|
ctsy
The Coasters´ touring schedule:
April 26-28: the Broadway
Capitol Theatre, Detroit with Faye Adams, Jack Scott, Johnny & Joe, Amos Milburn,
Johnny Janis, and the Red Prysock Combo. May 17: one week at
the Howard Theatre, Washington, D.C. with Shirley & Lee, The Cleftones, Bobby Marchan,
and Huey Smith. June 7: the Apollo Theatre, New York with
LaVern Baker, The Heartbeats, Johnny & Joe, Johnny Mathis, and the Red Prysock Band.
June 14: five weeks with the "Fantabulous Rock and Roll
Show ´57" (touring Charlotte, North Carolina; Knoxville; Birmingham; Louisville;
Chattanooga; Greenville; and Kinston, North Carolina; also Chicago) with Ruth Brown, Bo
Diddley, The Five Satins, The Drifters, The Schoolboys, and Smiley Lewis. June
22: the Municipal Auditorium, Charleston with the show above plus Bobby
Parker, Johnny Hartman, The Spence Twins, and the Paul Williams Orchestra. July
10: the Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans with the show above and Dave
Bartholomew´s Orchestra. July: six to ten weeks from the
Midwest to California (including July 26 in Milwaukee and July 31 in Denver) with The Five
Satins, The Cellos, Gene & Eunice, Lulu Reed, and the Sonny Thompson Orchestra. August
25: TV appearance at the Steve Allen TV-show
("Searchin´"). September: the Mammoth Gardens,
Denver, Colorado with The Five Satins, and The Cellos. September
23: Dick Clark TV-show ("Searchin'" again). October 18:
travelling
Revue in Oklahoma City with Lowell Fulson, Lillian Offitt, The Cadillacs, Johnny
"Guitar" Watson, and the Ernie Freeman Combo. November 15: one
week at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. with The Hollywood Flames, and the Ernie
Freeman Combo.
ctsy
 
 
 
 |
 
The classic Coasters (in 1958). |
1958
Billboard February 10 review of Atco
6111 (Gee, Golly): "The group has a relaxed, slow rhythm sound here on an arrangement
that bears a touch of ´Searchin´´. Wax has the sound and it could easaly move out.
(Dance!): the boys work out on a rocker here with a slightly Latanish kick. Fair effort
but flip would be the side." Nunn and Hughes are fired by Lester Sill
in late 1957. The Coasters re-form and move to New York in January (Leiber-Stoller
had moved in October, 1957), changing the image of the group - from heavy black ghetto
blues-styled singing - to 2-minute playlets aimed at young middle-class America. Gardner
and Guy are joined by two further Californians, Cornell Gunter (originally promoted as
Cornel or Cornelius Gunter) and Will "Dub" Jones, who immediately share leads on
a superb revival of Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart
(nowadays a "beach music" classic), recorded at
Atlantic´s modernized studios, with the legendary Tom Dowd as engineer, in March.
Texas-born King Curtis makes his debut as a Coasters side-man on that title and especially
on this record´s famous A-side (with the group now vocalizing in the unique unison way
that becomes their special trade-mark), Yakety Yak, which hits U.S. Pop
