The Coasters
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The Coasters The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock 1957 (all were recorded in Los Angeles). and roll vocal group who had a string of hits in the late "Yakety Yak" (recorded in New York), featuring King 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", Curtis on tenor saxophone, included the famous lineup of their most memorable songs were written by the songwrit- Gardner, Guy, Jones, and Gunter, became the act’s only ing and producing team of Leiber and Stoller.[1] Although national #1 single, and also topped the R&B chart. The the Coasters originated outside of mainstream doo-wop, next single, "Charlie Brown", reached #2 on both charts. their records were so frequently imitated that they be- It was followed by "Along Came Jones", "Poison Ivy" (#1 came an important part of the doo-wop legacy through for a month on the R&B chart), and "Little Egypt (Ying- the 1960s. Yang)". Changing popular tastes and a couple of line-up changes contributed to a lack of hits in the 1960s. During this 1 History time, Billy Guy was also working on solo projects, so New York singer Vernon Harrell was brought in to replace him for stage performances. Later members included Earl The Coasters were formed in October 1955 as a spin- “Speedo” Carroll (lead of the Cadillacs), Ronnie Bright off of the Robins, a Los Angeles-based rhythm and blues (the bass voice on Johnny Cymbal's "Mr. Bass Man"), group that included Carl Gardner and Bobby Nunn. The Jimmy Norman, and guitarist Thomas “Curley” Palmer. original Coasters were Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, Bobby The Coasters signed with Columbia Records' Date la- Nunn, Leon Hughes (who was replaced by Young Jessie bel in 1966, reuniting with Leiber and Stoller (who had on a couple of their early Los Angeles recordings), and parted ways with Atlantic Records in 1963), but were guitarist Adolph Jacobs. Jacobs left the group in 1959.[2] never able to regain their former fame. In 1971, the The songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller had Coasters had a minor chart entry with "Love Potion No. started Spark Records, and in 1955 produced "Smokey 9" a song that Leiber and Stoller had written for the Coast- Joe’s Cafe" for the Robins[1] (their 5th single with Leiber- ers but instead gave to the Clovers in 1959. In Britain, Stoller). The record was popular enough for Atlantic a 1994 Volkswagen TV advertisement used the group’s Records to offer Leiber and Stoller an independent pro- “Sorry But I'm Gonna Have To Pass” track, which led to duction contract to produce the Robins for the Atlantic la- a minor chart placement in that country. bel. Only two of the Robins—Gardner and Nunn—were In 1987, the Coasters became the first group inducted into willing to make the move to Atlantic, recording their first the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, crediting the members songs in the same studio as the Robins had done (Master of the 1958-era configuration. The Coasters also joined Recorders). In late 1957, the group moved to New York the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. and replaced Nunn and Hughes with Cornell Gunter and Will “Dub” Jones. The new quartet was from then on sta- Several groups used the name in the 1970s, touring tioned in New York (although all had Los Angeles roots). throughout the country, though Carl Gardner, one of the original Coasters, held the legal rights to it. Gardner con- The Coasters’ association with Leiber and Stoller was tinued to tour with the Coasters and made many attempts an immediate success. Together they created a string to stop bogus groups with no connection to the original of good-humored “storytelling” hits that are some of the group using the name. In late 2005, Carl’s son Carl Gard- most entertaining from the original era of rock and roll.[1] ner, Jr. took over as lead with the group when his father According to Leiber and Stoller, getting the humor to retired. The Coasters’ lineup then consisted of Carl Gard- come through on the records often required more record- ner, Jr., J.W. Lance, Primo Candelara, and Eddie Whit- ing “takes” than for a typical musical number.[1] field. Carl, Jr. has since split with this group and has Their first single, "Down in Mexico", was an R&B hit started his own group with Curley Palmer.