Ricky Nelson was cherished by his fans for many years as a teenage pop sensation and was among the most frequently televised musicians of his time.
While many are aware of the enigmatic circumstances surrounding his death, few know how a last-minute decision saved the lives of his two young sons.
Ricky Nelson, born Eric Hilliard Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey, on May 8, 1940, was the son of Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard Nelson, who were famous for their beloved sitcom: “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.”
As a child, Ricky was small and shy, battling severe asthma that often required him to use a vaporizer with evergreen tincture to help him sleep at night. John Guedel, the producer for Red Skelton, described him as “an odd little kid” — endearing, thoughtful, mysterious, and difficult to read. When Skelton was drafted in 1944, Guedel developed the radio sitcom The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for Ricky’s parents, which debuted on Sunday, October 8, 1944, to favorable reviews.
The Nelson’s sitcom enjoyed a remarkable run of sixteen years, setting a record in sitcom history. Ricky and his older brother, David, became part of the show’s cast when they were around 8 and 10 years old, respectively.
During this period, Ricky attended Gardner Street Public School and later Hollywood High School. He had a tendency to dislike formal education, which created tension with his father, who hoped Ricky would pursue a college education.
By the time he was nearing the age for college, he was already earning more than most established adults. His income was approximately $100,000 a year, which exempted him from the necessity of a college degree.
At 17, Ricky featured in the episode “Ricky, the Drummer” of his family’s show. A song he performed in that episode was recorded and released as his debut single–”I’m Walking.” It swiftly climbed to number 4 on Billboard’s Best Sellers list.
His fame soared, enabling him to frequently debut music on his parents’ show prior to releasing songs as singles to the public. Some of his notable hits were “Garden Party,” “It’s Late,” “Fools Rush In,” “For You,” “Poor Little Fool,” and “Travelin’ Man.”
Around 1961, Rickey started a relationship with Kristin Harmon. Kristin shared a similar upbringing, having also been raised in Hollywood. Moreover, her family had a close friendship with the Nelsons.
The couple tied the knot in April 1963 and welcomed four children: Sam Hilliard Nelson, twins Matthew Gray Nelson and Gunnar Eric Nelson, and their daughter, actress Tracy Kristine Nelson.
Ricky’s popularity continued to grow throughout the ’60s as he consistently released Top 40 hits. His music, which was part of the burgeoning rock n’ roll genre, led to numerous tours over the years.
Tragically, it was during one of these tours that he met his untimely and still-mysterious demise.
Ricky was known to dislike flying, even though he frequently had to take planes for tours and promotional events. He reportedly attended psychotherapy sessions to help alleviate his anxiety about flying, allowing him to continue his career and connect with his fans.
Nelson and his sons, Matthew and Gunnar, were supposed to fly to Dallas together for a New Year’s show that Ricky was set to perform. However, Gunnar mentioned:
“We were supposed to be on the plane on that trip. Our dad called us right before we were supposed to come down to Alabama and meet him and fly with him to the New Year’s show in Dallas.”
Just days before their planned departure, Ricky experienced a troubling feeling or premonition, which led him to call his sons and inform them that they would not be flying together to Dallas.
The flight Ricky was scheduled to take had also reported some engine issues a few days prior to their departure.
Ricky boarded the DC-3 plane in Alabama without his two sons, and as the plane approached its destination, the cabin became filled with smoke. Tragically, the fire claimed the lives of Ricky and the other passengers on board, although the pilot managed to land the plane safely in Texas.
The cause of the fire on the plane remains a mystery even thirty years later. Various rumors have circulated regarding the cause, including scandalous claims about Ricky using cocaine with his then-girlfriend, Helen Blaine.
Ricky’s brother, David, strongly refutes this allegation, stating that his brother never used cocaine. Additionally, Greg McDonald, Ricky’s manager, later mentioned that Ricky and Helen were asleep in the cabin when the fire broke out as well.
Tracy Nelson, Ricky’s daughter, later shared with Larry King that she believes a mechanical failure was responsible for the tragedy.
Tracy noted that the plane—often referred to as the “Flying Bus” due to its slow speed—had a history of issues with its gasoline heater, which could have easily resulted in an accidental fire.
Although the cause of the fire remains unanswered thirty years later, it is evident that Ricky Nelson’s premonitions helped avert an even greater family tragedy.
Matthew and Gunnar, Ricky’s twin sons, went on to establish their own successful music careers together in honor of their father. Matthew expressed: “It’s an ongoing labor of love, an open letter to our dad, who was our best friend.”
Farewell, Ricky! We’d love to hear your thoughts on his life-saving insight in the comments.
