The Nite Riders

1950s-1960s R&B group from Hartford, Connecticut. Sometimes referred to as "The Night Riders." Backing band for Doc Starkes. The Nite Riders were: James "Doc" Starkes: Bass /Trombone, Melvin Smith: Vocals / Baritone Saxophone Harry Van Walls: Piano Harry Crafton: Guitar / Vocals Joe Sewell: Tenor Saxophone Jimmy Johnson: Drums Before forming this group, all the members had attended several studio sessions and some of them had also done solo recordings. Van Walls had appeared on numerous Atlantic r'n'b-hits since the late 1940s (Ruth Brown, Joe Turner, Sticks McGhee, Joe Morris, Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters, The Clovers etc.), and Harry Crafton had worked with Doc Bagby, The Jive-Tones, The Sonotones and The Craft Tones. Joe Sewell had recorded with Tiny Grimes' and Harry Crafton's Orchestras, and Melvin Smith with Clyde "Blow Top" Lynn & his House Rockers and Big John Greer.