Poor Little Fool

I had a friend  Kindergarten  to High School who loved Ricky Nelson.  Rickey was way older than we were, we being single digit age but he was popular with girls and she adored him well into Junior High.   That girl got less than stellar grades in school but, man oh man she knew the top 100  hits of the day and every program on television and could name them at the drop of a hat.

I never had crushes like that but I got interested in Ricky's story when I bought  Kristen Nelson's
autobiography and art book called Out of My Mind.   Her art work was wonderful.   It's quite a story too.

Her marriage to Ricky was very rough.  He was not easy to deal with.  Harriet Nelson warned Kristen to not ask questions about what went on when a husband goes "on the road" or she would be very hurt so just don't ask!  Imagine that?  Kristen was very much alone in the marriage most of the time and it lead to some very damaging situations. Add to that her narcissistic family who made Kirsten the family scape goat and you have a hard life ahead.

When Ricky passed away her brother, Mark Harmon and his wife who played Mindy on Mork and Mindy tried to take her kids away from her.

 I recommend the book highly just for the art alone if you like primitive art.  

Saturday 9: Poor Little Fool (1958)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it HERE

Ricky Nelson

1) Ricky Nelson sings of a girl with "carefree devil eyes." Are your eyes your best feature? If not, what is?

I have been told I have great legs since high school.  

2) "Poor Little Fool" literally arrived at Ricky's doorstep. A pretty girl knocked on his front door, and played and sang her original composition for him. Who has most recently knocked on your front door (or rung the bell)?

Bell is broken but the kids knock then use their keys to come in.

3) That girl was Sharon Sheeley. A teen model in Los Angeles during the 1950s, she met many of the early rock stars at promotional events. Elvis encouraged her to follow her heart and start writing songs, so she did. Who have you advised recently? Did they take your advice?

A lot of people ask my opinion but I am not sure any of them take or even like it.

4) With the success of "Poor Little Fool," Sharon gave up modeling and concentrated on music. Her songs were recorded by singers such as Richie Valens, Glen Campbell and Johnny Rivers. How many different occupations have you tried? Which was your favorite?

I have been a dancer, a journalist andghost writer of novels,  a medical technologist, a secretary and librarian in a chemical company, worked in accounting for Bell, I was a typesetter for a bit, and I worked for Bell, Georgia Kaolin, Cumberland Farms, Woolworths, and a ran a private lab as a Medical Technologist.  Now I am studying anthropology and like that best.

5) Ricky Nelson was the son of Ozzie and Harriet and brother of David Nelson. They began performing together as a family with their radio program The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. They took the show to television in 1952, where they were referred to as "The Most Famous Family in America." What TV family would you like to hang around with?

The Nelsons, Andy Griffith, The Huxtables,(I adore Bill Cosby because he is a clone of my father.. same sense of humor. My dad would beat box his way around the house.  When the Huxtables came on everyone who knew my Dad said, Oh my goodness, that is HIM"  And, yes, Bill Cosby is just like my Dad in so many ways.  I wouldn't mind being a Brady either or  on Family Matters with Steve Urkell. Besides that Steve was so funny, it was a lovely  family with one of the nicest most stable marriages on TV.

6) While Ricky eventually became the audience favorite, he wasn't initially a likely candidate for stardom. A producer described him as "an odd little kid," shy and small for his age. In those early days, big brother David was more outgoing and considered a natural actor. Thinking back to your preteen years, were you more like David or Rick?  

Good grief.. a combo on the two I would say.  I was not really shy though.  I was outdoorsy and athletic.

7) Ricky never got over his shyness. He often closed his eyes as he sang on camera or before an audience because it helped him battle his nerves and concentrate on the music. Fan magazine oohed and aahed over his beautiful long lashes and young girls fantasized about Ricky closing his eyes before leaning in for a kiss. Who was your big pre-teen crush?

I didn't have crushes. I just really was never impressed that way.

8) In 1958, when "Poor Little Fool" was #1, American women were shopping for Italian-inspired footwear. Heels were lower, and the leather was textured and less shiny that the popular patent leather of years gone by. If you were to go shoe shopping today, what would you be looking for? 

I love wearing high heels and moccasins, loafers. So any of those are on my list!

9) Random question -- Which of these parties sounds like the most fun: a) one you host yourself; b) one at a friend's home; c) a surprise party in your honor?

 Either a or  b. because I love parties and I love to entertain!!    I would not appreciate the surprise party much at all.