<\/p>\n
Considering their family line, it comes as little surprise that twin brothers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson \u2013 grandchildren of sitcom stars Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and sons of country-rock idol Ricky Nelson \u2013 inherited the entertainment gene.<\/p>\n
The brothers picked up their first instruments around the age of 6, started playing clubs in LA at 12, got a record deal at 20 and had their first No. 1 hit at the ripe old age of 22.<\/p>\n
Still, they were determined to explore their own path. The Nelsons steered away from the country-rock of their father and dove instead into the world of hair-band pop-rock in the \u201990s with their band, Nelson.<\/p>\n
They sold a lot of records, toured the world and made albums on their own terms. But no matter where they went, Matthew Nelson said \u2013 be it Indonesia or Chicago \u2013 people asked them to play the hits of their father, songs like \u201cGarden Party,\u201d \u201cHello Mary Lou\u201d and \u201cI\u2019m Walking.\u201d<\/p>\n
They finally acquiesced about 15 years ago, he said, during a concert at a naval base in Japan.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor two hours, we played our dad\u2019s songs. And these 18-, 19-year-old kids had the time of their lives,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cWe looked at each other and said, \u2018What are we waiting for?'\u201d<\/p>\n
Nelson said playing the songs of their father, which had comprised \u201cthe soundtrack of our lives,\u201d led the brothers to realize just how huge the elder Nelson\u2019s influence had been on their sound, work ethic and musical careers. And the music made them feel closer to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur dad was our best friend, and we missed him less when we played his songs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Playing those tunes has evolved into \u201cRicky Nelson Remembered,\u201d a concert that incorporates songs, video, interviews and a whole lot of memories into a musical celebration of a country-rock icon.<\/p>\n
The Nelsons are bringing that show to Fort Lewis College\u2019s Community Concert Hall on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Matthew Nelson said it would be insufficient to call \u201cRicky Nelson Remembered\u201d a tribute show.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a tribute, it\u2019s a celebration,\u201d he said. \u201cWe play some music, talk to the audience, tell some stories. It\u2019s funny and energetic because that\u2019s what he was like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ricky Nelson was also a musical phenomenon; the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer sold more than 450 million records with his swinging pop-country sound and is considered to be the prototype of the \u201cteen idol.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson \u2013 who enjoyed big-band success along with television popularity \u2013 Ricky Nelson was introduced to the world on their sitcom \u201cThe Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet.\u201d He went on to make his own mark in the music world with a string of country-rock hits such as \u201cPoor Little Fool,\u201d \u201cLonesome Town\u201d and \u201cTravelin\u2019 Man.\u201d Some 53 of his singles made the Billboard Hot 100 list, and Nelson was adored by teen fans.<\/p>\n
Nelson died in a plane crash on his way to perform a New Year\u2019s Eve concert in 1985. But he left a strong legacy both in the music world and in his family. Matthew Nelson said he and his brother learned a great deal about hard work from their father.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe never phoned in a show,\u201d Nelson said. \u201cHe worked really hard. Gunnar and I try to do that. That\u2019s really what we picked up, was the work ethic.\u201d<\/p>\n
To that end, he said, \u201cthis show is a labor of love because it\u2019s more than a show for us. This is us representing everything we are \u2026 We treat it like it\u2019s the first and last show we\u2019ll ever play. We leave it all on the stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
And what the Nelsons find, over and over again, he said, is that the energy and music of their father continues to resonate with audiences.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get a standing ovation every night, and it\u2019s because we\u2019ve taken people on a journey,\u201d he said. \u201cWe make sure that people went to a different place for a couple hours.\u201d<\/p>\n