an ongoing labor of love, an open letter to our dad, who was our best friend,” Matthew says.
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