When your grandparents starred in the longest live action sitcom in television history, and your dad was one of the most successful and innovative artists of '50s rock and roll, creating your own identity can be daunting if nearly impossible.

But Sam Nelson persevered and beat the odds. Best known as the lead singer of the L.A. alternative rock band H Is Orange, Sam is now the estate manager of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. In his spare time, the artist is one of the four principals of The Rick Nelson Company.

Last October, Sam took several hours of his day to give an extensive interview on his efforts to digitize and restore all 435 proper episodes of Ozzie and Harriet via fan donations. That portion of the conversation, entitled "My God, What An Incredible Asset," is available by clicking here.

Today an all-new conversation shifts the focus to legendary recording artist Rick Nelson and his influence on his youngest son. Indeed, December 31 was the 26th anniversary of Rick's passing when a plane carrying his fiancé, entire band, and road manager landed in De Kalb, Texas, engulfed in unyielding flames [a faulty cabin heater was the culprit, and both pilots escaped with severe burns].

Sam never had an opportunity to see his dad that often, as he was only 11 when Rick passed away. Plus, Rick was an entertainer who loved touring. By the end of his life Rick was forced to play loads of shows in order to generate cash for an ugly, very public divorce that created shock waves within the Nelson and Harmon families.

Below, Sam discusses his relationship with his dad, how his parents' divorce affected him as a kid, something "weird" that his dad taught him, the one time he got to see his dad in concert, the final time they saw each other on Christmas Day, how listening to his dad's music (especially his early rockabilly) helped him cope with his loss, his Grandma Harriet, The Jordanaires, and whether he would consider recording some of his father's Garden Party-era material...

The Sam Nelson Interview, Part One

How was your relationship with your dad?
My relationship with Pop was tricky. I loved him very much, I know he loved me very much, but we didn’t really get an opportunity to see each other that often. When I was growing up, my parents were going through a divorce that lasted about seven years. I think I’m being conservative when I say seven years, because it feels like forever. That happened all through my childhood.

I basically had to sneak out to see him, and the big night to see him was Christmas Eve. I would go to Pop’s house on Mulholland Drive (formerly owned by Errol Flynn), and we would spend one glorious night a year together. Then I wouldn’t see him again – he would be off touring or performing.

When he passed away, I was 11 years old. It was profound in all sorts of ways. Mass media was different then. It was very limited in terms of what and how you were informed.

But when he died, literally the whole world mourned with our family, which was amazing and incredibly powerful. Even now you don’t get that – you hear it on the Internet where it happened kind of thing. To be his son, on top of that, was surreal.

What made it even more surreal was the fact that I had seen him on Christmas Day, a few days before he passed away. The whole thing was very hard to wrap my head around. And for a long time I was lost. I didn’t have a clue about what had happened, who he was, who I was, who my family was.

I was very close to my grandmother (Harriet). She lived in Laguna Beach, and I would go down and ask her about my dad. Was he like this? Did he do this? Did he enjoy this?

For the most part, she could either tell a story or amazingly, she could pull out an episode of Ozzie and Harriet and say, “Yeah, check it out, this is when your dad was going through such and such.” That was obviously surreal in its own way. I've got the most incredible home movies that anybody could ask for.

I had that crutch, I suppose, of going through the process of mourning with this unbelievable amount of music, history, photographs, along with my grandmother. Thank God she was still alive to fill me in and help me get through that unbelievably sad time.

What did your dad teach you?

Every time I saw him, it was always a pretty special occasion. It wasn’t extraordinary things, but we would play tennis for example. Pop taught me how to dive in the deep end of our swimming pool.

I know this sounds weird, but he showed me how to wrap a towel around my waist. He didn’t know how to tie a tie, but he sure did a good job teaching me how to wrap that towel.

Did you ever see him live in concert?
I did. My life has been interesting in the sense that I’ve been kind of always in the background. A lot of the time that was intentional. I have had the ability to walk into a room, and people don’t have an association with me like they do with my brothers or sister, since they were always out there in the spotlight.

I like the idea of going anywhere I want to. And when I made friends, I didn’t have to feel concerned about tension and stuff. My first concert with my dad was actually kind of the beginning of that.

I think he was playing Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. It was more of an open air concert, not really a seated event. I was about four or five years old, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was out in the crowd with our housekeeper, just walking amongst all the people.

Everybody was especially excited, and girls were giddy about the fact that they were going to see Pop. As he came onstage to loud cheers, I walked up to this one lady.

