A NEW OBSESSION Ricky Nelson to Andre Rieu
Hi Most Awesome Fans:
I want to share with you an article that appeared in my local paper. The writer, Tony Wade, had asked about teen idols and fans. Well, perhaps I am no longer a teen, but I a fan! 
Fairfield resident Sally Chaney grew up listening to Ricky Nelson. The very first record she owned was by the TV teen idol.
Not many would have predicted that a bonafide rock music icon would get his start on the homespun “Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” television show in the 1950s. But Ozzie and Harriet’s younger son Ricky became a sensation after performing on the show.
It’s often forgotten just how popular Nelson was because of being overshadowed by other artists, but from 1957 to 1962 he had 30 Top-40 hits. That’s more than any other artist at the time except Elvis Presley (who had 53) and Pat Boone (38).
In the late 1970s, Nelson made an appearance at the Solano County Fair and Chaney had to be there.
“I got in early and was front row center for the concert,” Chaney said. “I worked up the nerve right before intermission and asked how I could get an album I brought with me signed and I was told to go around back after the show.”
Chaney got much more than a signed album however. Nelson motioned to his bodyguards to let her through and she joined him for ice cream and conversation.
“I felt very special and he and everyone else was nice and introduced themselves and said ‘Nice to meet you’” Chaney said. “He may have been Ricky Nelson on stage, but offstage he was just Rick like any other normal person.”
In 1985 when Nelson died in a plane crash, Chaney “cried for a week.” Nelson still holds a special place in her heart and she snatched up a copy of the DVD “Ricky Nelson Sings” produced by the icon’s children. She also intends to attend a concert next year featuring James Burton, guitarist for Nelson, Elvis and many others.
A NEW OBSESSION
Chaney now considers herself a huge fan of classical conductor and violinist Andre Rieu.
“At Rieu’s concerts the women wear brightly colored gowns and the men wear tuxedos but even the orchestra will swing and sway – they don’t just sit there like they are frozen,” Chaney said. “The audience can clap, can dance can waltz – he even brought water and made people gargle. He’s just different and I have everything he’s put out.”
Chaney isn’t alone in her obsession and while the behavior Rieu fans exhibit is similar to that of fans of pop groups there is a crucial difference: their age.
“At the encores of his concerts Rieu invites everyone on stage (actually I said to the stage) and if you’re 60 years old you are the young one,” change said. “I call them gray-haired groupies.”
Change has a Rieu fan website (www.AndreRieuFans.com) and occasionally has to referee disputes between the legions of fans of the violinist.
“I had to ban a couple of women from my Website because they would literally get into arguments about who was his biggest fan and these were women in their 70s,” Chaney said. “In my eyes his number one fan is Marjorie his wife. That’s the way it should be.”
Still, Chaney herself shows her obsession with a license plate on her car which reads "RIEU FAN" and follows the conductor and his orchestra on tour She’s met Rieu a number of times at his shows, but balked at the $1,600 price tag for a meet-and-greet this time around.
Chaney is always surprised when so few people have heard of the very popular musician known the world over. (Last year in Australia nine of the top ten music DVDs sold were Rieu’s.) She attributes it to a simple fact.
“He doesn’t get that much recognition in the press because he’s been married for 35 years and his children are normal."
(Sadly true when we see who and what gets in our press these days. Andre is simply too good a person with too nice a family. American press tends to publish stories only on those who need rehab or have failed marriages. )
Way to go! Until Andre, I don't think I ever had someone I would actually follow around. Even Andre says he can walk down the street in the USA and no one knows who he is. Hopefully the new employee he recently introduced to work in the US will do something about that. I am tentatively going to Maastricht. Have one not so great ticket and no hotel room. Even though the hotel calendar is blocked out I emailed and was told in return email that I would get a room, but until it's confirmed, who knows. The said they will be assigning rooms shortly. Have seen complaints of no rooms in Maastricht. Don't know if there is something else is going on also or not. So will just wait and see.
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Who is there to compare to Andre these days, in any music genre?
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Susan, you are right. There is just No One who compares. When I tried to talk about Andre, it was difficult as there is no one else on that level.
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Sally, that is so cool! What a great read. I can't even remember having one particular "idol' as a teen. I did like so many, watched Your Hit Parade all the time, guess just what was popular at the time. There were so many. As a teen I worked in the local drug store, a teen hangout, & all the popular songs got played on the jukebox. One I remember was a song, Sugarbush, Doris Day & Frankie Laine, I think. It got played so much it drove me crazy. That & Johnny Ray's song, Little White Cloud That Cried. Those two were played over &over& over! I think it's neat that you met Ricky Nelson. We used to watch Ozzie & Hariet on TV too.Brings back happy times doesn't it? As for Andre,as a classical music fan, I knew I spotted something special & different in him. viva André!
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That's exciting. I hope the room you want becomes available. Just being there is something special.
I can remember being a little kid and watching Ozzie & Harriet just to see and hear Ricky sing. Loved his voice then and now.
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You must have been a real "little rocker" Sally. I recall Jill telling me she attended Ricky Nelson's Concert in Australia. Maybe she has a story to tell here as well.???
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We should ask her! There is a little more to my story too.
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Ozzie and Harriet was called The Nelsons here and was one of the first television shows shown on Australian TV. We didn't get TV till 1956. I loved The Nelsons, and Ricky of course, (I was 14 at the time and he was impossibly handsome), David was nice too. I also loved his friend that would come bursting into the room saying, "Heya Rich, what's a happ'ning?"
Ricky came and did a concert tour here about 1960. Of course I went to see him. Jimmy Rodgers and Cliff Richard were on the same night.
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Heya Jill !
