[msb-alumni] Drummer Sandy Nelson dies at 83 on February 14, 2022
- From: Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2022 18:32:24 -0500
BlankRIP Sander ‘Sandy’ Nelson
Feb 18, 2022 | News Beat
Google BookmarkFacebookTwitterPrintMore
OBITUARY by Ian Woolley
One of the finest drummers to make his mark on early Rock ‘n’ Roll, Sander
Nelson has died…
Sander Lloyd Nelson, better known as ‘Sandy’, carved a successful career as
both a session
musician and as a soloist.
Sandy Nelson
Nelson was born on December 1st, 1938 in Santa Monica, California.
Later, at high school, he formed a band with fellow students Jan Berry & Dean
Torrence (who
went on to record under the name of Jan & Dean). Along with future Beach Boy
Bruce Johnston
who played with them, all of which would influence the growing surf and hot rod
movement
with their music.
As a session singer, Sandy played on many hit records. Teddy Bears’ To Know Him
Is To Love
Him, Hollywood Argyles’ Alley Oop, and Gene Vincent songs.
In 1963, he was lucky to survive a motorcycle accident and his right foot had
to be
amputated. However, this didn’t stop him from resuming his career.
In his long career, he released over 30 albums and had several instrumental
singles in the
charts on both sides of the Atlantic.
Songs like Teen Beat, Drums Are My Beat, and Let There Be Drums showed off his
unique flashy
upbeat style. He certainly helped promote the importance of drum solo breaks in
Rock ‘n’
Roll records. Teen Beat sold over a million copies alone and it earned him a
gold disc with
Richard Podolar playing the guitar riffs on all three instrumentals.
Nelson died on 14th February 2022 in a Boulder City hospice (Nevada). He had
been
hospitalized after suffering a stroke. He was 83 years of age.
Sander “Sandy” Nelson, who was well-known for his talents as a drummer and as a
staple of
downtown Boulder City, died Monday evening.
Nelson, 83, had been ill for several months before his death.
Born Dec. 1, 1938, in Santa Monica, California, Nelson began his career as a
drummer in 1958
as part of a backup band for Art Laboe’s rock ‘n’ roll show.
He attended high school with many who had long careers in the music industry
including Phil
Spector, Jan Berry and Dean Torrance.
His son, Josh Straume, said he had been put into hospice care Jan. 24 after
suffering a
stroke.
“On Feb. 2, … I called him for the first time in awhile,” he said. “I hadn’t
spoken to him
in a few months. … We had a beautiful conversation. It was one of the most
beautiful
conversations we had ever had.”
Straume said the next day his dad suffered a ministroke that caused expressive
aphasia,
leaving him unable to talk.
“I’m really thankful for that conversation. … Boulder City’s going to be
lacking something,
just him being who he was,” he said.
Nelson’s daughter, Lisa Nelson, said she is going to miss her father saying she
would
“always be his ‘Loo Loo’ girl.
“That’s what he called cats when I was little,” she said.
She also said she’d miss his unconditional love for her and how he always
reminded her to
not forget about the “gratitudules” in life.
“He never expected anything from me and loved me so much. … I’m going to do my
best to live
my life the way he did —enjoy every day,” she said. “One thing he would revolve
his day
around was watching the sun set. Every sunset I see now, I will think of how he
lived for
those sunsets.”
Versatile drummer
At the age of 20, Sandy Nelson’s first record, “Geronimo” with the Renegades,
was chosen to
be on the soundtrack of American-International Pictures’ teen exploitation
movie “Ghost of
Dragstrip Hollow,” according to IMDb.
From there, he became a highly versatile and in-demand drummer as a session
musician.
He also played on “To Know Him Is to Love Him” by the Teddy Bears with Spector
and
“Alley-Oop” by the Hollywood Argyles.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Sandy Nelson became known for his
instrumental hits
including “Teen Beat,” “Drums Are My Beat” and “Let There Be Drums,” which rose
to near the
top of the charts.
In 1963, his right leg was severely damaged in a motorcycle accident, which led
to it being
amputated, but he didn’t let that slow him down.
He moved to Boulder City in 1988 and was known as a regular in the community
and usually
seen hanging out at the World Famous Coffee Cup Cafe.
“He was a great man,” said Terry Stevens, co-owner of the Coffee Cup. “He will
be missed at
the Cup.”
Stevens said he is going to miss Nelson’s stories and seeing him sitting at the
bar and
chatting with the other customers as well as the staff.
“He was a staple,” he said. “He would come in every day at 1:30. He was one of
the last
people to leave.”
Storyteller
Musician, councilman and Boulder City resident James Howard Adams said he will
remember
Sandy Nelson for the stories and jokes he told.
“Sandy was truly one of a kind,” he said. “As a legendary drummer, many people
will likely
remember him for his pioneering sound and unique musical style, but I will best
remember him
for his stories and his jokes. Sandy’s tales revealed a side of stardom and the
Hollywood
music scene that no one else dared share, and would leave you doubled over in
laughter. We
will all miss Sandy, but his music and stories will live with us forever.”
In 2015, Sandy Nelson was the guest of honor at a special event that featured
his drumming
and storytelling.
“They wanted it to be Sandy Nelson Day, but I thought that was a little
grandiose,” he told
the Boulder City Review before the event. “Now it’s just drums and stories with
me.
“I tell stories all the time, every day. I just want to have a good time,” he
said. “I just
hope everyone else does too.”
In 2019, the community rallied behind Sandy Nelson to help him rebuild his
home, which was
also “born” in 1938, after it was damaged in a fire. In addition to repairing
that damage,
the home’s entire electrical system had to be repaired to make the house
livable.
To help cover costs and expenses for living in a hotel while the repairs were
made, a
donation jar was placed at the Coffee Cup, a benefit concert was held and a
GoFundMe page
was created.
“It’s amazing. I’m overwhelmed and thankful, of course,” he said at the time.
“It makes me
feel warm and fuzzy.”
Other related posts:
- » [msb-alumni] Drummer Sandy Nelson dies at 83 on February 14, 2022 - Steve
