Very informative article. Lots of info on Ricky, the day of the crash, and Ozzie, Harriet and David.

http://www.ourprattville.com/entertainment/movies-music-tv/exclusive-interview-gunnar-nelson-discusses-his-music-his-father-rick-nelson-and-sir-paul-mccartney

Both Gunnar and Matthew seem like really cool, humble guys. How great is it that they remember their father with so much love and respect? (Plus, they share my birthday, so that makes them even cooler. :cool: :D)

I found Gunnar's comments regarding David particularly interesting. For example, when described the "Rick Nelsons" (meaning, I presume, Rick and his kids) as "hams" and said that the "David Nelsons" prefer being on the other side of the camera, it occurred to me that he was describing a difference between Rick and Dave that went back to their early adulthood--Rick choosing to remain a performer, in both music and acting, while Dave virtually stopped acting after The Adventures went off the air and focused instead on working as a producer and director (having cut his teeth as a director, as most folks on this board already know, on episodes of the family show as early as 1963).

I was also interested to read that David & Yvonne are now living in Laguna Beach. They had lived in Encino for quite awhile when David was still working, and when he began transitioning into retirement (around 1998) they moved into a new house in Newport Beach, around the same time in fact that O&H's old beach house in Laguna was sold to someone who tore it down. At that time, Dave recalled in an interview for the Los Angeles Times (which I posted a link to somewhere on this board) how special Laguna Beach had been to the Nelsons, and said he didn't want to sell the house but Rick's kids needed to for financial reasons. Also, in the A&E Biography on the Nelsons, Yvonne recalled how special Laguna Beach had been to the Nelsons back when everyone was still alive. So I thought it was kind of nice to see that they've moved back down there, even though of course Ozzie, Harriet, and Rick are all gone. I also smiled at Gunnar's comment about how Dave spends his time fishing--next to ice cream, fishing was one of the most recurring themes on the show. (In fact, I just watched "The Barking Dog" the other night.) Although, as I recall in the commentary on the first Shout Factory set, Dave is no fan of tutti frutti ice cream, so while he may be fishing where he & Oz & Rick once did, I doubt he's going on any late-night tutti frutti junkets!

This part made me smile:

"I was 7 when Oz (Ozzie Nelson) died, but I remember him. I remember going over for Christmases and I remember looking forward to that crisp 20-dollar bill in that card. I remember laughing with him and all of that stuff, and his illustrations and drawings."

That such a "grandpa" thing! I can just see Ozzie! :lol:

What a wonderful interview. Thanks for this great find Goldilocks. I ate the interview up. Gunnar is so nice and charming...and giving to his fans. But that's the Nelson creed! Whatta family...whatta show...what entertainers. (Another reason I love the show)

What a wonderful interview. Thanks for this great find Goldilocks. I ate the interview up. Gunnar is so nice and charming...and giving to his fans. But that's the Nelson creed! Whatta family...whatta show...what entertainers. (Another reason I love the show)
:yeahthat Beautifully said, Rich!!

What a wonderful interview. Thanks for this great find Goldilocks. I ate the interview up.

Glad you enjoyed it, I posted the same one in the music forum.

Great interview! Thank you.

Gunnar and Matthew also did a cover version of their dad's "Travelin' Man" that I really enjoyed. :cool: :D

Catlover,

Do you have Matt and Gunnar's tribute album to Ricky, "Like Father, Like Sons"?

Catlover,

Do you have Matt and Gunnar's tribute album to Ricky, "Like Father, Like Sons"?
Never heard it - but I'll keep my eyes peeled and get back to you. :cool: