Ricky Nelson's Real Name: Eric Hilliard Nelson

Quick answer: The singer and actor was known professionally as Ricky Nelson and later as Rick Nelson. AllMusic and a Contemporary Musicians entry via Encyclopedia.com both record the full name Eric Hilliard Nelson, the birth date May 8, 1940, in Teaneck, New Jersey, and the death date December 31, 1985, in or near DeKalb, Texas. AllMusic uses the spelling DeKalb; Encyclopedia.com uses De Kalb.

Real name and early life

AllMusic lists him as Rick Nelson, also known as Eric Hilliard Nelson and Ricky Nelson, born May 8, 1940, in Teaneck, New Jersey. Encyclopedia.com's "For the Record" line independently gives the same full name, date, and city, and names his parents as Oswald "Ozzie" George Nelson and Harriet Hilliard Nelson. Both accounts say he appeared as a child on his parents' radio program and then on the television series that followed. AllMusic says he entered professional entertainment before his tenth birthday, appearing with his father, Ozzie, once a jazz musician, his mother, Harriet, and his brother David, and that the television series was on the air by the early 1950s. Encyclopedia.com independently dates the radio work to 1948-1952 and the television series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet to 1952-1966.

Career highlights

Both accounts say his recording career began in 1957 with a cover of Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'," promoted on the Ozzie and Harriet television series. AllMusic names later hits including "Poor Little Fool," "Lonesome Town," "Travelin' Man," and "Hello, Mary Lou," and says he shortened his billing from Ricky to Rick around his 21st birthday. Encyclopedia.com independently discusses that early run of hits and his work as a film actor, including Rio Bravo. AllMusic says a 1963 move to Decca was followed by a last big smash of that decade, "For You," in early 1964, and later describes work with the Stone Canyon Band and a 1970 Top 40 cover of Bob Dylan's "She Belongs to Me." Both then describe the 1972 single "Garden Party," which AllMusic and Encyclopedia.com both treat as his last major hit. A Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee page independently records his 1987 induction as a performer.

Death

AllMusic records that he died in a private plane crash on December 31, 1985, on his way to a New Year's Eve performance in Dallas, at age 45, and places the death in DeKalb, Texas. Encyclopedia.com independently says he died in an airplane crash on December 31, 1985, near De Kalb, Texas.

Name notes for searchers

People looking up Ricky Nelson, Rick Nelson, or Eric Hilliard Nelson are looking for the same singer and actor. He used Ricky early in his career and later Rick.