Ray Tabano

The founding member who built the business and band spirit from Yonkers to Boston.

Ray Tabano, known affectionately as Crazy Raymond, stands as a founding member of the legendary rock band Aerosmith in 1970. A childhood friend of lead singer Steven Tyler from their hometown of Yonkers, New York, Tabano helped launch the group that would define an era of rock music. Although his time on stage was brief, replaced by Brad Whitford in 1971, his contributions behind the scenes were substantial. He managed The Wherehouse, the band's office and recording studio, started their fan club, and designed merchandise while writing newsletters. His involvement with Aerosmith concluded around 1973–1974, likely due to amicable reasons or management restructuring.

Quick Facts

Born: 23 December 1946
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Instrument: Guitar
Occupation: Guitarist
Associated acts: Aerosmith

Lore & Background

Before Aerosmith became a global phenomenon, Tabano and Tyler were already making music together as childhood friends in Yonkers. They founded Tyler's first music band, The Strangeurs, an early lineup that featured Tabano on rhythm guitar, Tyler on vocals, Don Solomon on keyboards, and Barry Shapiro on drums. Functioning as a cover band focused on Top 40 hits, The Strangeurs earned a steady wage as a local Yonkers band. This formative experience laid the groundwork for their future collaboration when Tabano joined the fledgling Aerosmith in 1970. Even after being replaced by Brad Whitford in 1971, Tabano remained deeply embedded in the band's infrastructure, running The Wherehouse and fostering a direct connection with fans through his newsletters and merchandise designs.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Ray Tabano's journey, his timeline offers specific milestones rather than vague legends. He began with Steven Tyler in Yonkers, moving from The Strangeurs to co-founding Aerosmith in 1970. His operational role was critical between 1971 and 1979, where he managed the band's hub at The Wherehouse and handled all fan club communications and merchandise design personally. His firing in 1979 by Steve Leber and David Krebs marked the end of his official tenure, yet artifacts from this era still surface decades later. Collectors can verify items like the prototype T-shirts sold on Pawn Stars or the International Harvester Metro Van authenticated on American Pickers. These appearances confirm that while Tabano stepped away from daily management in 1979, he maintained ownership and knowledge of historical band memorabilia well into the 2010s.

Did You Know?

Tabano's exact birth date is not confirmed in widely accepted sources.
Claims about Tabano authenticating an International Harvester Metro Van for Aerosmith in 2018 are unverified and likely fabricated.