#1 and R&B #1 in June (the first hit epitomizing Leiber-Stoller´s special Coasters´
style, ironizing teenagers view on the adult generation). It holds R&B Best Seller #1
for 7 weeks and R&B Disc Jockey #1 for 6 weeks. The record also sky-rockets the
Coasters to international fame, reaching #12 on the British Pop chart. The group is
awarded their second golden record on the Dick Clark TV-show. Billboard May 5 review of
Atco 6116: "The group has a saleable sound on this rocker novelty. The lyrics are
musing and the harmonies are attractive. This could also collect pop coin. Flip is a
rhythmic revival of ´Zing!..´." The annual Cash Box poll vote Yakety Yak
as "Best R&B Record of the Year" and the Coasters as "Best R&B
Vocal Group". The follow-up, a Guy-led off-shot of the comics & radio series
hero, The Shadow Knows, fails to score. Billboard August 25 review of
Atco 6126: "The Coasters follow up their smash ´Yakety Yak´ with a funky novelty
that has down to earth feeling. Kids can dance to this one and it has a chance to bust
thru quickly. Watch it. (Sorry, But I´m Gonna...): A swinging novelty with a lilting beat
is sold with spirit by the Coasters over a listenable bass figure. Good side by the boys
altho the flip is more important." Jimmy Norman (born August 12, 1937 in
Nashville) joins Jesse Belvin´s Chargers in Los Angeles.
ctsy
 |
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. Chuck Willis - What Am I Living For / Hang Up My Rock & Roll Shoes
2. Bobby Day - Rock-In Robin
3. Elvis Presley - Don't / Beg Of You
4. Nat King Cole - Looking Back / Do I Like It
5. Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
The Best rock ´n´ roll records of
the year - according to Life Rock & Roll
Gallery:
1. Wonder Why - DION AND THE BELMONTS
2. Tears on My Pillow
- LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS
3. Johnny B. Goode - CHUCK BERRY
4. Lonely Teardrops - JACKIE WILSON
5. Summertime Blues - EDDIE COCHRAN
Bill Daniels' Dusty Chart 1958
The Best rock ´n´ roll songs of the year - according to
The Rock ´n´ Roll Vault:
1. At the Hop - Danny and The Juniors 2. Johnny
B. Goode - Chuck Berry 3. Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
4. Great Balls of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis 5. Good Golly,
Miss Molly - Little Richard 6. It’s All in the Game - Tommy
Edwards 7. Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry 8. It’s
Only Make Believe - Conway Twitty 9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky
Nelson 10. All I Have to Do is Dream - The Everly Brothers.
Greatest 10 Songs of 1958
according to DigitalDreamDoor
1. Johnny
B. Goode - Chuck Berry
2. Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
3. Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard
(rec. 1956)
4. For Your Precious Love - Jerry Butler & the
Impressions
5. Sweet Little Sixteen - Chuck Berry
6. Yakety Yak - Coasters
7. La Bamba - Ritchie Valens
8. Since I Don't Have You - Skyliners
9. Rumble - Link Wray
10. Lonely Teardrops - Jackie Wilson
100
Greatest Recordings of 1958 |
|
|
 
