The Nelson Brothers

This week’s Alpenfest in Gaylord is loaded with musical tributes, ranging from Jimmy Buffet to Motown. One of the most popular tributes will be to Ricky Nelson, for whom “Life Magazine” coined the phrase “teen idol” in 1959. Nelson will be honored in the “Ricky Nelson Remembered” show on Wednesday, July 18 by his twin sons Matthew and Gunnar.
Ricky Nelson and Elvis were the first American teen idols. Nelson got his public musical start in 1957 by appearing regularly at the end of his parent’s popular television program, “The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet.” Starting in 1957, Nelson had 30 top-40
hits – only Elvis and Pat Boone had more.
Ricky Nelson’s contributions were many, and voters made him part of the second Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class. Wanting to shake the teen idol status, Nelson dropped the “y” and became Rick Nelson on his 21st birthday with the release of his sixth album. To date, Nelson has sold more than 100 million recordings worldwide.
His up-tempo rockabilly sound resonated with the newly born rock and roll generation. But his soft voice also hit home with the
ladies in the many ballads he sang. His hits included “Travelin’ Man,” “Hello Mary Lou,” Poor Little Fool,” “Lonesome Town,” and “Teenage Idol.”
Nelson influenced many musicians, including Bob Dylan. In his memoir, Dylan wrote about his admiration of Ricky Nelson and the influence the one-time teen idol had on him. Nelson also had a tremendous influence on his sons, who were 18 when he passed away. Ricky Nelson died on New Year’s Eve in 1985 in a plane crash.

STAYING ALIVE
“He was our best friend. We figure it is up to us to keep his music alive,” said Gunnar. “Not only is it a true pleasure to play these great songs that people love, but it makes us feel profoundly closer to our dad.”
While the Nelsons enjoy paying tribute to their father’s legacy, they have created one for themselves. In the early ‘90s they created the group Nelson, and their debut album, “After the Rain,” produced the number one song “(I Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection.” That number one hit put the family in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first family to have number one hits for three consecutive generations (their grandparents had a big band number one song in the 1930s).
The Nelsons would produce three Top-10 hits and four number one MTV videos during the ‘90s.
Their California beach boy good looks come from a blend of their handsome father and their attractive mom (their mom is Kristin Harmon, daughter of Heisman Trophy winner and Michigan football great Tom Harmon; her brother is actor Mark Harmon). As with their father and grandparents before them, The Nelsons have been popular on television as well. They have hosted programs on “VH-1” and the “E” network.

CAREER PATH
At times the brothers feel it is somewhat eerie how their musical and entertainment career path mirrors that of their father.
“Yeah, it is kind of weird when I sit down to think about it,” said Gunnar. “We had tremendous success at a very young age, like he did. And now we’re coming to the same musical renaissance that he had at our age. It’s discovering what makes you unique, your own inner voice. Unlike our father, though, we started out as songwriters first and foremost. Something we learned from him when we were babies. I’m so thankful for that lesson. Seasons change, but what never will is my unshakable faith in the belief that you can’t stop the power of a hit song.”
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson are tremen-dous musicians – after all, it is in their blood. Their concerts are high energy and full of hit songs. This show is a definite for the fan of early rock and roll. Their music crosses generations and the concert is perfect for families.
On Thursday night, Alpenfest will also feature Parrots of the Caribbean, a tribute to Jimmy Buffet. On Saturday night, The Spyder Turner Band takes you down the Motown memory lane to close out the activities. All concerts are free. For a complete listing of concerts and activities at the 2007 Gaylord Alpenfest, check out gaylordchamber.com. View On Our Website