65 years ago today, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet radio show premiered on CBS radio. It was a situation comedy that followed the life of real-life couple Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and their two sons David and Eric, known as “Ricky.” In the early years, actors portrayed David and Ricky, but by the time the show moved to television a few years later, David and Ricky were playing themselves.
I loved watching reruns of the show when I was a kid. My favorite character was Ricky, and in the later years of the series (which ran until 1966) Ricky used the show as a platform to launch a music career. Many of the episodes from the late 1950’s and early 1960’s ended with Ricky performing a song. That was my favorite part. Many of the songs he performed on the show charted on Billboard and are still in the playlists of oldies stations everywhere. Ricky continued his music career after the show ended and was performing and writing new songs until his tragic death in a plane crash in 1985.
Here is Ricky Nelson performing, “It’s Late” on 1959 episode of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. It is the Song Of The Day. Enjoy!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diH71kQNna8&feature=related]
Heather
Producer, Branded Music
PlayNetwork, Inc.