I exclaimed, “That’s my Pop!” She responded, “Oh, how cute!” So I reiterated, “No, he’s really my dad!,” pointing enthusiastically. Even though I was that young, I remember being subtlety annoyed that she didn’t believe he was actually my dad.

So with a shrug of my shoulders, I said (or at least felt), “Oh well,” then I moved on. That must have been my first official concert. I never saw him in concert again.

Again, with the divorce, I lived with my mother for awhile, and it was incredibly tumultuous between my mother and father. There was a period of time when I would sneak over to my grandparents’ house to see Pop. We would go get ice cream or eat a burger, but those experiences were really few and far between.

What do you remember about Christmas Day 1985, the last time you saw your dad?
Pop got me a little RC remote-controlled car. I know it was truly important to him, since he only saw me once a year after the divorce. He wanted to make sure the gifts were always incredibly special and sentimental.

He really took a long time to go out and find the right car that he thought I would love, and I did. I actually I have a picture of us holding the car. It was the last picture of us together.

When did you start listening to his music?
I slowly started to listen to his music beginning with his early stuff. I was wowed by it, probably just as much as any other kid was at the time when it first came out. Of course, I loved all sorts of music, even as an 11-year-old in 1986.

I was really taken by rockabilly and ‘50s rock & roll very, very early on. I was listening to a slew of artists, especially my dad’s idols like Carl Perkins, Buddy Holly, and my personal favorite, Roy Orbison.

I was trying to get in deeper and deeper to help me understand who Pop was as a person through the music that he loved. I got an incredible music education that way and an appreciation for music that stuck with me forever.

Over time, my dad’s music evolved, and as I got older, so did my understanding of him as an artist. I really focused on his Garden Party era – that period where he was writing his own material.

Consequently, I started writing my own material and began getting more introspective in my own right, trying to figure out what it was that I wanted to do with my life. Breaking away from the family stuff and really kinda being my own man, which is basically the lesson he tried to teach.

You know, you can’t please everyone, so you gotta please yourself. You gotta do what you can to be your own man.

Would you ever record and release one of your dad’s songs?

It’s funny, at this point with the Ozzie and Harriet stuff, I’ve also been doing my renditions of my dad’s material. My brothers have already done it. I haven’t released anything yet, and I probably won’t for awhile.

I’ve been catching up with the old musicians, singers, and producers who were involved with my dad’s recordings and doing video interviews with them. It’s been incredible. They’re all still raring and for the most part, ready to go.

The Jordanaires were my most recent addition. They actually performed some classic back-up vocals on a few songs. That’s all I can say right now.

MORE TO COME: Don't go anywhere, as PART TWO will be available shortly. In it, Sam will discuss his Grandma Harriet, whether his relationship with his mom has gotten better, doing his internship for MCA Records, selecting tracks for his father's Legacy box set, his successful tenure in A&R catalog for Capitol Records, and whether a film biography of his dad is on the horizon...

Twitter @jeremylr

**Jeremy also writes a column on "The King of Cool," actor Steve McQueen. Visit it here for further interviews and unique features...

© Jeremy L. Roberts, 2012. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without first contacting the author.

http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-national/rick-nelson-was-really-my-dad-sam-nelson-remembers-the-late-icon-26-years-later-1

Goldilocks, this is wonderful. Thanks!

Thanks for sharing. And wow, that's my slideshow video for "Life" :)

This part really caught my eye:

"and whether a film biography of his dad is on the horizon..."

:banana:

Here's Part 2:

He's part of something incredible: The lowdown with Rick Nelson's youngest son
Singer/songwriter Rick Nelson first entered the spotlight when he was only eight years old. His parents finally relented and let he and his older brother David appear on the radio version of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet in early 1949.

That show became synonymous with the ideal 1950s American family, but it also blew scores of family doors wide open with the emerging beat of rock'n'roll. After Elvis Presley dominated pop culture in 1956, Rick swiftly followed, cutting his first record ["I'm Walkin'"] while he was only 16.

"Tricky Ricky" as his longtime lead guitarist James Burton fondly called him, never looked back. Fifty-three Rick Nelson singles landed on the Billboard Hot 100 between 1957 and 1973, making the singer one of the most successful solo recording artists of the 20th century.

After Rick embraced his country rock roots in the early '70s, his recordings didn't sell as much. But he gained much critical acceptance, doing things his way and remaining a popular concert draw until his premature death on New Year's Eve 1985.

His youngest son, Sam, is proud of his family's legacy. Though he has remained in his family's shadow for a number of years, working behind the scenes, that era may be coming to a close. In an exclusive interview with this writer [Part One, featuring his relationship with Rick, appeared earlier today], Sam has been sharing his intriguing life story.

The conversation kicks off again as Sam reveals whether his relationship with his mother has endured, his Grandma Harriet's personality away from the cameras, becoming the first Nelson in two generations to attend college, and why he didn't pursue a music degree.

Later, the musician discusses how he learned the ins and outs of the record industry as an intern at MCA, his father's Legacy box set, becoming a successful A&R representative for Capitol Records, spearheading the efforts to restore his dad's music catalog, and if a Rick Nelson film biography will ever see the light of day...

The Sam Nelson Interview, Part Two

Tell us about your grandparents on the Harmon side.
I lived with my grandparents on the Harmon side during my parents’ divorce. My grandfather [Tom won the Heisman Trophy while playing football for the University of Michigan in 1940] passed away in 1990 of a massive heart attack. It was especially difficult to lose him, as he was a father figure to me. I also referred to him as “Pop.”

My grandmother (Elyse) is still alive at age 94. She was an actress and a model for Universal [her stage name was Elyse Knox; The Mummy’s Tomb with Lon Chaney, Jr. is one of her notable films] and later Monogram Pictures in the 1940s.

She became a stay-at-home mom when my grandfather married her, and she raised my mom, Aunt Kelly, and Uncle Mark [he currently stars in the CBS series NCIS, a ratings bonanza]. She’s one of the most incredible people in the world.

Has your relationship with your mom, Kris Harmon, gotten better over the years?
We’re absolutely close. She lives in New Mexico, so it’s a little bit of a trip to visit her. She’s incredibly creative. I’ll call her and ask her about ideas and what she thinks.

As you get older, things that were important aren’t important anymore. Problems aren’t problems anymore. You work through them, or you don’t. But for the most part, you hope to. I think we’re in a good way together, and we have a good relationship.

She and Uncle Dave never really mended fences. They were cordial. Again, as time goes by, time goes by. I know that after Uncle Dave passed in January 2010, my mom wrote a fantastic letter to his wife, Yvonne. They’re starting to rekindle and communicate a little more. Hopefully that will spawn into something more meaningful.

What was your Grandma Harriet like?
She was awesome. She was funny, smart, witty, very classy, and possessed an incredible grace about her until she passed away on October 2, 1994. She had that energy, that thing. When Grandma walked into a room, you knew she was there. All eyes turned to her.

There was no arrogance about who she was. Grandma wasn’t a jerk to anybody ever. She was just an amazing, amazing woman. I couldn’t have asked for a better grandmother.

I think she realized when my dad died how cheated I was for the most part, growing up without parents, being left to my own devices to figure everything out. Grandma really made an effort to take me under her wing and educate me to a certain degree and indulge me with the family history, make me know I was part of something incredible.

She didn’t have to do that. Honestly, in a lot of ways it really set the course for me and my confidence in wanting to do things that other people in the family didn’t. For example, school. Grandpa Ozzie was the last person in my family to attend college until I went. That wanting to "be better" feeling happened when she took that chance with me.

So where did you attend college?
I went to college in Europe for a little while, but I ended up at Boston College, where I ultimately graduated. In fact, I went to high school in Massachusetts, so I spent a lot of time on the East Coast, in a boarding school, actually.

I have a degree in Psychology and a minor in Film. Music was not a part of that process, and I did that on purpose. I just didn’t want music to become a task. I didn’t want to start feeling like my understanding of what I know music to be needed a grade attached to it.

So I kept those separate. Psychology is the study of human behavior; it’s connected to everything you do in life. Working in business, being in music, writing, and being creative is all a part of that process.

What was your first job?
During my senior year in high school, I did a summer internship at MCA Records around 1993 at an administrative level, nothing profound. But I was definitely listening to new music, dealing with record labels, trying to secure demo deals, helping other bands, and in a band myself. Basically just running the L.A. rat race.

I quickly got an idea of what the music business was all about. Seeing how things work, how everything is politics, how everything is who you know [networking], just figuring all that stuff out at a very young age. Thankfully that later evolved into my gig with Capitol.

You know, music has always been the key in my career. I believe you are where you need to be. That’s exactly where I needed to be at the time. Working for the labels was an incredible education, an incredible school for what I’m doing now.

I made great friends and an outstanding network of people. They don’t talk, they do. That’s the most important thing. I’ve learned a lot, and now I’m taking those tools with me to really do well by my family.

Did you work on your dad’s well-received Legacy box set, released in 2000?
Yes, I helped Bob Hyde [then-Vice President of A&R for EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets] and my siblings, bringing in song suggestions and to a certain degree, A&Ring the project.

I was much younger then, and I wasn’t at Capitol at that point. It was a collective family experience, sort of a magical little moment in my dad’s retrospective career. I’m very proud of that box set.

What were some of the projects you worked on during your tenure with Capitol Records?
Beginning in 2005, I started working at Capitol in A&R in catalog with these legacy artists – amazing talents like N.E.R.D., Megadeth, Pat Benatar, Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin [the platinum-selling Dino: The Essential Dean Martin], Nat King Cole, and my dad.

I helped put together some pretty big projects over there that were very successful, including theRicky Nelson Sings DVD [2005, directed by John Scheinfeld], Greatest Hits [2005] andGreatest Love Songs [2007]. By the way, I helped produce the latter.

The label was virtually done with legacy or catalogue artists at that time. With my dad, it was like,Oh whatever, we’ll just put something out. Oddly enough, Ricky Nelson Sings went gold andGreatest Hits almost did. That blew everybody’s mind. It was the first time my dad had really shone in a long time, perhaps 25 years.

I also A&R'd Greatest Love Songs a couple of years later, and unfortunately, it didn't get the love it deserved. The players changed, and the label itself was just looking for the fastest way to the finish line. No marketing and they blew the opportunity. Regardless, I’m really proud of that record.

Initially when I first started working there, Capitol was very creative. There was an incredible team of people trying to be innovative, and it wasn’t just an artist’s “greatest hits.” And if it was a greatest hits, it was released with a strategy to make it more interesting and successful. What a concept.

Unfortunately, as time went on, it became basically unimaginative greatest hits packages only. As we all know, the record industry for the most part, especially over at EMI, has gotten a little rough. That idea of creativity and trying to breathe new life into older projects sadly went away.

John Scheinfeld directed Ricky Nelson Sings. Do you think he might tackle a biography of your dad?
John is a fantastic, great guy. He basically helped launch us again. He put my father in a completely different place with the performance special. I wish him nothing but success, and he’s definitely earned it.

John has talked about doing a film about my dad, and now that he’s doing an Elvis movie [Fame & Fortune], it’s something that might really happen. It’s a pretty exciting thought.

MORE TO COME: Don't go anywhere, as PART THREE will be available shortly. Sam will shed light on his musical aspirations, his rock band [H Is Orange], their unfortunate connection to September 11, the first song he composed that harkened back to his father's fateful last flight, the Rick Nelson Company's former relationship with Elvis Presley Enterprises, and why he can't convince his sister to sing more often in public. "Subscribe" above to know when it goes live...

**Jeremy also writes a column on "The King of Cool," actor Steve McQueen. Visit it here for further interviews and unique features...

© Jeremy L. Roberts, 2012. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without first contacting the author.
.

This is sooo great! I can hardly wait for #3

Well wait no more....here is Part 3:

Sam Nelson, musician: Revisiting H Is Orange and more with Rick Nelson's son
Add a comment Jeremy Roberts, Pop Culture Examiner
January 13, 2012 - Like this? Subscribe to get instant updates.
.30 1 0 2Submit0redditPrintEmail StumbleUponredditPrintEmail.Sam Nelson grew up surrounded by music. His grandfather, Ozzie, led Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra, charting frequently during the Big Band swing era to resounding success. His grandmother, Harriet, was the orchestra's featured vocalist.

Of course, his dad was Rick Nelson, who successfully carried the rock'n'roll torch after Elvis was inducted into the Army. Rick later had twin boys, Gunnar and Matthew, who later formed the pop rock band Nelson.

Without a doubt, those were serious musical shoes to fill. But music became Sam's life. The songwriter accurately described his musical dilemma at the time, saying that "as an artist, it’s hard enough figuring out who you are yourself. It’s that much more difficult when you’re constantly bombarded by these preconceived notions of who you should be."

So Sam put his musical ambitions on the back burner for awhile, achieving a degree in Psychology with a minor in Film. Nevertheless, when friends encouraged Sam to pursue his lifelong dream, H Is Orange was born.

After experiencing many highs and lows as a struggling hard rock band in L.A., the group decided to prioritize and focus their energy on other pursuits. Enter Sam Nelson, Capitol Records A&R representative and present estate manager for Ozzie and Harriet.

