Ricky Nelson Remembered Heading To Joliet's Rialto Theatre

JOLIET, IL — In eight days, one of the most all-time famous families in the history of rock-n-roll will take the stage at downtown Joliet's historic Rialto Square Theatre. As many remember, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson burst onto the scene in the 1990s with their double platinum album "After the Rain" and their No. 1 hit, "Love and Affection." But 8 p.m. Friday, March 30 is not about celebrating their success as Nelson. Their Rialto show is about their father. It's called Ricky Nelson Remembered: Starring Matthew and Gunnar Nelson.

It's one of the most affordable concerts currently playing at the Rialto. The most expensive tickets are $38.50. Medium-priced tickets are $28.50. The cheapest seats are $23.50. Additional ticket fees may apply.

This week, Matthew Nelson spoke with Joliet Patch during a phone interview that covered an array of topics including "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet," which was the longest-running live-action sitcom in television history. The Nelsons have also endured tragedy. Matthew Nelson was a teenager when his father, Ricky Nelson, died at age 45 in a small plane crash in 1985.

"So many people, there are millions of people across the world, who grew up with our father and our family; there were 435 episodes of Ozzie & Harriet over 14 years," Matthew Nelson told Patch. "People tuned in to see Ricky sing a song. Those memories are important, but (at our concert) we want to make sure that people leave with a real understanding of our pop as a person as well as an artist.

"We're up there representing our entire family for the last 100 years," Matthew said. "We were very close with our family. It seems like we just lost him yesterday."

The Rialto's marketing promo proclaims, "This show is truly a slice of Americana, appealing to multi-generational audiences ... Ricky’s twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson present an interactive, multi-media rock & roll concert experience, taking the audience on a musical journey down memory lane. Matthew and Gunnar (triple platinum recording artist Nelson) perform their dad’s greatest hits including 'Poor Little Fool,' 'Hello Mary Lou' and 'Travelin’ Man.'"

To order tickets for Ricky Nelson: Remembered, visit the Rialto theater website here.

There is no opening act.

"We're not imitating him," Matthew said of their father's music. "It just happens ... The show is fun. We really didn't throw this together. I feel really honored to do it. In ninety minutes to two hours, we take people on a journey. By the end, people will be tearing up laughing.

"I don't think there's anybody better than to tell this story than Gunnar and myself. We were literally always around music and our dad's Star Canyon Band ... it goes back before we could ever talk."

The Nelson twins began playing music at age 6.

"Our dad encouraged us to be writers," Matthew Nelson explained.

The twins played in their first night club at 12.

"So we were quite young that happened," he added.

But what it was like growing up a Nelson, in a mega-famous music family?

"Gunnar and I wouldn't know any different. It was our normal. For us, it was just a family business ... there were blessings and curses with it."

One challenge of growing up in a famous music family, Matthew Nelson explained, is that "I think you want to surpass or meet people's expectations. In our case, it really helped make us more prepared and better. We didn't have the luxury of failing into this."

During the early 1990s, Nelson was one of the hottest music acts on the planet.

Matthew Nelson looks back on that period of his life, laughs and pokes fun of himself.

"That was a time when we looked like two hot Swedish chicks."

So, what can music fans expect at Joliet's magnificent Rialto theater on Friday, March 30?

"I think they (can) identify with our struggles to be understood. In our dad's case, there was something more going on underneath his beautiful exterior and people really feel that with what we give them in this show."

Matthew Nelson, who has visited Chicago numerous times, said he is excited about playing at Joliet's Rialto.

"Our family really struck a chord with Midwesterners," Matthew Nelson told Patch. "We feel very comfortable playing there. Forty-five minutes to a Chicagoan, that's nothing. Get in your car. I promise you that the drive is worth it."

Main image taken by Ernie Vasquez; that photo and other images via Ricky Nelson Remembered marketing