Tribute to a Travelin’ Man: KGIL Marks Anniversary of Singer’s Death

It was New Year’s Eve four years ago when a white DC-3 trimmed in gold and black came in low, spewing smoke, over a Texas cow pasture. The plane crash-landed. Its pilot and co-pilot escaped, but seven others, including Rick Nelson, died of burns and smoke inhalation.

Some believe that a rock pioneer perished that evening. Others say Nelson was merely a former teen-age idol who had held on beyond his time.

Listeners will get a chance to judge for themselves tonight when KGIL (1260-AM) plays a sampling of the singer’s 53 chart hits during a one-hour Rick Nelson tribute. The show will air from 8 to 9 p.m.

“People can phone in their remembrances,” said Mike Fitzgerald, who along with Norm N. Nite hosts the “U.S. Hall of Fame” series for Unistar syndicate. “We’ll play his songs and talk about what sort of person he was.”

Few singers had as meteoric a rise as Nelson. He was 17 in 1957 when he performed the Fats Domino tune “I’m Walkin’ ” on his parents’ television show, “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” Within a week the record was a million-seller. Rock ‘n’ roll mythology holds that the teen-ager sang to please a girlfriend. Some rock historians have said the debut was actually a savvy managerial move by his father.

Whatever the genesis, it was clear that the public wanted to hear young Ricky. Over the next five years he sold 35 million records and had 17 Top-10 hits, including “Travelin’ Man” (his biggest), “Be-Bop Baby,” “Lonesome Town” and “Hello Mary Lou.” Nelson’s popularity was already on the wane when the British invasion hit rock music in 1964. But he continued to work.

“He taught me that there is no bigger high than taking an idea, putting it down on paper and then hearing the applause,” said Matthew, one of Nelson’s four children, in a magazine interview after the fatal crash.

Nelson had been drifting toward a country sound throughout the 1960s, and in 1969 he embraced it by forming the Stone Canyon Band. The new Rick Nelson was booed in a 1971 appearance at Madison Square Garden, prompting him to write a 1972 hit, “Garden Party,” which chided fans who wanted him unchanged.

Nelson continued touring, sometimes appearing 200 nights a year. He played state fairs and nightclubs, with regular stops at the Palomino in North Hollywood. There were no more hits, but he remained convinced that a rebound was just around the corner.

“Rick Nelson Tribute,” 8-9 p.m. tonight, part of a “U.S. Hall of Fame” show airing 6-11 p.m., KGIL (1260-AM).