SOMEWHERE IN OKLAHOMA – Being singer Ricky Nelson’s son pretty much guarantees you an interesting life.
When the Herald interviewed Gunnar Nelson, son of Ricky Nelson, grandson of Ozzie and Harriet and a twin to brother Matthew, he was driving down a lonesome road past cornfields in a Corvette at 120 miles per hour.
Gunnar Nelson explained he was relocating one of his brother’s cars to Nashville, Tenn.
While Gunnar and Matthew Nelson appeared as youngsters on the television series “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and sold 10 million records themselves in 1990s, they are bringing a concert to Cape May’s Convention Hall, “Ricky Nelson Remembered,” that is solely their dad’s music.
“We wanted to pay our dad’s life and times the proper respect,” said Gunnar Nelson.
He said Ricky Nelson was the most televised rock star in history appearing on “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” in 435 episodes.
The concert show features video clips from the television series. In addition, friends and admirers of Ricky Nelson such as Paul McCartney, Kris Kristofferson, Chris Isaac and John Fogerty appear in clips sharing stories about Nelson.
Fogerty recorded a new version of Nelson’s final hit, “Garden Party,” on a recent album.
In 1971, Ricky Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band were booed off the stage in Madison Square Garden during a rock n’ roll revival concert when he appeared with long hair and played country rock.
Gunnar Nelson said the audience expected the 1962 version of Ricky Nelson. The lyrics of his hit “Garden Party” document the experience.
He said his dad sold 230 million singles and had over 40 Top 40 hits. The show includes Ricky Nelson’s signature songs such as “Travelin’ Man,” and “Hello Mary Lou,” “Poor Little Fool” and “Lonesome Town.”
“What Matt and I chose to do was take a set list that we found in my dad’s things right after he died and we are actually doing the exact set in the exact order that our dad was doing on his last tour,” said Gunnar Nelson.
He said his dad was “really humble,” and it felt great to see him getting the recognition he deserves after all this time. Ricky Nelson “smuggled” rock ‘n roll into mainstream American living rooms at a critical time in its history, said Gunnar Nelson.
The popular belief of the day was if kids heard music for free on TV, they wouldn’t buy it at the local record store. Gunnar Nelson said Ozzie Nelson was smart enough to place singles in stores when Ricky Nelson made his first appearance on the television show.
Ricky Nelson put together a band that continues to be respected to this day; in particular, guitarist James Burton who was cited as an influence by Jimmy Page and Brian May in Guitar Player Magazine.
Gunnar Nelson said while Elvis was a screamer; Ricky Nelson was a crooner which copied his soft-spoken style. He said his dad considered himself first a songwriter, second as a musician and third as an actor.
On Mon., Aug. 6, Stockton Goes to the Beach celebrates summer with “Ricky Nelson Remembered” starring Matthew and Gunnar Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band.
Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are priced at $30 and may be ordered online at www.capemaycity.com or by calling 1-855-708-9699 or by going to the Cape May Convention Hall.
