Nelson began his entertainment career in 1949, playing himself in the radio sitcom series, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. In 1952, he appeared in his first feature film, Here Come the Nelsons. In 1957, he recorded his first single ("I'm Walkin' b/w "A Teenager's Romance", Verve 10047X4S), debuted as a singer on the television version of the sitcom, and released the No. 1 album titled Ricky. In 1958, Nelson released his first #1 single, "Poor Little Fool", and in 1959 received a Golden Globe nomination for "Most Promising Male Newcomer" after starring in Rio Bravo. A few films followed, and when the television series was cancelled in 1966, Nelson made occasional appearances as a guest star on various television programs. In his twenties, he moved away from the pop music of his youth, and began to perform in a more country rock style. After recording several albums with mostly session musicians, most of which flopped, he formed the Stone Canyon Band in 1969 and experienced a career resurgence, buoyed by the live album In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969 and had a surprise hit with 1972's "Garden Party", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. His comeback was short-lived, however, as his record label was bought out and folded, and his followup albums were not well promoted by his new label. He continued to perform live and take small television roles through the 1970s, though his label dropped him by the end of the decade. He released two more albums, with unimpressive results, before his death in a plane crash on New Year's Eve, 1985.
Nelson was married once, to Sharon Kristin Harmon, from 1963 until their divorce in 1982. They had four children: actress Tracy Nelson, twin sons and musicians Gunnar and Matthew, and actor Sam.
Nelson was born on May 8, 1940, in Teaneck, New Jersey. He was the second son of entertainment couple Harriet Hilliard Nelson (born Peggy Lou Snyder; July 18, 1909 – October 2, 1994) and Ozzie Nelson (March 20, 1906 – June 3, 1975). His father Ozzie was of half Swedish descent. The Nelsons' older son was actor David Nelson (October 24, 1936 – January 11, 2011).
On May 8, 1961 (his 21st birthday), he officially modified his recording name from "Ricky Nelson" to "Rick Nelson". His childhood nickname proved hard to shake, especially among the generation who had watched him grow up on "Ozzie and Harriet". Even in the 1980s, when Nelson realized his dream of meeting Carl Perkins, Perkins noted that he and "Ricky" were the last of the "rockabilly breed".
In 1963, Nelson signed a 20-year contract with Decca Records. After some early successes with the label, most notably 1964's "For You" (#6), Nelson's chart career came to a dramatic halt in the wake of Beatlemania, The British Invasion, and later the Counterculture era. However, instead of dropping him, Decca kept him on board.
In the mid-1960s, Nelson began to move towards country music, becoming a pioneer in the country-rock genre. He was one of the early influences of the so-called "California Sound" (which would include singers like Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt and bands such as Eagles). Yet Nelson himself did not reach the Top 40 again until 1970, when he recorded Bob Dylan's "She Belongs to Me" with the Stone Canyon Band, featuring Randy Meisner, who in 1971 became a founding member of the Eagles, and former Buckaroo steel guitarist Tom Brumley.
Nelson died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1985, flying from Guntersville, Alabama, to Dallas, Texas, for a concert. The plane he was on, a Douglas DC-3, had a history of mechanical problems. All seven passengers, including Blair, died. Only the two pilots survived.
Nelson's funeral took place at the Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery, on January 6, 1986, and he was privately buried in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery, in Los Angeles. His estate was bequeathed to his children.
Come on In
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Try to see what's going down
We're gonna sing our songs to you
We hope it makes you feel good, too
Come on in, Stay awhile
We're gonna try to make you smile
Rock and roll gets in your soul
We'd like to try to make you happy
Now you can be just what you want to be
So let's be friends no matter what you see
Come on in
Let yourself go
Come on in
Ow! It's Rock and Roll
Come on in, Stay awhile
We're gonna try to make you smile
Rock and roll gets in your soul
Makes you feel so natural, yeah!
The lyrics of Rick Nelson's song "Come on In" invite the listener to the world of rock and roll, where everyone is welcome and can't help but feel good. The song begins with an invitation to look around and see what's going down, suggesting that the rock and roll culture is happening and alive. The singer then promises to sing songs that will not only make the listener happy but also try to make them smile. The song believes that rock and roll gets into one's soul and makes them feel so natural that one can truly be oneself.
The lyrics also express the idea of friendship and acceptance, and how the world of rock and roll is a place where one can be just who they are, and everybody can be friends, no matter what they see. The song insists that the listener let themselves go and embrace the beauty of rock and roll. The line "Rock and roll gets in your soul, makes you feel so natural, yeah!" encapsulates the essence of the song's message, that rock and roll allows people to be themselves.
Overall, Rick Nelson's "Come On In" song is a simple, cheerful invitation to enter the world of rock and roll, a place where people can be themselves and feel good about it. The song's lyrics express the joy of being authentic in a world that often tries to force conformity. It is a tribute to the liberating and uplifting power of rock and roll music.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on in, Look around
We invite you to enter this space and observe your surroundings.
Try to see what's going down
Take a moment to notice and understand what's happening here.
We're gonna sing our songs to you
We will share our music with you, as an expression of our creativity and joy.
We hope it makes you feel good, too
Our intention is to create an experience that uplifts and inspires you.
Stay awhile
We encourage you to spend time here and enjoy the atmosphere.
We're gonna try to make you smile
Our aim is to bring happiness and positivity to your experience.
Rock and roll gets in your soul
The energy and spirit of the rock and roll genre has the power to deeply affect and move you.
Makes you feel so natural, yeah!
It creates a sense of authenticity and connection with yourself and others.
We'd like to try to make you happy
We aspire to bring joy and contentment to your visit.
Now you can be just what you want to be
Our environment is welcoming and accepting of your true self.
So let's be friends no matter what you see
We hope to establish a positive and friendly relationship with you, regardless of any differences.
Let yourself go
Allow yourself to be fully present and engaged in the moment.
Ow! It's Rock and Roll
The power and excitement of rock and roll is evident here.
Contributed by Bailey B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
mgrimm5
All you need to know is that in the first to bars..Cash saya "Ummm Ya I like that"...pretty much sums it up..Rick could do it all rockabilly, ballads, country, country-Rock...he was way before his time..and a ton of others get more credit..Eagles, Graham Parsons, Ronstadt...his music particulary from this era still resonates in guys like Ryan Adams and Jay Farrar, to name a few.
Frank M
he had a very good voice
palehorseone
@manzione2009 This was from the same Johnny Cash program where "Easy To Be Free" was recorded (see video from Adoinel also). Prior to singing ETBF Rick mentions it was recently written and was performed on their live album ("Live At The Troubador") a short time before. On that album Randy Meisner was on bass. I am pretty certain that is he playing here also, especially because of his very distinctive high harmony part.
Rolene Brumley
Thanks, Scott McKain. I think so too Rolene Brumley