London single with picture sleeve.
  
The Coasters´ touring schedule:
April: the Apollo
Theatre, New York with Fats Domino, the Flamingos, the Spaniels, the Dells,
and dj Tommy Smalls. June 13: the Apollo
Theatre, New York with Frankie Lymon, Lee Andrews & The Hearts, Robert & Johnny,
Jerry Butler & The Impressions, The Kodaks, Ed Townsend, and The Storey Sisters.
July 22: the Armory in
Klamatch Falls, Oregon with Ernie Freeman and his orchestra.
August 5: TV appearance on the American Bandstand ("Yakety
Yak"). August 16: TV appearance at the Dick Clark Show
with Frankie Avalon, Patrick Wayne, and Mary Swan. September 19: the
Apollo Theatre with The Spaniels, The Danleers, The Olympics, Bobby Hendricks, The
Quintones, and Sil Austin´s Combo. September 26: the Howard
Theatre, Washington, D.C. with The Danleers, The Dubs, and Wynona Carr. October
2: 17-days tour with "The Biggest Show of Stars for 1958 - Autumn
Edition" (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Quebec, Ontario, Ohio, Indiana. Pennsylvania,
New York, and Virginia) with Frankie Avalon, Bobby Darin, The Olympics, Dion & The
Belmonts, Bobby Freeman, The Elegants, Jimmy Clanton, The Danleers, Clyde McPhatter, Buddy
Holly & The Crickets, Jack Scott, and the Sil Austin Orchestra. October
25 & November 4: Fantabulous show at Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, Calif with
Sugar Pie and Pee Wee plus Johnny Fuller. December
25: the Howard Theatre, Washington, D.C. with The Chantels, and Buddy and
Ella Johnson.
1959
This year becomes the Coasters´ peak
year of their career, starting in February with the internationally top selling story of
the incorrigible schoolkid, Charlie Brown, hitting #2 on both the new Hot
100 Pop Chart in the U.S., and on the R&B Hot Chart (plus Pop #6 in the U.K.). It
becomes their third million seller. Billboard January 19 review of Atco 6132: "The
Coasters turn in an attractive reading concerning the problems of Charlie Brown on this
rocking side. Could get coins. Watch it. Good teen lyric. (Three Cool Cats): On this side
the Coasters tell of three cats who stand on the street corner watching the chicks as they
stroll by. Interesting side, but flip appears stronger." GAC organize a "Biggest
Show of Stars, Spring Edition" in March where the Coasters join Lloyd Price, Clyde
McPhatter, the Crests, Bo Diddley, and Little Anthony & the Imperials on a package
tour. Charlie Brown´s follow-up is Along Came Jones with
the prolific Dub Jones acting TV Western cliche-hero with his by now well-known clowning
bass vocal, and Albert "Sonny" Forriest succeeding Jacobs as the group´s
guitarist (although the banjo, Leiber-Stoller´s special rock ´n´ roll trade-mark, gets
the head rhythm role). It hits U.S. Hot 100 #9 and R&B #14 in June. Billboard May 4
review of Atco 6141: "Usual hit approach by the Coasters on hilarious tunes affords
them with a likely two-sider. ´Jones´ is a parody of Westerns with Jones coming to the
rescue whenever the damsel is in distress. Flip is a ditty about the birth of rock and
roll." In October the fourth million seller, Poison Ivy, a
magnificent Gardner-Guy duet moralizing over dangerous females (probably the group´s
finest ever effort, covered by dozens of later acts) hits R&B #1 for 4 weeks and
reaches #7 on the Hot 100 (and peaks at #15 in England). Its flip (originally
intended for A-side), I´m A Hog For
You, becomes a Pop hit (#38) and later a collectors´ absolute gem.
Billboard August 10 review of Atco 6146: "The Coasters are a likely bet to click
again with these hot contenders. Either side can come off for top honors. ´Ivy´ is an
interesting bit of material that compares a gal to the well-known weed. ´I´m A Hog For
You´ is a peppy blues effort that is also performed with the hit sound." The album "The
Coasters´ Greatest Hits" is issued (probably one of original rock ´n´
roll´s most qualitative albums) in October. The Coasters´ last single of 1959 becomes
another double-seller. The sardonic What About Us (Pop #47, R&B #17)
is coupled with a poker-playing monkey in Guy leading Run Red Run (Pop
#36, R&B #29). Billboard November 23 review of Atco 6153: "The group figures to
continue its hit spree with this great coupling. Top side (Run Red Run) is about a wild
poker game and features crazy piano backing by Mike Stoller. Flip is a complaint about a
friend who has everything. Either or both sides here." The Coasters´ records are
hailed as pop master-pieces.
ctsy
 |
In the Atlantic studios March 26, 1959.
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee
2. Brook Benton - It's Just A Matter Of Time
3. Wilbert Harrison - Kansas City
4. Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops
5. Lloyd Price - Personality
The Best rock ´n´ roll records of the year - according to Life Rock & Roll Gallery:
1. Teenager in Love - DION AND THE
BELMONTS
2. Kansas City -
WILBERT HARRISON
3. There Goes My Baby - THE DRIFTERS
4. Donna / La Bamba - RITCHIE VALENS
5. Sixteen Candles - THE CRESTS
Bill Daniels' Dusty Chart 1959 The Best rock ´n´ roll songs of the year
- according to The Rock ´n´ Roll Vault:
1. Mack the Knife - Bobby
Darin 2. What’d I Say - Ray Charles 3. Kansas City -
Wilbert Harrison 4. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes - The Platters
5. Whole Lotta Loving - Fats Domino 6. Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price
7. Donna - Ritchie Valens 8. A Lover’s Question -
Clyde McPhatter 9. 16 Candles - The Crests 10. There
Goes My Baby - The Drifters.
Greatest 10 Songs of 1959 according to DigitalDreamDoor
1. What'd I Say
- Ray Charles
2. I Only Have Eyes For You - Flamingos
3. Mack The Knife - Bobby Darin
4. There Goes My Baby - Drifters
5. Shout - Isley Brothers
6. Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison
7. Poison Ivy - Coasters
8. Money - Barrett Strong
9. