Ricky Nelson was adored by fans for decades. He became a teenage heartthrob, a successful recording artist, and one of the most frequently seen musicians on American television.
Although many people remember the tragic and mysterious circumstances surrounding his death, fewer know about the last-minute decision that may have saved the lives of his two young twin sons.
Ricky Nelson was born Eric Hilliard Nelson in Teaneck, New Jersey, on May 8, 1940. His parents, Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Hilliard Nelson, would later become household names through their hugely popular sitcom, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
Ricky was a quiet and somewhat shy child. He also struggled with severe asthma and reportedly needed a vaporizer with an evergreen tincture to help him sleep at night.
John Guedel, a producer who worked with Red Skelton, once described Ricky as an unusual but likable child — introspective, mysterious, and difficult to read.
When Red Skelton was drafted into military service in 1944, Guedel helped create a radio sitcom centered around Ricky’s parents. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet premiered on October 8, 1944, and quickly became popular with audiences.
The Nelson family eventually moved from radio to television, and the sitcom became a major part of American pop culture. Ricky and his older brother, David, joined the television cast when they were still children, around 8 and 10 years old.
During those years, Ricky attended Gardner Street Public School before eventually going to Hollywood High School. He reportedly wasn’t particularly interested in academics, which sometimes caused tension with his father, Ozzie, who wanted his son to attend college.
By the time Ricky reached the age when most young people were preparing for college, however, he was already earning an extraordinary amount of money. His income was reportedly around $100,000 a year, giving him little financial incentive to pursue a traditional college education.
At 17, Ricky appeared in an episode of his family’s television show titled “Ricky, the Drummer.” During the episode, he performed a song that was later recorded and released as his first single, “I’m Walking.”
The song became a major success, reaching No. 4 on Billboard’s Best Sellers chart.
From there, Ricky’s music career took off. His growing fame allowed him to introduce songs on his family’s television program before releasing them as singles. Over the years, he recorded numerous popular songs, including “Poor Little Fool,” “Travelin’ Man,” “It’s Late,” “Garden Party,” “Fools Rush In,” and “For You.”
His success continued throughout the 1960s, as he regularly placed songs in the Top 40 and became an important figure in the developing rock-and-roll scene. His popularity also led to numerous tours across the country.
Around 1961, Ricky began dating Kristin Harmon. She came from a similarly well-known Hollywood family, and the Harmons and Nelsons were already close.
The couple married in April 1963 and eventually had four children: Sam Hilliard Nelson, twins Matthew Gray Nelson and Gunnar Eric Nelson, and daughter Tracy Kristine Nelson.
As Ricky’s career continued, his family remained an important part of his life.
The Tragic Flight
On December 31, 1985, Ricky Nelson and several other people were traveling aboard his Douglas DC-3 when the aircraft caught fire during a flight from Alabama to Texas.
The tragedy claimed the lives of Ricky and the other people aboard the plane.
The circumstances surrounding the fire have remained the subject of discussion for decades. One theory involved drug use, but Ricky’s brother David strongly rejected the idea, insisting that his brother never used cocaine.
Ricky’s manager, Greg McDonald, later said that Ricky and his girlfriend Helen Blair were asleep in the cabin when the fire began.
Ricky’s daughter Tracy Nelson eventually discussed the tragedy with Larry King. She said she believed a mechanical problem may have been responsible for the disaster.
According to Tracy, the aircraft — sometimes nicknamed the “Flying Bus” because of its relatively slow speed — had reportedly experienced problems with its gasoline-powered heater. She believed that the heater could have played a role in accidentally starting the fire.
The Decision That Changed Everything
One of the most heartbreaking parts of the story involves Ricky’s twin sons, Matthew and Gunnar.
The boys had been expected to travel with their father, but a last-minute decision meant they did not board the aircraft.
That choice ultimately spared them from the tragedy that claimed their father’s life.
While many details surrounding the fire have remained uncertain, the decision not to have the twins aboard became one of the few pieces of hope in an otherwise devastating family tragedy.
Ricky Nelson’s death marked the end of a remarkable career. He had grown from a shy child on a family sitcom into a major recording star who helped bridge the worlds of television and rock-and-roll music.
His legacy, however, continued through his children.
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson eventually formed the rock band Nelson and built successful careers of their own. Their music also became a way of keeping their father’s memory alive.
Matthew has spoken about the lasting connection he and his brother have with their father, describing their work as an ongoing expression of love.
For Ricky Nelson’s family and fans, the circumstances surrounding his final flight remain painful and, in some respects, unresolved. But one thing is certain: his twin sons survived to carry on his legacy, while the music and memories of Ricky Nelson continue to live on decades after his death.