Matthew Nelson

Famous for their incredible harmonies, musicianship, and humor—multi platinum recording artists and twin icons, Matthew and Gunnar Nelson are torchbearers of an American entertainment dynasty. The Nelson family has been entertaining audiences – in what they call the people connection business – for well over 100 years. Their grandparents pioneered radio and television with The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet; their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee father, Ricky Nelson, ushered in rock and roll into American homes and helped establish the country rock sound; Matthew and Gunnar cemented the Nelson family as the only family in history to have three successive generations of No.1 hit makers with their smash hit, the self-penned “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection”. An Evening with Matthew & Gunnar Nelson is a culmination, and a new beginning for Matthew and Gunnar. Armed with just two guitars and two voices, it’s a concert and a storytelling event with a nod to past and a tap to the future. As NELSON, their embellished pop harmonies in the phenomenal debut, ‘After The Rain,’ captured the California sound and recalled the fusion of pop, folk and paramount –the country rock sound. With NELSON, Matthew and Gunnar’s pop rock band, the two reached an unprecedented achievement in 1990 with “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” catapulted to No. 1, following in the famous family’s footsteps. Ozzie Nelson charted a No. 1 in 1930 (“And Then Some”), Ricky Nelson climbed to the top twice with “Poor Little Fool” and “Travelin’ Man.” The siblings’ soaring harmonies and penchant for crafted song hooks resulted in four additional Top 40 songs, “After the Rain,” “Only Time Will Tell,” “More Than Ever,” and “All Shook Up.” As NELSON, they have released 13 records, many of which are distributed on their own Stone Canyon Records. The long time Nashville residents have never stopped touring and writing. Matthew and Gunnar demonstrate an ever-evolving sound that circles their unique harmony blend and acoustic base. They are in their zone when it’s just their two voices and two guitars. Matthew and Gunnar’s wheelhouse includes a diverse offering for audiences of all ages: Ricky Nelson Remembered, NELSON, SCRAP METAL, Christmas with the Nelsons, and An Evening of Nelsons. Throughout their illustrious career, Matthew and Gunnar have continued to impress with their songwriting prowess and electrifying performances. They have written and performed one number one and five top 10 singles, garnered four number one MTV videos, sold over five million records, and enthralled millions of fans across the globe with their magnetic stage presence. Their talent extends far beyond the music industry, as they have proven themselves to be multifaceted entertainers, savvy entrepreneurs, and ambassadors of unwavering positivity and resilience. Born into the iconic Nelson family, whose matriarch and patriarch were none other than actress Harriet Nelson and bandleader Ozzie Nelson, Matthew and Gunnar were destined for greatness. Their father, the legendary Ricky Nelson, rose to prominence as one of the most influential rock artists of the '50s and '60s, selling over 100 million albums and earning a well-deserved place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Matthew and Gunnar's musical journey began at the age of five, honing their vocal, bass, and drum skills by playing originals in the hayloft above their parents' Studio City California farm. Inspired by their father's current success with his classic song "Garden Party" and the vibrant California country rock movement at the time, the twins dedicated their lives to music. At just 12 years old, they fearlessly took to the stages of the cutthroat L.A. punk and new wave club scene as part of the punky power-pop trio, The Strange Agents. Their concert career was born: two kids cutting heads with musicians twice their age like The Knack, The Go Go’s, and X. In the face of tragedy, Matthew and Gunnar persevered and emerged stronger than ever. Mere months after their father's untimely death in a plane crash, their then-band, The Nelsons, made history as the first and only unsigned act to perform as the musical guests on TV's Saturday Night Live. Fueled by their unwavering dedication to being an unstoppable force to be reckoned with, Gunnar traded his drumming duties for the guitar, embracing a more active role in the band and blossoming into a proficient guitarist and fluent co-frontman. Guided by writing and production mentor John Boylan (Boston/Linda Ronstadt), the duo immersed themselves into refining their songwriting skills and developing their signature sound. The resulting NELSON sound coalesced a unique blend of rock attitude, pop hooks, country lyrics, and brother harmonies that has resonated with audiences globally for three decades.