RAYMOND LeROY "Lee" ABEL A.K.A. (Abdul the Cool), 73, of Elyria, died Sunday, August 8, 2010 following a chronic illness. Lee was born November 16, 1936 in Crossville, TN and lived in Lorain County all his life. Lee was an accomplished musician, composer and instructor being versatile on accordion and outstanding on tenor saxophone. He was a booking agent most of his life, (called Mr. 10%), and booked bands in the Cleveland Metro area as well as nationally. He also taught accordion and sax. Lee, as Band Leader and with his group the Red Ryders, booked national acts including the Supremes, Jerry Lee Lewis, Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Paul Anka, Nancy Wilson, Joe Cocker, and Dionne Warwick. The group, working with Quincy Jones, cut an album under the Mercury Label in 1964. Lee and the groups he led ran the gambit of versatility. Their style ranged from Standards, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Funk and to then current hits. Lee was a 1954 graduate of Elyria High School, graduated form Oberlin School of Commerce in 1958 and attended two years at Baldwin Wallace College. Surviving next of kin include father Roger Abel of Elyria, son Timothy Lee Abel of Atlanta GA, son Alec LeRoy Abel of Cleveland and daughter Cathy Lynn Abel O'Malley of Scottsdale, AZ and two grandchildren Rohan and Bridgett O'Malley. He was preceded in death by his mother Inez "Peggy" (nee Smith) Abel. A picnic will be held in Lee's honor, for friends and next of kin, on Sunday, September 12, 2010 at Finwood Estate, Elyria, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.