The Life of Beloved Star Ricky Nelson and His Tragic Demise

Rick and Kris welcomed identical twin sons Matthew Gray Nelson and Gunnar Eric Nelson on September 20, 1967. The boys joined their older sister Tracy, making Rick a father of three while he continued recording, touring, and searching for a new direction after his 1950s fame.

Music would eventually become central to the twins’ lives as well. Matthew and Gunnar later formed the rock band Nelson and achieved major success of their own, extending the family’s musical history into another generation. For Rick, however, the late 1960s still brought an uncertain mix of family responsibilities and career experimentation.