Post by the Scribe on Dec 31, 2016 4:30:13 GMT -5
December 31
Music
1985
Rick Nelson dies in a plane crash
Former teen idol Rick Nelson dies in plane crash in De Kalb, Texas, on December 31, 1985.
When the teenage Ricky Nelson launched his pop career in 1957 by picking up a guitar and singing at the end of an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie And Harriet, he established a template for pop-music stardom that inspired hundreds of imitators in the decades that followed. But what Ricky Nelson had that so many other actors who failed as pop stars didn’t was undeniable musical talent. Having the full weight of the American Broadcasting Corporation behind him at the start of his career certainly guaranteed that the younger son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson would sell a few records, but it didn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t stink. And Ricky Nelson didn’t stink—not by a long shot.
Beginning with his double-sided hit debut single, “I’m Walkin” b/w “A Teenager’s Romance” (1957), Nelson reeled off a string of 30 rockabilly-tinged top 40 hits in the next five years—more than any other artist in the same period save for Elvis Presley and Pat Boone. Like Elvis himself, Nelson saw his commercial appeal take a major hit with the arrival of the Beatles in 1964. Nelson would remain musically relevant over the next decade, though, even earning credit for helping inspire the California sound of artists like Linda Ronstadt and The Eagles with his country-inspired late 1960s work. But after a brief revival in the early 1970s fueled by the #6 pop hit “Garden Party” (1972), Nelson’s career as a recording artist essentially ended.
Nelson continued to tour frequently, however, and it was on one such tour that he boarded a chartered DC-3 in Guntersville, Alabama, bound for a New Year’s Eve appearance in Dallas. Shortly before reaching Dallas, however, the cabin of Nelson’s plane apparently filled with smoke due to a fire of undetermined origin. While the two pilots of the plane would survive their attempted emergency landing in a field outside De Kalb, Texas, all seven passengers on board were killed, including the first pop star to cross over from the Nielsen charts to the Billboard chats, Rick Nelson.
Published on May 30, 2015
This is a Comment from Tracy Nelson. (Ricky Nelsons daughter)
Pinned by Jerry Skinner
Tracy Nelson9 months ago
He bought Jerry Lee Lewis old DC3 that had a constant fuel line problem in the old propane heater on board. It caused many problems and delays, the band was once stuck on the runway on the way to Farm Aid because of it. My father's corrupt manager at the time who I will not name did not pay the maintenance bills on time (ever) and on the New Year's flight the propane was leaking onto the carpet in the rear of the plane from a leaking cap that had not been put on correctly and was in fact broken anyway. My father actually bought commercial tickets for the band to get to Dallas that night, but Manager said "no, we'll fix it in Dallas." Midflight pilot tried to turn on heater, it didn't work, he went to back of plane to fix it with a wrench, yelled to co-pilot to turn it on from the cockpit. Co piliot said no so he went up and did it himself. Spark caught fuel on the carpet, plane started smoking, they tried to land on a highway but 2 cars there didn't pull over just stopped, pilot took plane around again and by that time fuel in the fuselage had caught fire. Plane actually landed, but was on fire, no one could get out except the pilot and co pilot who got out the cockpit window. As they were crawling through the grass the pilot said "don't tell anyone about the heater.". Everyone else was found piled at the cockpit door. My father was found lying on top of his girlfriend with his arms out as if protecting her. the story about cocaine was a complete fabrication by the Washington Post who later retracted it, unfortunately no body bothered to read that retraction a year later. Even after the FAA and NTSB reports and press conferences, confirming it was the heater. I miss my dad every day. BTW- the Manager received $500,000.00 from a "key man" life insurance policy he had on my father, who was about 2 million in debt when he died. That is what happened to Ricky (he very much preferred Rick,) Nelson. Thank you, Jerry.
In 1987, Rick Nelson was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—an honor no other former child actor has yet achieved.
Linda Ronstadt - John Boylan - Rick Nelson
I believe it was John Boylan who introduced Rick Nelson to Linda Ronstadt and Rick's mom and dad, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, talked Mike Douglas into getting Linda on as a guest when they were Mike's guest hosts in 1969. Some say this is Linda's first television appearance but she actually appeared on It's Happening on February 24, 1968 and sang Up To My Neck In High Muddy Water. Paul Revere and the Raiders were the hosts for that two season show. That was the first time I had ever seen Linda Ronstadt live. I was 14 years old and I said to myself, "WOW, she's ok for a girl."
The Mike Douglas Show 1969
This song seems almost prophetic as it is trying to stop her lover from getting on the jet and it will break her mind if he leaves.
Baby oh baby
Well let me take your suitcase off of that scale in time
Just tell the man that you suddenly developed a thing about high flying
Cause if you say goodbye to me you know you're gonna break my mind
Break my mind
Break my mind
Well I just can't stand to hear the big jet engines whine
Break my mind
Break my mind oh lord
Well if you leave you're gonna leave a babbling fool behind
Music
1985
Rick Nelson dies in a plane crash
Former teen idol Rick Nelson dies in plane crash in De Kalb, Texas, on December 31, 1985.
