In November 30, 1972, the Kingsport TN newspaper said [Rick] Nelson played to an overflow crowd during a recent concert at Clinch Valley College in Wise, Va. This is one of those Rest Of The Story items. I was working at the then WREM Radio in Jenkins Kentucky and had ties to Clinch Valley College (now the University of Virginia College at Wise). I asked for and was granted permission to interview Rick Nelson, but was asked not to record the interview, rather to have a one-on-one talk with him backstage. I agreed. I was sitting in the audience prior to the show and was called backstage to speak with the promoter. You can have your interview but we need help. Rick and the band are here ready to go, but their instruments are on their way. The audience is getting a bit restless. Please go out and explain the delay. You should know that it is one thing to talk to hundreds of people on the radio where you are heard and not seen, compared to appearing in public as the center of attention. As I walked onto the stage in view of the audience, gathering courage to do a professional announcement, a young girl in the audience loudly proclaimed That is Mark Allen from the radio. I know him! which generated laughs. So much for putting the audience at ease. After the show I met Rick and we talked for a while. Both our Fathers were band leaders in College and bot attended Rutgers (although his dad was there before mine). As the song Garden Party related, Rick looked quite different from his image on TV or earlier career, he now had lighter hair. I asked his specifically if he related to the lyrics in his song Teenage Idol. Those lyrics tell of being on the road and having adoring fans, yet the loneliness that comes from touring. He agreed that it told the story well. https://youtube/watch?v=q2xeL2_eSUY At the end of our interview he handed me a telephone number and asked me to call collect and ask for Chris. The pay phone was in a public area and I was to make sure that the crowd had left the auditorium. When I made the call I realized that this was not his manager named Chris but his wife Kris Harmon. It is not often that you are entrusted a stars personal home telephone number. I felt honored. As I led him to the telephone I quietly made my exit with a smile and a wave. And now you know the rest of the story.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:01:57 +0000
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