With the recent 26th anniversary of the death of his dad, Sam has spoke exclusively with Examiner.com about all things Nelson. In case you missed Part Two ["He's Part of Something Incredible: The Lowdown With..."], simply visit the link.

The informal chat resumes high gear with the story of H Is Orange, their untimely connection to September 11, 2001, the first song Sam composed [noticeable parallels can be drawn to his dad's fear of flying], whether his sister [actress Tracy Nelson] is musically inclined, his dad's friendship with Elvis Presley, and exciting news about the Smithsonian Institute and Ozzie and Harriet...

The Sam Nelson Interview, Part Three

Are you a musician first and foremost?
How do I say this? Music is my life. I grew up with entertainment all around me, all the time. Music was obviously an enormous part of my life. I grew up with my brothers, Matthew and Gunnar, who were doing something great but completely different than the direction I had ever thought myself to go in.

I always kinda played on the back burner musically for a long time until I got to college. I know this might sound silly, but the opportunities musically that I wanted to take weren’t available until I got away from my family.

Then I started focusing on my own thing, completely independent of everybody else. My brothers were very successful as the band Nelson [(“Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” “After The Rain,” and “More Than Ever” were huge hits in 1990. The former went to No. 1].

So people thought, Maybe you should start emulating your brothers. Pop was a legend, so maybe you should start doing that kind of stuff. As an artist, it’s hard enough figuring out who you are yourself. It’s that much more difficult when you’re constantly bombarded by these preconceived notions of who you should be.

As I got older, I found my own voice. It definitely parlayed with school. When you ask if I’m a musician first, I would say I’m an artist first, in the sense that I love ideas and creativity. I express them in every aspect of my life, every way that I possibly can. Music is a huge proponent of that.

Tell us about your rock band, H Is Orange. You guys actually have an unfortunate connection to September 11th…

If you go to iTunes, YouTube, or Amazon, you can find my material with my alternative hard rock band, H Is Orange [Marcel Blanco – bass, Guy Staniar – original drummer, Rich Abagon – drums, David Iscove – guitar, and Troy Brittain – guitar].

I first played in a band with Guy back in high school. We formed a band immediately after I graduated from college. We finished our first three-song demo in about a month. Two months later, we started getting calls from every major label in town.

From there, things got very rocky very quickly for H Is Orange. We did the dog and pony show, ran the ride. But as soon as the luck came…it went.

If you can believe it, this is how long ago it was – we arrived in New York City on September 10, 2001, to showcase for a bunch of different labels. The next day, the whole world changed. That kind of threw a wrench in the momentum of things.

We spent a long time trying to regain that momentum. But you can’t chase that. The second you start running after your own momentum, you’re done. There is nothing worse than trying to recapture an energy long gone.

We realized that pretty early on and started to prioritize. So, I moved on to the other, in my opinion, more interesting side of things, business. I actually went directly from H Is Orange straight to Capitol Records.

However, we never stopped recording and playing occasional gigs. In August 2009 we released our third album, Thrill of Escape. It’s a fantastic record. “Nothing All the Time,” a song from that album, was licensed for the popular video game, Guitar Hero.

It’s been nearly two years since our last gig. It was a CD release party for Thrill of Escape, although the album had been out for a year. We had just licensed the song for Guitar Hero, too, so it was kind of an all-around celebration.

Everybody was clamoring for us to go onstage and play again. It was more or less one last hurrah for our band. The guys are married, have kids, and some have moved out of California, so other priorities have taken over.

We don’t have any plans to get back together just yet for shows, although we might for a special studio session dealing with licensing purposes [i.e. commercials, video games, etc.]. That’s our bread and butter. Oddly enough, we have an incredible fan base. They’re very, very consistent and loyal.

Today my business hat is on over my artist hat, which I love. I’ve taken the reins on the Ozzie and Harriet entity, and it’s a very daunting process. As it gains more momentum and structure, I’ll devote more time to my music. But I’ll always be a singer/songwriter.

During the last two years, I’ve been working on my solo material again. It’s more acoustic, singer/songwriter based, kinda in line with The Stone Canyon Band.

I have about 45 songs that I’m looking forward to releasing pretty much in tandem with the Ozzie and Harriet material towards the end of this summer. Hopefully I’ll have some listeners.

Do you recall the first song you composed?
Yes, it was called “Too Scared To Fly.” It appeared on Telepathetic, my first record ever, released in late 2000. It’s available for download under H Is Orange’s discography, but the band doesn’t appear.

It’s just me, kind of a subtle but powerful folk/rocktronica sound. I can play all instruments for the most part. I wish I was a little more proficient on keyboards. It’s a pretty rare record. Look for the bullfighter on the album cover.

