Born September 20, 1967, twin brothers Matthew and Gunnar Nelson extended one of American entertainment’s most recognizable family legacies into the melodic-rock era. The sons of rock-and-roll star Ricky Nelson and grandsons of television pioneers Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, they grew up immersed in music and entertainment before forming the band Nelson.
Their breakthrough came with their 1990 debut album, After the Rain. Built around close vocal harmonies, guitar-driven hooks, and glossy pop-rock production, the album became a major success: it reached No. 17 on the Billboard 200, remained on the chart for 64 weeks, and was eventually certified double platinum. Its biggest hit, “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album also produced the No. 6 title track, “After the Rain,” plus the charting singles “More Than Ever” and “Only Time Will Tell.”
That No. 1 single gave the Nelson family a remarkable distinction: Ozzie Nelson, Ricky Nelson, and Matthew and Gunnar Nelson each achieved a No. 1 record in three successive generations. The accomplishment linked the brothers’ contemporary success directly to a family history spanning big-band music, early television, rock and roll, and MTV-era pop-rock.
Matthew and Gunnar continued recording and performing together long after their early-1990s breakthrough, including projects honoring their father’s musical legacy. Their September 20 birth date marks the arrival of two artists who carried a famous family name into a new musical generation while establishing Nelson as a distinct act in its own right.
Image: Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, circa 1992, via Alamy.
