Sander L. Nelson (born December 1, 1938) is an American
drummer. Nelson, one of the best-known rock drummers of the early 1960s, had
several solo instrumental Top 40 hits and was a session drummer on many other
well-known hits, and released over 30 albums. He lives in Boulder City, Nevada,
and continues to 
experiment with music on keyboards and piano.
experiment with music on keyboards and piano.
His first recording, with a band called the Renegades
(Richard Podolor, Bruce Johnston, and Nick Venet), was "Geronimo",
written by Venet, produced by Kim Fowley, and released on the Original Sound
Records label. Although it flopped on the national charts, it charted in some
of the Mid West markets. The song, along with "Charge", is part of
the soundtrack of 1959 film Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow released by American
International Pictures.
Nelson attended high school with Jan Berry, Dean Torrence
(who became Jan and Dean), and Kim Fowley. After gaining respect as a session
drummer, he played on such songs as "To Know Him Is To Love Him"
(Phil Spector's Teddy Bears, 1958), "Alley-Oop" (The Hollywood
Argyles, 1960), and "A Thousand Stars" (Kathy Young and the
Innocents, 1960).
His song "Teen Beat", on Original Sound
Records, rose to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1959. It sold over
one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Subsequently, he signed with
the Imperial record label, and pounded out two more Top 40 hits, "Let
There Be Drums", which went to number 7 on the Billboard 
Hot 100, 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. All three were instrumentals (a feat rarely
repeated). Guitar playing on these hits was by co-writer Richard Podolor, later
a songwriter and record producer.
Hot 100, 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. All three were instrumentals (a feat rarely
repeated). Guitar playing on these hits was by co-writer Richard Podolor, later
a songwriter and record producer.
Near the end of 1963, Nelson was in a motorcycle
accident. The injuries necessitated amputation of his right foot and part of
that leg. 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.
