Sandy Nelson was a prominent session drummer in the 50's and 60's and managed to put some instrumental hits of his own in the top ten.

He was born  Sander Nelson in 1938 in Santa Monica, California. He attended high school with Jan Berry, Dean Torrence, Phil Spector, and others who went on to careers in rock-and-roll. Sandy became a proficient drummer and joined his first group, Kip Tyler and the Flips. Another member of the group was future Beach Boy Bruce Johnston, who played piano. Kip Tyler and the Flips recorded some songs on the Ebb and Challenge labels.

His services as a drummer were in  demand. He played drums for Spector on the Teddy Bears' number one hit To Know Him, Is To Love Him in 1958, and the following year he sessioned for Gene Vincent on Crazy Times before striking out on his own. He recorded for the Original Sound label, and his fifth release Teen Beat made it all the way to number four in 1959.

He signed a recording contract with Imperial and in 1961 released his second [and last] top ten hit, Let There Be Drums. Once again he had scored with an instrumental that featured his driving drum beat. He had other minor hits in 1962, such as Drums Are My Beat.

In 1963 Sandy was involved in a vehicular accident and lost part of his leg. He recovered and returned to performing the following year, and eventually released Teen Beat '65 before fading away.

The most amazing thing about "the Sandy Nelson talent" is this young man's ability to beat those skins in tune with the times year after year. "Boogaloo Beat" marks Sandy's twenty-fifth album—which speaks for itself— a milestone by any standards.

Sandy captures the boogaloo feeling with the same impressionistic style of beat that has kept Sandy Nelson head-and-shoulders above the other NOW generation drummers. The Nelson rhythm first started with the "teen beat" sound—a sound that thrust him into international fame before you could say "sock hop." He adapted his devastating beat to the great vocal hits and made them instrumental masterpieces. "Teenage House Party" made Sandy's brand of music THE party word for the young set—whenever and wherever things were happening, Sandy was happening. And that hasn't changed.

Then Sandy packed up his drums and went to the nation's number one entertainment showplace, Las Vegas, and etched his instrumental mark in the hearts of even the most sophisticated of the Las Vegas entertainment connoisseurs. Sandy Nelson just couldn't miss.

Now Sandy has come up with a personal kind of big boogaloo beat. And it sounds great. But what's so surprising— this young drummer has been on top of the music scene since he stopped beating his knife and fork on his dinner plate, and started channelling his ability into a snare and bass drum.

Sandy Nelson will always be around— his beat will always tell the story of today. So if you're ever in doubt as to where it's happening musically, get Sandy's newest LP "It'll put you where it's at".

If you listen to his records, fx. Let there be drums, you will for sure know who/what influenced Mick Tucker ! And the fact is confirmed!