Tattoo Ted Nelson: Songs, Stories, and the Legacy He Left Behind

One year ago today, I uploaded two songs to YouTube by a man who left an indelible mark on my life and on tattoo culture—Tattoo Ted Nelson.

Ted was more than a tattooer. He spent 28 years working at Lake of the Ozarks and built a 50-year career tattooing across the U.S. Known to many as Tattoo Ted, he was the kind of artist whose stories echo long after he’s gone. But tattooing was just one part of his legacy. Ted was also a gifted musician. He played guitar and drums, even performing with Loretta Lynn for a time. His love for motorcycles, show cars, and sprint racing ran just as deep as his love for ink and music.

Last year, I uploaded two of his original songs—“Death Row” and “Goodbyes Come Hard for Me”—to keep a small part of his voice alive. You can listen to them here:

• https://youtu.be/lvJPkorr_PU?si=AKeu1tZ1Y9BkIOGH

• https://youtu.be/QWnC4Jvm34Q?si=9oIrja0p4hJcQL37

I’m forever grateful for the time I got to spend with him, and for the lessons he passed down—about art, about grit, about how to carry your story with pride.

Here’s to Ted.

#tattootednelson #legacywork #forthosewholefttheirmark