[3] in 1956 and appears (in a re-recording from 1970— Leon Hughes is the only surviving member of the original still with Gardner singing the lead) on the soundtrack of Coasters. Some of the former members suffered tragic Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof. The following year, the ends. Saxophonist and “fifth Coaster” King Curtis was Coasters crossed over to the pop chart in a big way with stabbed to death by two junkies outside his apartment the double-sided "Young Blood"/"Searchin'". “Searchin'" building in 1971. Cornelius Gunter was shot to death was the group’s first U.S. Top 10 hit, and topped the R&B while sitting in a Las Vegas parking garage in 1990. Nate chart for 13 weeks, becoming the biggest R&B single of 1 2 4 SESSION MUSICIANS Wilson, a member of one of Gunter’s offshoot Coasters Coasters at a lounge in Belmont, CA. When the Beach groups, was shot and his body dismembered in 1980.[4] Boys and the Grateful Dead united on stage to perform a Former manager Patrick Cavanaugh was convicted of the brief set at New York City’s Filmore East, they performed murder after Wilson threatened to notify authorities of “Searchin'" and “Riot in Cell Block No. 9”. Numerous Cavanaugh’s intent to buy furniture with stolen checks. groups have recorded “Poison Ivy”. While Cavanaugh was convicted of the murder and given Coasters hits also comprised a major portion of the song the death sentence in 1984, his sentence was commuted score for the 1994 musical revue Smokey Joe’s Cafe, a to life in prison. He died at 60 in 2006, in Nevada's Ely retrospective of Leiber & Stoller songs that received one State Prison.[5] Grammy Award and seven Tony Award nominations fol- The Coasters continue to appear regularly on “oldies” lowing its 1995 Broadway debut. Their song “Baby, That shows and PBS specials as old favorites and are available Is Rock and Roll” has served as the main title for a bi- for bookings.[4] ography/songbook of Leiber & Stoller songs and a Bravo The Hits list below is from Joel Whitburn’s Top R&B Sin- television documentary on the songwriters. gles and from the Pop positions published in Bill Millar’s In addition, Coasters songs and the Coasters themselves book “The Coasters” (1975). have been referred to by later popular musicians. Frank In late June, 2007 Carl Gardner’s autobiography “Carl Zappa referenced the group in the lyrics of the song “Sta- Gardner: Yakety Yak I Fought Back - My Life with The tus Back Baby” on his second album, Absolutely Free. Coasters” was published at AuthorHouse. On August 28, Sly Stone titled a 1971 #1 album by his group Sly & 2007 the Coasters’ Leiber-Stoller-produced recordings the Family Stone after the tag line from “Riot in Cell for Date/King 1966-1972 was released on a Varèse Vin- Block No. 9": There’s a Riot Goin' On. The folksinger tage (Varèse Sarabande) CD, titled “Down Home” (302 David Bromberg quoted from "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)" in his 1972 song “Sharon”. Paolo Nutini regularly covers 066 844 2) - and on December 12, 2007 the complete Atco recordings 1954-1966 were released on a Rhino "Down in Mexico" during live performances. Handmade four-CD set, titled “There’s A Riot Goin' On: The Coasters on Atco” (Rhino RHM2 7740). 3 Band members Current members 2 Legacy • J. W. Lance – lead vocals, previously tenor vocals The Coasters’ repertoire had a significant impact on '60s (2001–present) and '70s rock artists. Leon Russell performed "Young Blood" at the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, imitating • Primotivo Candelara – baritone vocals (2008– the group’s arrangement of the song with four different present) solo voices. Bad Company's version of the song reached • Eddie Whitfield – bass vocals (2009–present) #20 on in May 1976 on the Hot 100. Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen recorded The Robins'"Riot • Dennis Anderson – tenor vocals (2011–present) in Cell Block Number 9", while The Beach Boys recorded a 1971 version with revised lyrics by Mike Love, titled Former members “Student Demonstration Time”. The novelty singer Ray Stevens reached #27 on the U.S. pop singles chart with a 1969 remake of "Along Came Jones". Elvis Presley (Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ listed in bold.) included "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang)" in the soundtrack for his 1964 film Roustabout. The first two British hits of The Hollies were "(Ain't That) Just Like Me” and 4 Session musicians “Searchin'". The Monkees reached #10 on Cashbox with "D. W. Washburn". (The Coasters recorded it first, but • George Barnes, Alan Hanlon, Tony Mottola, Sonny when Date declined to release it, Leiber and Stoller sent Forriest: guitars it as a demo to the Monkees. After the Monkees charted, the Coasters original was issued.) Several Coasters songs • Wendell Marshall, Abie Baker: bass were part of The Beatles' repertoire before the British rock group began its recording career; George Harrison is • Joe Marshall, Gary Chester, Sticks Evans: drums among the singers on the above-mentioned Leon Russell • Mike Stoller: piano live recording.