Submitted by ryukuimbetween t3_110h47m in Music

As I'm only young I've only discovered Ricky Nelson in the past few years.

To anyone who remembers, how was he perceived at the time? Was he famous or did some of his notoriety happen after his death ?

Thanks for answering.

My favourite of his is just another day. Always loved how haunting his voice sounds.

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LowGradePlayer t1_j896g0k wrote

He was before my time, but my parents told me that he was really huge.

He was one of the first Nepo baby’s, but he actually had talent.

He had the benefit of exposure in that America watched him grow up on TV, so when he picked up a guitar, it was natural that his fans would migrate to him as a musical artist.

He was also clean cut, and after that 12 months of wild Presley between 55 and 56, if you were not clean-cut, you were not going anywhere.

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Nizamark t1_j89eom7 wrote

ricky nelson was my mom's pop idol.

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EastTXJosh t1_j89ibsl wrote

Have you discovered his twin sons’ band, Nelson? They are pretty much considered a punchline now, but back in 1990 they were a big deal.

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Len_Zefflin t1_j89ihep wrote

Everybody knew his name, but nobody recognized him.

He didn't look the same.

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gtoz1119 t1_j8a9s9h wrote

Loved Garden Party in the 70s

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[deleted] t1_j8b8pqm wrote

Gone too soon. Probably would have been a bigger artist

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Gorf_the_Magnificent t1_j8hnw0y wrote

I was a kid when Ozzie and Harriet was a hit TV show. Although they played a middle-aged couple-next-door, in real life Ozzie Nelson was a popular band leader and Harriet Nelson, formerly Harriet Hilliard, was a well-known actress.

The Nelsons pushed their son Ricky’s singing career relentlessly on that show. It got to the point where they would race through the story line, so that Ricky had five minutes at the end to sing his latest song. As a kid, that was my least favorite part of the show, frankly.

Ricky’s death in an airplane crash was a public relations nightmare. The crash, which was caused by a fire started by a faulty in-cabin heater, was initially and erroneously reported to have resulted from Ricky and the other passengers freebasing cocaine on the plane - an unfounded rumor so widely reported in the national media that some people probably still believe it. Also, Ricky’s ex-wife filed an ugly lawsuit for a piece of Ricky’s estate, which Ricky had bequeathed entirely to his children.

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