That song is definitely autobiographical, but it’s also metaphorical. It is really about fear – fear is a powerful force, and you have to be able to break through it. The song was cathartic when I wrote it, as I was going through a bad breakup and an emotional, tumultuous relationship. It was breaking through that whole process of fear, losing, longing, and loss.

Flying has always been the biggest fear I’ve had as I was growing up for obvious reasons. Of course, I fly all the time now. There’s no question I’m not the biggest fan of flying. Fortunately, as I’ve gotten older I don’t fear flying nearly as much.

What is your official role in your dad’s estate, The Rick Nelson Company?

Technically, I’m a principal (one of four) of the Rick Nelson Company and estate manager for Ozzie and Harriet. At this point, my brother Gunnar is technically “managing” our dad’s estate if there’s such a title for that.

He’s at the helm of Pop’s stuff, and I’m more at the helm with The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet for now. I’m doing what I can to get it to a place with some push and momentum, and we’ll go from there.

One of the biggest problems we’ve faced over the years is people getting involved that shouldn’t be. Towards the end of Pop’s life, there were a lot of people that weren’t great who all had their fingers in the pie.

That was also true with the past few decades concerning Ozzie and Harriet – it became very muddy. So it’s fantastic that we can re-harness our family’s legacy. More importantly, it’s amazing that there’s still a desire and passion for all things Nelson, especially since the show has been off the air for 45 years.

Tracy isn’t really actively involved in the estate. She and I are very similar creatively speaking. For the most part, she participates when there’s a specific project to get up and running.

For example, we’re currently speaking with The Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., about doing a display for Ozzie and Harriet. The institute is interested in doing an induction, too, which is incredible. I guarantee you Tracy will be involved with organizing that endeavor.

Is Tracy musically inclined?

It’s funny – she says she isn’t, but she really, really is. She’s got a fantastic voice. She has great pitch, she’s always in tune, but she needs a little more confidence to get out there and sing.

But don’t let anybody fool you, she can definitely sing. She was “Rizzo” during a two-month run of Grease on Broadway beginning in November 1996.

Some people might be surprised to learn The Rick Nelson Company once had a business relationship with Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE)…

Yeah, that’s a tricky thing. It’s been at least 15 years since we had the relationship with them [several catalogs were sent out to Elvis fans featuring a few pages of Rick’s merchandise].

EPE are great people down there, but their priority is obviously Elvis. Some of his fans are Rick fans, but they’re all definitively Elvis fans. It’s just a little hairy, because we don’t want to step on toes. Everybody gets very, very possessive, even with my dad’s stuff. Imagine that with Elvis. They think things should be a certain way.

It’s difficult when you have another asset that you have to treat the same way. People resent that, and there could be a backlash. It’s basically business – doing business smart or not smart. Regardless, we had a really good time with EPE.

The irony is that Elvis was a friend of my dad. I wish that could have been parlayed or communicated a little better with regards to campaigns we were involved with. Unfortunately, it didn’t go in that direction, which is fine.

I hope we can make Rick Nelson a third as relevant as Elvis has become since his death in 1977. I think a lot of that has to do with the bigger picture, which is the Ozzie and Harriet component that continues to resonate. Through that comes the Rick Nelson component. From there, he extends out like he did in life – as a musician, as his own man, and as an artist.

MORE TO COME: Don't go anywhere, as PART FOUR (the conclusion) will be available tomorrow. Sam will recall some of his dad's best musical moments on Ozzie and Harriet, his Uncle Dave, some of his favorite Rick Nelson music, whether there is such a thing as a perfect day, and his dad's legacy. "Subscribe" above to know when it goes live...

Twitter @jeremylr

**Jeremy also writes a column on "The King of Cool," actor Steve McQueen. Visit it here for further interviews and unique features...

© Jeremy L. Roberts, 2012. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without first contacting the author.

http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-national/sam-nelson-musician-revisiting-h-is-orange-and-more-with-rick-nelson-s-son


Here is a Youtube video of Sam and H is Orange:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DEG0ta1Wpc

This totally ROCKS!!

*Goes to Amazon to put H is Orange cd's in my cart*
.

Well wait no more.....


You are the best! Thx!!!

Thanks, Oh Nuts! :)

Here's is Part 4:

Rick Nelson lived the hero's journey and left his own mark: His son speaks
Add a comment Jeremy Roberts, Pop Culture Examiner
January 13, 2012 - Like this? Subscribe to get instant updates.

