Night Ranger’s biggest hit came from its drummer.
The San Francisco band released “Sister Christian” in March 1984, about five months after the song appeared on its second album, Midnight Madness. It reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 9 and became Night Ranger’s highest-charting single.
Night Ranger formed under the name Ranger in 1980. Its first record company went bankrupt while the band’s debut album, Dawn Patrol, was gaining traction. MCA signed the group and quickly asked for a second record. “(You Can Still) Rock in America” came out first, followed by the ballad that moved Night Ranger from 3,000-seat theaters to 10,000-seat arenas…