Wow, you got to see Rick at the top of his popularity. That must have been great. I would imagine James Burton was the guitarist with Rick at that time. A double blessing.
Moderator Prudence just shared a link with me about a tour Ricky's kids are doing this year: http://www.nelsontourinfo.com
There is a video of Gunner & Matthew spliced in with Ricky:
http://www.nelsontourinfo.com/highspeedpromo.html
From Ricky Nelson to The Beatles, Herman's Hermits & James Taylor to Helmut Lotti and Andre Rieu !
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I believe I was absorbed with the Everly Brothers about that period of time.
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This was a great article Sally, thanks for sharing! I enjoyed reading it.
I thought Ricky Nelson was cute and handsome all rolled into one, along with a great voice. I loved his music. I respected his stand with some when "Garden Party" was a hit. He left us way too soon!
I was hooked on Elvis when I was growing up...Neil Diamond was up there, but nothing like Elvis!
Two different times of course, but, in my opinion, André is tops now. I think it's his personality along with his violin music that puts him over the top for me. He doesn't let people get to him, nor does he compromise his music or beliefs. I appreciate that very much.
And, of course, he plays the violin like no one else! Just give me an André violin solo, and I'm happy.
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Oh Marlene, my sister was, and still is, a huge Elvis fan.I thought he was ok, but not my idol. She loved him so much & cried when he died, just like a lot of others. On the 10th anniversary of his death,1987, she wanted to go to Graceland so we took her.That night we attended the candlelight ceremony. That was so impressive, so many people from all over the world, a sea of candles. I don't know how many were there that night but I'm glad we went when we did because I've heard since then it has grown to 40 to 50,000 people.It took us about 2 hours to go through the line, I can't imagine what it would be like in the later years. We stayed for three days so were able to tour the mansion & take in some of the sites in downtown Memphis. It was quite a trip, probably a must for any Elvis fan, but I'm glad we went.
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I like the 'young' Elvis. Not a huge fan, but a fan. I would love to see Graceland. I am no fan of crowds, so that's something to think of..
I think you did the right thing Shirley. You saw Graceland before the huge crowds got there. And what a wonderful gift for your sister!
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I could tell so many stories about Elvis and how much I liked him. It would drive anyone crazy now. haha
I wasn't crazy about the "young" Elvis...just didn't know of him then...but I loved the older Elvis. I thought his voice had more quality later on. The concert days, the movie days.
I couldn't eat for three days after Elvis died. I remember exactly what I was doing at the time. My husband knew I was a huge fan of his and he was nicely sympathetic for me.
I remember those candlelight ceremonies they have had in Memphis. Actually one of my clients went all the way there from here to be a part of it.
Being the fan that I was, I still would not have gone to the ceremony. I have all his cd's, even now...but haven't listened to one in a very very long time. Just can't. It's just not the same for me.
Now...take André...he's someone I can listen to, and do...from sun-up to sundown!
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Hi Sally
I can't say I remember the guitarist. I have a feeling the stars on that show used our local rocker Johnny O'Keefe's band 'The DJs'. Many of the visiting artists did. We had an American promoter, Lee Gordon, living here and he would bring everyone out that had a number one record and bunch them all together into one big show at The Sydney Stadium - an old tin shed that seated thousands of people on benches in a circle around the revolving boxing ring that served for a stage. I don't know what the visiting artists thought of the facility but the atmosphere was fantastic.
The line up of artists was always incredible. I remember seeing The Platters, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and Paul Anka all on the one show - headed by Johnny O'Keefe who always worked the audience into a frenzy before anyone else appeared on stage.
I had a look at your links. I'd like to see Ricky's kids performing.
Since Andre came along my taste in music has changed dramatically though - I never would have believed that would happen. I've always been strictly a 50s/60s girl.
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The Nelson family were one of our favorites to watch on TV too, that and Leave It To Beaver. Those two families seemed to be life as you would like it to be. One thing I could never understand though,the wifes always looked so neat, even doing housework. High heels,a string of pearls, all that plus an apron.
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Wow, !!! I suppose one day I will know what it is like to be so Old an to be able to talk about things so long ago.
Was the "Grand Canyon" there then ??? or was it just a "crack" ?? Did you have "Dinosaurs" for pets ???
Andre and I were just little "Bubs then !!!
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You're very brave today you sweet young thing!
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haha, he IS a bit snide isn't he?
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Another one was 'Father Knows Best'. It was on when TV first started here and only one person in our street had a TV set. Once a week they'd let all the kids in the street come to watch Father Knows Best. I had a crush on Bud (of course)and the excitement of the weekly visit to watch the show with all the other kids is a sweet memory even today.
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While we're talking about old TV shows, does anyone remember one called 'Panic'?
None of my friends seem to remember it but I thought it was very exciting. It was a half hour show and would start off with someone walking along and a voice saying, "This is .....and in 30 seconds he will PANIC". A whilpool would cover the screen and spin and then the story would start and you'd find out why the person was panicking and what the result was etc.
I hope someone remembers it because my husband reckons I dreamt it up...
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I am thinking the statistics are for American TV, but Australian TV must have been around the same time:
http://www.tv.com/panic/show/5970/summary.html
You weren't making it up Jill. It's real! No reason to Panic. (ha, my lame joke)
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I never heard of it either, maybe our local channels didn't show it. I was probably busy watching the Twilight Zone.
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Thanks Sally, now John will have to believe me.
They repeat a lot of the old TV shows. I wish they'd repeat this one. I wonder if it would still seem as exciting?
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I would like to see "" My Mother The Car "" on DVD. It is widely panned as the worst tv show ever, but I remember thinking a talking car was cute. I liked that darn show!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Mother_the_Car
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