During the past week, artist Sam Nelson has given a wide-ranging interview spotlighting his relationship with his famous father, the rest of the Nelson family, and his journey from a kid daydreaming of playing music into the mesmerizing lead singer of H Is Orange.

In case you wish to catch up with Part Three, entitled "Sam Nelson, Musician: Revisiting H Is Orange and More With Rick Nelson's Son," click on the link.

In trying to encapsulate his father's legacy some 26 years later, Sam acknowledges his "pop's true success, impact, and legacy on the world is that he lived the hero’s journey. He broke away from a world created for him, as surreal as it was, to truly become his own man and leave his own mark. He was a pure, pure artist and lived life it to its fullest."

Certainly, Sam is emulating his father's outlook on life and his career. And although he is focusing more on business today as the estate manager for Ozzie and Harriet, Sam's creative drive isn't diminishing in the slightest.

The conversation's home stretch comes into focus below as Sam shares the current status of the Kickstarter project to revitalize The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.

Plus, he explains how "I'm Walkin'" became a runaway success in 1957, his dad's best musical moments from the show, his favorite latter-day albums released by his father, how his Uncle David kept the family stabilized, whether there is such a thing as a perfect day, and the legacy of Rick Nelson...

The Sam Nelson Interview, Part Four (Concluded)
One of my favorite episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet was when Rick performed “I’m Walkin’”…

The funny thing is, the premise for each show was all built on real-life events. An incident would happen one week, and it would be in the show the next week, which is pretty incredible. The music was the same way.

With the “I’m Walkin”’ story, my grandfather heard the record playing in my dad’s bedroom. You could record vinyl demos in those days. My grandfather asked, “What’s that?” And my dad admitted, “It’s me singing.” My grandfather replied, “Oh, really?”

By the next week the “Ricky the Drummer” episode was prepared. It aired on a Wednesday evening, (broadcast on April 10, 1957), and by Monday morning every record store stocked my dad’s cover of Fats Domino’s “I’m Walkin.”’ It sold a million copies in a week.

What were some of your dad’s other stand-out performances on Ozzie and Harriet?
Pop does a rendition of “If You Can’t Rock Me” [the song appears on his first LP, Ricky, released in November 1957] in a live appearance that I think was taken from the Louisiana Hayride.

It’s just so cool. That’s why we need to go through all the episodes of the series, track down every single performance, and know what show they come from.

Although a lot of the Ozzie and Harriet performances were recorded or lip-synched, this performance was as raw as raw can get. James Kirkland is in the rear, plucking away on his stand-up bass.

James Burton is on lead electric guitar, and my dad is on rhythm acoustic. I can’t remember if Richie Frost play drums or not. Pop has this young, pure, soft voice which resonates like crazy.

The song is completely out of place in the episode, entering almost like a blast. Grandpa must have said, “Okay, insert Rick Nelson song here.” Pop goes into a little dance/swing ensemble with a girl during James Burton’s solo. Although it’s only two minutes, “If You Can’t Rock Me” is fantastic.

Another time Pop sang a live acoustic version of “Lonesome Town” [the song was a No. 7 pop single in October 1958], which is amazing. It’s just him on guitar, as intimate as it can be. He was just in a room somewhere. In my opinion, the performance brings out the best of Rick Nelson – pure, young, clean, crisp and powerful, but subtle, too.

Did Ozzie encourage pre-recording the musical numbers?

You do 435 episodes of anything, there’s a routine that will start happening. You just kind of bang ‘em out after awhile and pre-record. However, there are recordings that were true to the show only. Like, “Hey Rick, pick up that guitar and play that song.” And Pop goes, “Okay,” and picks it up. Clearly, it’s just him playing.

Sometimes the family would all get together and harmonize a little ditty, including Uncle Dave. There’s a bunch of songs from Grandpa’s Big Band era they did that way, very off-the-cuff.

As we get in deeper, there will be a lot of performances that nobody’s seen from my father which makes it more exciting that people help with this process of digitizing the show.

How would you characterize your Uncle Dave?

When Pop died, everybody was kinda lost. Uncle Dave was responsible for putting everything in order. He was a quiet, good guy. As a son, I was looking for my dad, so I definitely wish that he was more like my dad than he was. But he had his own family and his own stuff going on.

Concerning Ozzie and Harriet, I wish he had taken it in different directions. I wish he had been a little better in that regard, but I’m glad he had the courage in me later on to bring me into the fold. He must have been watching the decisions I had made in my life and career, so I’m proud and honored that he had the courage to bring me on.

