Music Review: Ricky Nelson: Greatest Love Songs

Ricky Nelson was born into a show business family. When little Eric Hilliard Nelson (later known as Ricky) came along in 1940, his parents already had their own radio show. His father, Ozzie, had begun as a bandleader and had hired the beautiful Harriet Hilliard as lead vocalist. From performing ‘big band’ songs, the popular newlywed Nelsons went on to radio fame in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

It wasn’t long before their precociously talented sons David and Ricky joined the act. Their guest appearances on the radio program were a hit. Next up for the family was a motion picture, which led to a television series which was so popular it became part of the national language. The TV series was modeled upon real-life family experiences and everyone welcomed the Nelsons into their living rooms.

Ricky and his brother David grew up in front of the cameras. Their personalities became entertainment for an eager national audience. They even kept their real names on TV. David was the ‘serious’ brother, and Ricky the wise-cracking mischief maker. Then they became teenagers, and America was changing too. Rock and Roll was a new form of music then at its height. Elvis was a new sensation, but one which mothers were a bit nervous about. Elvis’ sneer and swagger were a bit much for the 1950s home audience.

However, when Ricky Nelson dressed as Elvis for a Halloween episode of Ozzie and Harriet the episode was very popular among teenage girls. From that day forward, Ricky had a new role within his family's TV show, and in life: “Teenage Idol”, a position which doubled as a hit song title soon enough.

Young Ricky Nelson had always shown signs of a prodigious musical talent. From his earliest years he would listen to music over the radio and sing along. Being from a music-oriented, show business family, his talent did not go unnoticed. From the moment the heartthrob “Ricky Nelson” made his national debut on his family’s show, the world had a new musical star. Ricky had smoldering good looks but was also ‘clean cut’. He was someone parents need not be nervous about, as they were in those days regarding the hip-swiveling Elvis Presley. And teenage girls certainly did not mind staring at Ricky - or listening to his love songs. My mother was among them. She still is a fan of his, and remembers how she and all her friends would rush to tune in to the show just to catch a glimpse of their ‘teen idol’.

Article Author: Brandy

Visit Brandy's author page