Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson, later known as Rick Nelson (May 8, 1940 December 31, 1985), was an American singer, musician and actor. With more than 50 Hot 100 hits, Nelson was second to Elvis Presley as the most popular rock and roll artist of the late 1950s.[citation needed] "Garden Party" was a 1972 hit song for Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band from the album Garden Party. It tells of his being booed off the stage at Madison Square Garden, seemingly because he was playing his newer, country-tinged music instead of the 1950s-era rock that he had been successful with earlier, and his realization that "you can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself".Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson, later known as Rick Nelson (May 8, 1940 December 31, 1985), was an American singer, musician and actor. With more than 50 Hot 100 hits, Nelson was second to Elvis Presley as the most popular rock and roll artist of the late 1950s.[citation needed]"Garden Party" was a 1972 hit song for Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band from the album Garden Party. It tells of his being booed off the stage at Madison Square Garden, seemingly because he was playing his newer,.