What updates can you give on the Kickstarter project to restore and digitize The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet?

Well, in December I drove across the country, interviewing people who participated. That went really well. I also did a video interview with The Jordanaires [First tenor Gordon Stoker and bass extraordinaire Ray Walker backed my dad on many of his greatest songs] while I was in Nashville. What an amazing experience.

There will be a part two to the Kickstarter donations beginning in a couple of months, because of an overwhelming response from people who missed the opportunity the first time. I appreciate the support thus far, and I thank everybody for participating. There’s lots and lots more to come. I hope the support continues.

Name some of your favorite Rick Nelson music.

The latter part of his career especially resonated with me. Rudy The Fifth is his seminal record. I don’t think it got the love that it deserved when it was released. It’s phenomenal; in fact, a lot of my solo material is similar in sound to the direction that record went.

Between October and December 1978, Pop recorded in Memphis with producer Larry Rogers [it was the only occasion where he recorded outside of L.A.]. Most of the sessions were finally released as The Memphis Sessions shortly after his death.

Maybe it was because the album came out while I was grieving, but I was really, really absorbed into the music. I love that album and all the songs. It brings me so much peace. That’s probably my second favorite album of his.

My dad performed an amazing cover of Elvis’ “That’s All Right” on the album. In addition, “Dream Lover” is on there, and it’s unbelievably great. There’s a guitar solo in the album version at the very end of the song (not in the original single) that makes me weep every time I hear it.

Playing To Win [1981, released on Capitol] is another great rockin’ record. Again, it got underplayed, and it should have had more love, too. I think it came from his heart. That album contained one of the final songs he wrote, “The Loser Babe Is You,” a very telling song.

Pop also covered John Fogerty’s “Almost Saturday Night.” Creedence Clearwater Revival had originally covered “Hello Mary Lou” on their final album, Mardi Gras (1972). All these years later, Fogerty returned the favor by covering “Garden Party” on The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again (2009).

[Author's Note: To read about Fogerty's attempts to actually produce Rick in the late '70s, visit this recent interview with Rick's biographer, Philip Bashe].

Do you have a perfect day?

Happiness is elusive, right? I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a perfect day, but I would love to live a life where I wake up and I’m constantly creatively challenged. I would love more to be in an environment where I can work through ideas. I would love to be creative for a living. That would make me most happy.

As to hobbies, I write short stories, poetry, and songs like crazy. I love music; I’m also a producer, and I make electronic music. I’m athletic; I like climbing, hiking, and all that outdoorsy stuff.

I’m starting to learn more tech stuff like HTML and coding, since you have 12-year-olds building websites.

The creative process always excites me. I suppose if you put that all in one place, a perfect day would be a feeling of accomplishment after taking an idea and creating something from nothing. The idea would then of course go on to make 12 million dollars…you said the perfect day, right?

What is your dad’s legacy?

He was a true artist. He did as an artist what everyone in life aspires to do – find out who they really are.

My pop's true success, impact, and legacy on the world is that he lived the hero’s journey. He broke away from a world created for him, as surreal as it was, to truly become his own man and leave his own mark. He was a pure, pure artist and lived life it to its fullest.

Twitter @jeremylr

**Jeremy also writes a column on "The King of Cool," actor Steve McQueen. Visit it here for further interviews and unique features...

http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-in-national/rick-nelson-lived-the-hero-s-journey-and-left-his-own-mark-his-son-speaks

I recall the Larry King interview in which he asked all four Nelson offspring what each of their best memories of Rick and while Tracy and the twins had memories centered around Rick's music, Sam said finding an audio tape after his father's death that Rick had made urging the older sibs to welcome the newborn Sam into the family that he had had no knowledge about. Regardless, it's good to see that Sam seems to have now made his peace with all that happened re his family and appears to be doing well [and appearantly has gotten to know about Rick as a person more since the Larry King interview].

Thanks for sharing this!! In an era where rock musicians didn't seem to have much to do with their kids, Rick Nelson was totally loved and adored by all of his children. It's great that the boys have kept the music going (a couple of years ago Matthew and Gunnar covered "Travelin' Man" on a compilation album of offspring of famous musicians covering their dads' music). It's great that Tracy, Matthew, Gunnar and Sam are all, in their own way, keeping Rick's legacy alive.

It's also great to know that Sam and Kris have made amends. I know that she wasn't the world's greatest mom while the kids were growing up, but it seems that as time passes the wounds are being healed. God bless all of them!! :cool: :D