# Ricky Nelson

> American musician, singer-songwriter, and actor

**Wikidata**: [Q303207](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q303207)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Nelson)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ricky-nelson

## Summary
Ricky Nelson was an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actor known for his contributions to rock music, rockabilly, pop, and country. Active from 1949 to 1985, he established himself as a recording artist and television actor, working with major labels such as Imperial, Decca, and Epic Records. His legacy is marked by inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

## Biography
- **Born:** May 8, 1940
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** Hollywood High School
- **Known for:** Work as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor in rock and roll and pop music.
- **Employer(s):** Imperial, Decca, Epic Records, MCA Records, Verve Records
- **Field(s):** Music (rock, rockabilly, pop, country), Television and Film Acting

## Contributions
Ricky Nelson contributed to the American music landscape as a versatile recording artist who performed across multiple genres, including rock music, rockabilly, pop music, and country music. Throughout his career, which spanned from 1949 to 1985, he served as a singer, songwriter, and guitarist, releasing music under several prominent record labels such as Imperial, Decca, Epic Records, MCA Records, and Verve Records. In addition to his musical output, he worked as a television actor and actor in dramatic or comic productions, contributing to the entertainment industry through both audio and visual media.

## FAQs
**What were Ricky Nelson's primary occupations?**
Ricky Nelson worked professionally as a singer, actor, songwriter, guitarist, singer-songwriter, television actor, and recording artist.

**Which record labels did Ricky Nelson work with during his career?**
He was affiliated with Imperial, Decca, Epic Records, MCA Records, and Verve Records.

**What genres of music did Ricky Nelson perform?**
His musical repertoire included rock music, rockabilly, pop music, and country music.

**What awards and recognition did Ricky Nelson receive?**
He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

**Where did Ricky Nelson receive his education?**
Ricky Nelson attended Hollywood High School in California, United States.

## Why They Matter
Ricky Nelson matters as a significant figure in the history of American popular music, bridging the gap between the early rock and roll era and subsequent pop and country trends. His induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame serves as a testament to his enduring influence on the rockabilly and rock genres. By maintaining a career that spanned nearly four decades (1949–1985) and achieving recognition in both music (Hollywood Walk of Fame) and regional legacy (New Jersey Hall of Fame), he demonstrated a versatility that impacted the cultural fabric of the United States. His work with historically significant labels like Imperial and Decca placed him at the forefront of the music industry's evolution during the mid-20th century.

## Notable For
- Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- Induction into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
- Receipt of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- Career spanning from 1949 to 1985.
- Recording for Imperial, Decca, Epic Records, MCA Records, and Verve Records.
- Performing in genres including rock music, rockabilly, pop music, and country music.
- Attending Hollywood High School.
- Working as a television actor and recording artist.

## Body
### Identity and Personal Background
Ricky Nelson, born Eric Hilliard Nelson on May 8, 1940, was an American citizen recognized for his multifaceted career in the entertainment industry. Also known by the alias Rick Nelson, he remained active in his professional life until his death on December 31, 1985. His full birth name, Eric Hilliard Nelson, is documented alongside his common stage names in various biographical records.

### Education
Nelson attended Hollywood High School, a secondary educational institution located in California, United States. This school, established in 1903, served as his place of education during his formative years.

### Career and Occupations
Nelson's professional life was defined by a diverse range of occupations within the arts. He worked as a singer, performing for listening audiences, and as a songwriter, composing both words and music for songs. He was also a skilled guitarist, functioning as a musician who played the instrument. In the realm of performance, he was a singer-songwriter, a musician who writes, composes, and sings his own original material. Additionally, he worked as an actor in dramatic or comic productions across film, television, theatre, or radio, with a specific designation as a television actor. He is also classified as a recording artist, a person who performs music specifically for recordings. His work period began in 1949 and concluded in 1985.

### Musical Genres and Style
The musical output of Ricky Nelson encompassed several major genres. He performed rock music, a popular genre that emerged around 1948. He was also associated with rockabilly, an early style of rock and roll music that originated in the 1950s. His repertoire included pop music, a genre of popular music that also gained prominence in the 1950s, and country music, a genre of American popular music with roots tracing back to the 1920s.

### Record Labels and Affiliations
Throughout his career, Nelson was affiliated with numerous significant record labels. He worked with Imperial, an American record label started in 1947 by Lew Chudd. He was also connected to Decca, a British record label founded in 1929 that later became a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Nelson recorded for Epic Records, an American record label founded in 1953 by CBS and currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment. His affiliations also included MCA Records, an American record label owned by MCA Inc. which was established in 1962, and Verve Records, an American record label founded in 1956 by Norman Granz.

### Recognition and Awards
Nelson's contributions to music and entertainment were recognized through several prestigious awards. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an award located in Hollywood, California. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a music museum located in Cleveland, Ohio, that was established in 1983. Furthermore, he was honored by the New Jersey Hall of Fame, a non-profit honorary organization founded in 2008.

### Digital Presence and Legacy
Ricky Nelson maintains a digital presence through his official website, http://www.rickynelson.com/. His legacy is preserved through numerous identifiers in library and archival systems globally, reflecting the breadth of his recorded work and his impact on the music industry.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. [Source](https://njhalloffame.org/hall-of-famers/2019-2020-inductees/the-nelson-family/)
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. MusicBrainz
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. SNAC
8. Find a Grave
9. Nelson, Rick (08 May 1940–31 December 1985), singer and actor
10. Nederlandse Top 40
11. GeneaStar
12. Roglo
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. Virtual International Authority File
15. [BnF authorities](http://data.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb13897901b)
16. CONOR.SI
17. BBC Things
18. AllMusic
19. Carnegie Hall linked open data
20. The Movie Database
21. YouTube API
22. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data