Rock legend Ricky Nelson will be honored by his twin sons, Matthew and Gunnar, at the Columbia Theatre during a multi-media entertainment show on January 24 at 7:30 p.m.
With the success of "The Doors Live at the bowl '68" showing, Interim Director of the Columbia Theatre Roy Blackwood has made it a point to have more tribute performances for the Hammond community.
"Ricky Nelson Remembered" will offer audience members a chance to get up close and personal with the Nelson family. Never before seen footage of interviews with Nelson and his family will be played, as well as other musicians who influenced his career.
"His twin sons, Matthew and Gunnar are doing a tribute to their father," said Blackwood. "They are musicians in their own right, with big hits, but for the show, they will be playing the songs of their father."
Nelson's list of hits include, but are not limited to, "Garden Party," Man" and "Hello Mary Lou." These songs can be considered by many adults of the baby boomer generation as their own personal soundtrack, but his music has reached such a wide audience that adults of any age are sure to enjoy the tribute.
"There is just this whole series of his songs that have kind of lived on," Blackwood said. "He was really famous when I was a young guy, and of course, people from the baby boomer generation, we were all about that kind of rock and roll back in those days."
This year marks the 27th anniversary of the plan crash that killed Nelson and his entire band on New Years Eve in 1985 near DeKalb, Texas. The crash cut short a promising career in music, film and television. Tickets for the performance will be available at $36 for the lodge, $32 for the orchestra and $28 for the balcony. For more information on the show, call 543-4371.