When the teenage Ricky Nelson launched his pop career in 1957 by picking up a guitar and singing at the end of an episode of The Adventures of Ozzie And Harriet, he established a template for pop-music stardom that inspired hundreds of imitators in the decades that followed. But what Ricky Nelson had that so many other actors who failed as pop stars didn’t was undeniable musical talent. Having the full weight of the American Broadcasting Corporation behind him at the start of his career certainly guaranteed that the younger son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson would sell a few records, but it didn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t stink. And Ricky Nelson didn’t stink—not by a long shot.
Beginning with his double-sided hit debut single, “I’m Walkin” b/w “A Teenager’s Romance” (1957), Nelson reeled off a string of 30 rockabilly-tinged top 40 hits in the next five years—more than any other artist in the same period save for Elvis Presley and Pat Boone. Like Elvis himself, Nelson saw his commercial appeal take a major hit with the arrival of the Beatles in 1964. Nelson would remain musically relevant over the next decade, though, even earning credit for helping inspire the California sound of artists like Linda Ronstadt and The Eagles with his country-inspired late 1960s work. But after a brief revival in the early 1970s fueled by the #6 pop hit “Garden Party” (1972), Nelson’s career as a recording artist essentially ended.
Nelson continued to tour frequently, however, and it was on one such tour that he boarded a chartered DC-3 in Guntersville, Alabama, bound for a New Year’s Eve appearance in Dallas. Shortly before reaching Dallas, however, the cabin of Nelson’s plane apparently filled with smoke due to a fire of undetermined origin. While the two pilots of the plane would survive their attempted emergency landing in a field outside De Kalb, Texas, all seven passengers on board were killed, including the first pop star to cross over from the Nielsen charts to the Billboard chats, Rick Nelson.
Published on May 30, 2015
This is a Comment from Tracy Nelson. (Ricky Nelsons daughter)
Pinned by Jerry Skinner
Tracy Nelson9 months ago
He bought Jerry Lee Lewis old DC3 that had a constant fuel line problem in the old propane heater on board. It caused many problems and delays, the band was once stuck on the runway on the way to Farm Aid because of it. My father's corrupt manager at the time who I will not name did not pay the maintenance bills on time (ever) and on the New Year's flight the propane was leaking onto the carpet in the rear of the plane from a leaking cap that had not been put on correctly and was in fact broken anyway. My father actually bought commercial tickets for the band to get to Dallas that night, but Manager said "no, we'll fix it in Dallas." Midflight pilot tried to turn on heater, it didn't work, he went to back of plane to fix it with a wrench, yelled to co-pilot to turn it on from the cockpit. Co piliot said no so he went up and did it himself. Spark caught fuel on the carpet, plane started smoking, they tried to land on a highway but 2 cars there didn't pull over just stopped, pilot took plane around again and by that time fuel in the fuselage had caught fire. Plane actually landed, but was on fire, no one could get out except the pilot and co pilot who got out the cockpit window. As they were crawling through the grass the pilot said "don't tell anyone about the heater.". Everyone else was found piled at the cockpit door. My father was found lying on top of his girlfriend with his arms out as if protecting her. the story about cocaine was a complete fabrication by the Washington Post who later retracted it, unfortunately no body bothered to read that retraction a year later. Even after the FAA and NTSB reports and press conferences, confirming it was the heater. I miss my dad every day. BTW- the Manager received $500,000.00 from a "key man" life insurance policy he had on my father, who was about 2 million in debt when he died. That is what happened to Ricky (he very much preferred Rick,) Nelson. Thank you, Jerry.
In 1987, Rick Nelson was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—an honor no other former child actor has yet achieved.
Linda Ronstadt - John Boylan - Rick Nelson
I believe it was John Boylan who introduced Rick Nelson to Linda Ronstadt and Rick's mom and dad, Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, talked Mike Douglas into getting Linda on as a guest when they were Mike's guest hosts in 1969. Some say this is Linda's first television appearance but she actually appeared on It's Happening on February 24, 1968 and sang Up To My Neck In High Muddy Water. Paul Revere and the Raiders were the hosts for that two season show. That was the first time I had ever seen Linda Ronstadt live. I was 14 years old and I said to myself, "WOW, she's ok for a girl."
The Mike Douglas Show 1969
This song seems almost prophetic as it is trying to stop her lover from getting on the jet and it will break her mind if he leaves.
Baby oh baby
Well let me take your suitcase off of that scale in time
Just tell the man that you suddenly developed a thing about high flying
Cause if you say goodbye to me you know you're gonna break my mind
Break my mind
Break my mind
Well I just can't stand to hear the big jet engines whine
Break my mind
Break my mind oh lord
Well if you leave you're gonna leave a babbling fool behind
