(Little) Red Ryders


Elyria, 1957-72

The Red Ryders were an early rock/R&B band in Lorain county, and one of the first racially integrated bands, with black keyboard player Red Top Young along with the other white members. The founder and leader of the band was Lee Abel on sax, with Sam Doman on guitar and Vonley "Sonny" Adams on drums. Later, Tony Bernable (known as Tony Bell) replaced Young as the keyboard player, before they made the recordings for Mercury.

The band recorded three 45s for the Lanjo label in Canton, before recording a 45 down in Nashville for the Southern Sound label. The song "Savannah Slow Down" got to Quincy Jones - while he was a recording artist for Mercury records - and signed the band to record an LP. 

The Mercury LP was the last recordings for the band, but they continued to play into the early 1970s, in the Lorain County and Lake Erie region nighclubs. Red Top Young went on to a long career - see seperate entry - while Lee Abel continued to play as a headliner in club bands.

Lee Abel, Tony Bell, and Sonny Adams are deceased.

Discography:
Hot Tamale / Juice - Lanjo No #, 1958
Nameless / Kamm's Corner - Lanjo No #, 1958
Closer and Closer / You better Believe It - Lanjo No #, 1958
Savannah Slow Down / Sugar Beet - Southern Sound 113, May 1962
Do The Dog / Soul Food - Mercury 72329, 1964
LP - Lookin' Good, Soundin' Good - Mercury 20984 (mono), 60984 (stereo), 1964