Ozzie Nelson
| Ozzie Nelson | |
|---|---|
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Nelson in 1937
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| Born |
Oswald George Nelson March 20, 1906 Jersey City, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | June 3, 1975 (aged 69) Hollywood, California, United States |
| Cause of death | Liver cancer |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, United States |
| Occupation | Actor, band leader, producer, director |
| Spouse(s) | Harriet Hilliard (m. 1935) |
| Children |
David Nelson Ricky Nelson |
| Relatives |
Tracy Nelson (granddaughter) Matthew Nelson (grandson) Gunnar Nelson (grandson) Sam Nelson (grandson) |
Oswald George "Ozzie" Nelson (March 20, 1906 – June 3, 1975) was an American band leader, actor, director, and producer. He originated and starred in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, a radio and long-running television series with his wife Harriet and two sons David and Ricky Nelson.
Nelson was born March 20, 1906 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the second son of Ethel Irene (née Orr) and George Waldemar Nelson. His paternal grandparents were Swedish and his mother was of English descent. Nelson was raised in Ridgefield Park where he was active in Scouting, earning the rank of Eagle Scout at age 13. He played football at Ridgefield Park High School as well as during his college years at Rutgers University. He was a member of the Cap and Skull fraternity, and entered Rutgers School of Law–Newark. As a student he made pocket money playing saxophone in a band and coaching football. Nelson was rejected to be the vocalist for the Rutgers Jazz Bandits, led by Scrappy Lambert and later Hawley Ades. Nelson was not discouraged and was gracious about this rejection when he met Ades years later. During the Depression, he turned to music as a full-time career.
Nelson started his entertainment career as a band leader. He formed and led the Ozzie Nelson Band, and had some initial limited success. He made his own "big break" in 1930. The New York Daily Mirror ran a poll of its readers to determine their favorite band. He knew that news vendors got credit from the newspaper for unsold copies by returning the front page and discarding the rest of the issue. Gathering hundreds of discarded newspapers, the band filled out ballots in their favor. They edged out Paul Whiteman and were pronounced the winners.
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