Sandy Nelson
Background information
Birth nameSander Lloyd Nelson
Born(1938-12-01)December 1, 1938
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 2022(2022-02-14) (aged 83)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Drums
Years active1959–2022
Labels

Sander Lloyd Nelson (December 1, 1938 – February 14, 2022) was an American drummer.[1] Nelson, one of the best-known rock and modern jazz drummers of the late 1950s and early 1960s, had several solo instrumental Top 40 hits and released over 30 albums. He was a session drummer on many other well-known hits.[2] He lived in Boulder City, Nevada, where he continued to experiment with music on keyboards and piano.

Life and career

Sander Lloyd Nelson was born in Santa Monica, California to Lloyd and Lydia Nelson on December 1, 1938.[3] Nelson attended high school with Jan Berry and Dean Torrence, who later became recording stars as Jan and Dean, and Kim Fowley.[4] In 1959, Fowley produced Nelson's first recording, "Geronimo" by the Renegades (a band made up of Nelson, Richard Podolor, Bruce Johnston, and songwriter Nick Venet).[5] Although the single flopped on the national charts, it charted in some of the Mid West markets. The song featured in the 1959 film Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow released by American International Pictures.[6]

After gaining respect as a session drummer, Nelson played on several hit singles including the Teddy Bears' "To Know Him Is To Love Him" (1958), The Hollywood Argyles' "Alley Oop" (1960) and Kathy Young and the Innocents' "A Thousand Stars" (1960).[7]

His instrumental recording "Teen Beat", on Original Sound Records, rose to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959.[8] It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc.[9] Subsequently, he signed with the Imperial label[7] and pounded out two more Top 40 hits, "Let There Be Drums", which went to number 7 on the Hot 100,[8] and "Drums Are My Beat". In December 1961 the British music magazine, NME, reported that "Let There Be Drums" had gone Top 10 in both the United Kingdom and United States.[10] All three were instrumentals (a feat rarely repeated).[4] Guitar on these hits was played by co-writer Richard Podolor, later a songwriter and record producer.[citation needed]

Near the end of 1963, Nelson was in a motorcycle accident.[1] The injuries necessitated amputation of his right foot and part of that leg.[4] Nonetheless, Nelson continued to record into the early 1970s, releasing two or three albums a year, consisting of cover versions of popular hits plus a few original compositions.[1]

In September 2008, Nelson and a few friends, recording as Sandy Nelson and the Sin City Termites,[11] released a new record of original compositions, Nelsonized, on the independent Spinout label. Other band members included Eddie Angel (guitarist for Los Straitjackets), Remi Gits, and Billy Favata of Torturing Elvis.[citation needed]

Nelson died in Las Vegas on February 14, 2022, at the age of 83 from complications of a stroke he had in 2017.[3][12]

Discography

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(with Billboard (BB) and Cashbox (CB) peak positions)

Singles

Albums

NOTE: There were separate Cashbox charts for stereo and mono albums until 1965

Originally issued with white cover, later issued with red cover. Features re-recorded version of "Teen Beat"
Reissued in 1966 as On The Wild Side
Reissued in 1966 as ...And Then There Were Drums
Reissued in 1966 with different cover
Reissued in 1966 with different cover
Despite the title, all tracks are studio recordings with live audience dubbed in

Budget compilations

References

  1. ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie (1938-12-01). "Sandy Nelson - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
  2. ^ Bob Cianci, Great Rock Drummers of the Sixties. Hal Leonard Corporation, 2005, pp.120-131
  3. ^ a b Genzlinger, Neil (2022-02-24). "Sandy Nelson, Drummer Who Turned His Rhythms Into Hits, Dies at 83". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  4. ^ a b c "Sandy Nelson: Biography". Music.msn.com. 1938-12-01. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  5. ^ Harvey Kubernik, Hollywood Shack Job: rock music in film and on your screen. UNM Press, 2006, p.77
  6. ^ "Reviews of New Pop Records" (PDF). Billboard. 1 June 1959. p. 49. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b Charlie Gillett, The Sound of the City: the rise of rock and roll. Da Capo Press, 1996, p.104
  8. ^ a b Sandy Nelson (1938-12-01). "Sandy Nelson - Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-30.
  9. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 116. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  10. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 101. CN 5585.
  11. ^ "Sandy Nelson And The Sin City Termites - Nelsonized". Discogs.com. September 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  12. ^ Bernstein Saylor, Hali; Shortt Goodyear, Celia (February 15, 2022). "Noted drummer Nelson dies". Boulder City Rreview. Retrieved February 16, 2022.

Bibliography

External links

Authority control databases
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