The Tornadoes

{{Short description|American surf band}} {{About|the American band|the British pop band|The Tornados}} {{More citations needed|date=December 2010}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = The Tornadoes | image = | caption = Promotional picture 1960s | image_size =  | background = group_or_band | alias = The Hollywood Tornadoes | origin = [[Redlands, California]], United States | genre = [[Surf music|Surf rock]] | occupation = | years_active = 1960–2014 | label = Aertaun Records, [[Josie Records]] | website = [http://tornadoesband.com/ Official website] | current_members = | past_members = Norman Sanders Jesse Sanders Gerald Sanders Leonard Delaney Joel Willenbring Mike Gooch George White Ernie Tavizon Eddie Rea }} '''The Tornadoes''' were an American [[surf music|surf]] band from [[Redlands, California]]. They were the second band to receive national airplay with a surf instrumental, after [[The Marketts]], with their song "Bustin' Surfboards", released on Aertaun Records in 1962. "Bustin' Surfboards" has since become a classic and mainstay of the surf genre. One of its distinctions, and appeals, was that the song opened with the sound of an ocean swell that continued throughout the song, thereby creating a sense of being at a beach. The album with the same name was belatedly released on September 20, 1963. The band, however, did not manage to follow up on their success. Their song "Shootin' Beavers" was banned from [[airplay]] because of its suggestive title. The band temporarily changed their name to '''The Hollywood Tornadoes''', because the British band [[The Tornados]] were charting with the song "[[Telstar (instrumental)|Telstar]]."

"Bustin' Surfboards" was included on the ''[[Pulp Fiction]]'' soundtrack in 1994,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/pictures/surf-music-and-seventies-soul-the-songs-of-pulp-fiction-20140521/the-tornadoes-bustin-surfboards-0839281 | title=Surf Music and Seventies Soul: The Songs of 'Pulp Fiction' | date=21 May 2014 | publisher=Rolling Stone magazine | access-date=7 July 2014}}</ref> thereby renewing interest in the band. The Tornadoes continued to perform through 2007. Members as of 2007 (including four members of the original band) were brothers Gerald (bass) and Norman "Roly" Sanders (lead guitar), their cousin Jesse Sanders (July 1943 – June 7, 2020) (rhythm guitar), Leonard Delaney (May 18, 1943 – October 5, 2014; drums)<ref name="RDF">{{cite web |url=https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2014/10/06/leonard-delaney-a-founding-member-of-the-tornadoes-dies-at-71/|title=Leonard Delaney, a founding member of The Tornadoes, dies at 71|last=Hernandez|first=Kristina|date=October 6, 2014|accessdate=December 25, 2022|website=Redlands Daily Facts}}</ref> and Joel Willenbring (saxophone).

In 2005, they released a CD called ''Now and Then'' on the Crossfire Publications label containing 29 tracks, including live recordings from their performance at the Zappanale concert in [[Germany]] in 2003, cuts from a 1998 CD, and two new recordings. The 2006 Crossfire Publications CD ''Charge Of The Tornadoes'' featured more of their 1960s masters and Zappanale performances.

The band announced on their website<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tornadoesband.com/|title=The Tornadoes|publisher=Tornadoesband.com|access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> that they would retire and cease performing as of November 2008, but the band has since decided to continue. During a conversation with Crossfire Publications head Greg Russo on July 13, 2014, Tornadoes leader Gerald Sanders confirmed that the band was still active.

Former band member Leonard Delaney died on October 5, 2014, aged 71, in [[San Bernardino, California]], from complications of [[Alzheimer's disease]]. Former band member Jesse Sanders died at age 76 on June 7, 2020, of Alzheimer's disease also.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2014b.html|title=The Dead Rock Stars Club 2014 July To December|publisher=Thedeadrockstarsclub.com|access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref>

== Discography == === Singles === *"Bustin' Surfboards" (Norman Sanders, Leonard Delaney) / "Beyond the Surf" (Dave Aerni)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/viewimages?release=1303402|title=Tornadoes, The — Bustin' Surfboards Images|publisher=Discogs.com|access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> Aertaun Records (1962) *"The Gremmie Pt. 1" / "The Gremmie Pt. 2" Aertaun Records (1962) (Issued as '''The Hollywood Tornadoes''') *"Moon Dawg" / "The Inebriated Surfer" Aertaun Records (1963) (Issued as '''The Hollywood Tornadoes''') *"Phantom Surfer" / "Shootin' Beavers" Aertaun Records (1963) *"Phantom Surfer" / "Lightnin'" Aertaun Records (1964) ("Lightnin'" is an [[instrumental]] version of "Shootin' Beavers") *"The Swag" / "Rawhide" [[Sundazed Music]] (2000)

=== Albums === *''Bustin' Surfboards'' [[Josie Records]] (1963); CD reissue: Sundazed Music (1993) *''Bustin' Surfboards '98'' DCC Compact Classics (1998)

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p141997|label=The Tornadoes}} *{{Discogs artist|252795|The Tornadoes}} *[http://www.globaldogproductions.info/a/aertaun.html Aertaun Records list]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tornadoes, The}} [[Category:American surf music groups]] [[Category:Rock music groups from California]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1960]] [[Category:1960 establishments in California]]