After studies at Concordia College, Moorehead, MN, and at Lawrence Conservatory of Music at Appleton, Wisconsin, Nelson moved to Minneapolis and started his career as staff arranger at Ruperts night clubs in Minneapolis, Atlanta and St Louis from 1984 to 1990. He was also arranger / lead trombonist in the Minnesota Vikings Band from 1985 to 1990.
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As a studio musician, Nelson has appeared on numerous albums, with producer, composer, arranger, and performer credits on 3 Hornheads solo releases (Fat Lip, 5 Heads Are Better Than 1, and Hornheads) and 10 Compass Records CDs for the Target retail chain.
Nelson has also performed and/or recorded with Chaka Khan, Doc Severinsen, Lenny Kravitz, The Jonas Brothers, Sammy Davis Jr., Mandy Moore, Jimmy Jam, Johnny Mathis, Honor Society, Larry Graham, Ben Sidran, Jordan Pruitt, Babyface, Maceo Parker, amongst others.
He has also worked on many commercial projects for companies such as Target, BMW, Holiday Inn, Macys, ABC, Minnesota Twins, Best Buy, General Mills, Hormel, Donatos, Long John Silver, and Redline Entertainment.
Nelson has created his own record label "Born 2 b Wild Music", through which he releases Hornheads albums and promotes his activities as freelance trombonist/arranger for recordings and performances, studio musician, horn arranger and commercial session musician. He also officies as clinician/adjudicator for college and high school jazz festivals and is orchestra arranger and contractor for the Starkey Hearing Foundation.
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