Gypsy Pilot Overview

Gypsy Pilot overview

“Gypsy Pilot” is a documentary film that will offer new insights into the life of TV star and rock musician Rick Nelson by allowing him to tell his own story in his own words and music. Rick wrote over 40 songs; only “Garden Party” became a hit. All his other hits where written by other people.

“Gypsy Pilot” seeks:

1. To enhance the image of Rick Nelson as more than simply a teen idol.

Audiences wanted him to remain little Ricky, and it was difficult for Rick to have impact as an adult. We want to eliminate the erroneous perception of Rick as a one-dimensional teen idol and show him as the talented musician he really was. The early TV exposure that gave him a rapid rise to fame eventually became a noose around his neck because it obscured Rick’s status as an important and authentic figure in rock and roll history. The TV teen-idol image kept him from obtaining acknowledgement and recognition for his musical accomplishments during his lifetime.

2. To let Rick tell his own story through his own words and music, creating a new market for his unknown songs, for the Nelson Family. (Tracy, Gunnar, Matthew, Sam)

A new understanding of Rick Nelson will emerge through his own words and the music that he left us. The new image that will emerge from this documentary is of Nelson as a poet and songwriter, a sensitive man who was much more than the teen idol or Ricky of teenage fame. He was an intensely private man who did not often share his thoughts and feelings, but it is all there in his songs.

3. To recognize and archive his achievements and contributions to music

John Fogarty, Paul McCartney,. Kris Kristopherson, have all recognized the genius and talent of RN publicly in the years since Rick’s death in 1985. Record companies and managers let him down over and over again. They failed to promote him, took advantage of him, failed to recognize his talent. A pattern of neglect and poor management plagued Rick throughout his career and got worse as decades passed, especially after his father died in 1975.

Recognition by his peers was something Rick sought but has gained only after his untimely death in 1985. We want Rick to be recognized in several ways:

(1) as a major founder of country rock – It was his sound, the one that he created with his Stone Canyon Band that became popular and influenced the development of the California country rock sound. Randy Meisner carried that influence and experience with him when he later helped to found the ‘Eagles’.

World-famous guitarist James Burton has said yes, country rock began with Rick and that he http://www.rockabillyhall.com/RickyNelson1.html

(2) was an early innovator of rockabilly, with songs such as “Believe What I Say”, "It's Late", "Stood Up", and "Waiting in School".

(3) Rick was one of the best interpreters of Dylan. Dylan acknowledged his influence on his own work in his autobiography, Chronicles, and also by playing “Lonesome Town” in every performance the year after Rick died.

(4.) Rick Nelson’s story captures an era. His story has historical value and will increase and correct the knowledge of the roots of rock, preserving the facts of his pivotal role in the development of rock and roll by saving and sharing rare videos of his performances collected by Ian Cooke.

To show how members of a famous family used creativity to recover from paralyzing grief after the death of a core family member.

Tracy, Gunnar, Matthew, Sam, and Kris Nelson all suffered greatly when Rick died. They each have dealt with that overwhelming grief by struggling to unleash their individual talents, forming bands, creating a show about Rick’s hit songs, by acting in different roles, and by painting pictures of great value.

There are a lot of people who say “I grew up with him.” It seems that many fans who had deaths in their families around the time of Rick’s death, felt like Rick's death was like a death in their own families.

See the www.gypsypilot.com website for more information.