Ricky Nelson was adored by his fans for years as a teen pop idol and was one of the most televised musicians of his era.
While many know of the mysterious circumstances of his death, not many know how a last-minute choice saved the lives of his two young sons.
Ricky Nelson was born Eric Hilliard Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey, on May 8, 1940. His parents, Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard Nelson were known for their popular sitcom: “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.”
The Nelson’s sitcom ran for sixteen years, a record in sitcom history. Ricky and his older brother, David, joined the cast of the show when they were about the ages of 8 and 10 as well.
Throughout this time, Ricky attended Gardner Street Public School, eventually reaching Hollywood High School. He tended to have an aversion to education, which caused friction with his father, who wanted Ricky to attend college.
By the time he began approaching the proper age for college attendance, he was already making more money than most established adults. His earnings were already roughly $100,000 a year and therefore exempted him from needing a college education.
At the age of 17, Ricky appeared in the episode “Ricky, the Drummer” of his family’s show. A song he played on that episode was recorded and released as his first single–”I’m Walking.” It quickly became number 4 on Billboard’s Best Sellers list.
