Enjoying One of Ricky Nelson's Last Concerts
My Experience at one of Rick Nelson's Last Concerts
Rick Nelson was one of my favorite musicians.
I was lucky enough to see him during the last year he was alive in Wilmington, Ohio.
Wilmington is a very small town and I grew up there. The main theater downtown was called the Murphy Theater. In its later years, the Manager of the Murphy contracted many famous celebrities to play there including Marty Robbins, Loretta Lynn and Rick Nelson. I saw all of them. There were others but I have forgotten who they were.
Ricky Nelson became Rick Nelson during his 30's. He no longer associated with his old life of being with Ozzie and Harriet or his old Rock and Roll Days.
I was fortunate to bring my camera and took five photos of Rick in the last year of his life, doing what he did best, performing for his fans.
I hope you enjoy this little concert trip and I hope that I tickle your nostalgia bone.
Rick or Ricky? No, Lucy isn't Calling.
Rick Nelson - One of the greatest performers of all time
In his early days, Ricky Nelson was best known as the son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson.
Ozzie and Harriet came into the living rooms of most Americans, once a week. It was a warm-hearted comedy and not unlike Father Knows Best or Leave it to Beaver.
Little Ricky Nelson was a cute little kid but as he aged into his teens, he became a hearthrob of thousands, and possibly millions of girls across the country.
He moved into a singing career and would've sold records just because of his looks and television popularity. However, this guy could sing and his records sold millions. He gained popularity and then became well-known in celebrity circles.
When Ricky was in his 30's, he decided to branch off into Country Music (more like Country Rock) and although he was still very good, most people wanted to hear his old songs.
These experiences caused him to write the song, "Garden Party," where he sand how he felt about the way he was treated and how he felt.
With the move to Country, he was no longer Ricky; he became Rick.
He toured for many years afterwords and like the small town concert halls and theaters.
When I saw him in Wilmington, Ohio, he was on a small tour. Later that year, he did another tour and met his demise in a plane crash that took not only his life, but the lives of several friends and all of his band members.
Women were still screaming for Rick at this concert and he didn't let us get autographs or take photos close up. We were told by his Security that he didn't want unapproved photos because his face was aging.
It was a great concert and an experience I will never forget.
Thanks for visiting.
Do you like Ricky Nelson?
Have you been known to listen to a Ricky Nelson tune?
The Murphy Theater in Wilmington, Ohio - Site of the Ricky Nelson Concert in 1985
The Best of Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson Performing Poor Little Fool
The Death of Rick Nelson
Rick Nelson died on New Year's Eve, 1985.
The plane that Nelson, his band and friends flew in was already known to have had problems but they flew anyway.
Others that died in the plane crash included his bassist Patrick Woodward, guitarist Bobby Neal, drummer, Rick Intveld and keyboardist, Andy Chapin.
I believe all of them are in my photos. You can't really see Rick Intveld although you can see his drums,
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - With Ricky and David Nelson
An Ozzie and Harriet Episode with Ricky Nelson - Ricky goes to a dance
Your Thoughts on Ricky Nelson's change of Music Genre
Do you think Ricky Nelson made a mistake by switching from Rock Music to Country?
Rick Nelson and Garden Party - When you have the money, but not necessarily the time
Rick Nelson Performing Garden Party in 1985 - The same year I saw him and the year that he died
Celebrity Names Mentioned in "Garden Party" by Rick Nelson
There are quite a few celebrities mentioned in the song Garden Party, by Rick Nelson.
While some are easy to identify, there are several hidden in the lyrics. This is a list of all of them.
- John Lennon as the "Walrus"
- Yoko Ono
- George Harrison as "Mr. Hughes"
- Bob Dylan
- Chuck Berry as "Johnny B. Goode" and one of his "Old Friends"
- Bobby Rydell as one of his "Old Friends"
- Bo Diddley as one of his "Old Friends"
- Mary Lou - One of Nelson's old song characters, "Hello Mary Lou"
- The Rolling Stones - Nelson sang a song called "Country Honk" by the Stones and everyone booed him.
