Along with The Brymers, The Lee Riders were another of the popular Lemoore/Hanford area groups that played the famous Melco dances. Unlike The Brymers, however, The Lee Riders never recorded and as a result are not as well remembered today among ‘60’s aficionados. They are, however, still performing. Guitarist James Anderson and later vocalist Mark Hopper provide the details on their teen band.
An Interview With James Anderson
60sgaragebands.com (60s): How did you first get interested in music?
James Anderson (JA): My mother sang opera and wanted me to be a classical musician, but I loved rock & roll. I always knew I had a talent for it.
60s: Was The Lee Riders your first band?
JA: My first band was called The Chevelles. I was 15 and heard they were looking for a new guitar player. They were playing at all the school dances so I thought it would be pretty cool to play with them. I auditioned and got the spot. I played with them for a little over a year until we founded The Lee Riders.
60s: Where and when was The Lee Riders formed?
JA: I think it was late 1965 or early 1966. The original members were: me, Eddie Hill (guitar and bass), Robbie Garren (drums), Vince Tuzzi (vocals), and John Riley (sax). Later, we added Sherman Railsback on the organ. Then, sometime in 1966, we let Vince go and Robbie moved away. We picked up Mark Hopper on vocals and Steve Kennedy on bass. Eddie mostly played organ after that.
60s: How would you describe the band's sound? What bands influenced you?
JA: We loved Paul Revere and The Raiders, The Rascals, The Beatles, The Stones, The Monkees—bands like that. We were pretty popular and played all over central California and I think we had a pretty decent sound. But, looking back, and knowing what I know now, we were pretty sloppy.
60s: What was the Hanford rock and roll scene like in the '60's?
JA: If you were in a band, you were very cool. Rock & roll was huge, and we were considered the best in our town. Young kids asked for our autograph, and girls sat on the stage and watched us play. It was a fairly big ego trip.
60s: Where did the band typically play?
JA: We played at school dances (Tulare, Hanford, Selma, Turlock, etc.), Melco dances, junior college dances, and the Lemoore Naval Air Station. In the summer of 1967, we were the house band for a teen club in Hanford. I don’t remember the name of it. We were the house band but it shut down after a few months because the owner went to jail.
60s: How far was the band's "touring" territory?
JA: From about Modesto to Bakersfield.
60s: Did The Lee Riders participate in any battle of the bands?
JA: I remember doing two and winning both of them. I don’t remember whom we played against.
60s: What other local groups of the era do you especially recall?
JA: The Redcoats, The Sullies (Steve Perry’s group) and The Telstars. I don’t remember any others.
60s: Did The Lee Riders have a manager?
JA: Not really. We had a roadie named Steve Cromwell (we called him Boots because he always wore moccasins which came up to his knees). Melco got most of our gigs.
60s: How popular locally did The Lee Riders become?
JA: Pretty popular. We usually played at least once a weekend.
60s: Why didn't The Lee Riders record?
JA: We just never got the opportunity, and didn’t have many original songs.
60s: Who was the band's primary songwriter?
JA: We really didn’t write any, which is strange because Eddie is now the country/western songwriter of the year.
60s: Do any (other) '60's Lee Riders recordings exist? Are there any vintage live recordings, or unreleased tracks?
JA: I remember seeing some; I’m sure Eddie has them.
60s: Did the band make any local TV appearances?
JA: I don’t remember any.
60s: What year and why did the band break up?
JA: I left in August 1967 to go in the Marines. I don’t know what the final breakup reason was.
60s: Did you join or form any bands after The Lee Riders?
JA: After Vietnam, I was stationed in Germany for two years. We formed a band call The East Buggywhip Allstar Review and played in Bremerhaven about twice a month, mostly for the EM club, American high school, etc.
60s: What keeps you busy today?
JA: I’m retired from the Department of Corrections. Over the years, I’ve done a lot of acoustic stuff for singers; in fact, I just recorded an independent album with a female singer. The Lee Riders still play once in awhile down in Hanford. Other than that, I spend my energy on my family. I have written some novels but I haven’t tried to get them published yet. They still need work.
60s: How do you best summarize your experiences with The Lee Riders?
JA: It was a ball. It still is. I love to play.
An Interview With Mark Hopper
60sgaragebands.com (60s): How did you first get interested in music?
Mark Hopper (MH): I had two older sisters. They bought all the popular 45s. When they left, I went in their room and sang along with the ‘50’s and ‘60’s songs.
60s: Was The Lee Riders your first band?
MH: I had two other bands before The Lee Riders. The first one never had a name. The second one was Five Too Many. We were together about a year.
I met with the original members of The Lee Riders, and actually gave them the name. I was in another band at the time. Later, Robbie and Eddie wanted to get David and me into the band. They figured a way to kick Vince (the lead singer) out, and then get David and me to take his place.
60s: Who all comprised the band once you joined?
MH: Robbie Garren, drums; Eddie Hill, keyboards and backup vocals; Jimmy Anderson, guitar; David Kennedy, bass and backup vocals; and Mark Hopper, lead singer.
60s: How would you describe the band's sound? What bands influenced you?
MH: We did a lot of Doors tunes. The rest of our stuff was mostly popular songs by The Rascals, Turtles, Beatles, Stones, Ray Charles (‘Hit The Road Jack’ was very popular) and others.
60s: What was the Hanford rock and roll scene like in the '60's?
MH: There were a handful of descent bands around. I’d say somewhere between five and ten groups that played for dances.
60s: Where did the band typically play?
MH: We played at after game dances, graduations, proms and Melco dances.
60s: Were you managed by Mel Simas?
MH: Yes. He booked us at Melco dances on a regular basis. The rest of the gigs came to us by schools and private parties.
60s: Did you play any of the local teen clubs?
MH: In Hanford, we had a little place called Mr. C’s. It lasted about a year. I can’t remember other bands.
60s: How far was the band's "touring" territory?
MH: We played in the Central Valley; I’d say a 50-mile radius.
60s: Did The Lee Riders participate in any battle of the bands?
MH: Before I got in the band, the Lee Riders placed second in a battle of the bands. They won a Peavy Amplifier. Some other groups that competed were The Defenders, Sullies, 10th Avenue Produce, The Hunted and The Fourth Oncome (I played with them later).
60s: How popular locally did Lee Riders become?
MH: Everybody in the Central Valley knew who we were.
60s: Why didn't Lee Riders record?
MH: That’s an excellent question. I don’t know.
60s: Did the band write any original material?
MH: No originals that I can remember.
60s: Did the band make any local TV appearances? Does any home movie film
footage exist of the band?
MH: The Fourth Oncome played a local TV gig. The Lee Riders had home movies that Eddie Hill kept.
60s: When did the band break up?
MH: 1968.
60s: How did you come to join The Fourth Oncome?
MH: Their lead singer had to join the army. I auditioned and got the job. I actually beat out Steve Perry from Journey (that’s a little known fact).
60s: What about today. How often, and where, do you perform?
MH: I joined a band with two of the members of The Lee Riders: Jimmy Anderson and Sherman Railsback (he was a member before I was). The other members are/and have been in groups since the ‘60’s. We play for local dances and reunions. We just started, so it’s difficult to say how often.
60s: How do you best summarize your experiences with The Lee Riders?
MH: I really loved playing with them. The only reason we separated was because we went away to different colleges.
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