After leaving his family's band, Lester went on to play with Art Bronson in Phoenix, Arizona. He played with Bronson until 1930, when he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and played with various bands. He also took a brief trip back home to play with his family. In 1932, while playing at a club with Frank Hines, Young was signed as a member of "The Thirteen Original Blue Devils." He and the other band members moved to Kansas City to join Bennie Moten near the end of 1933.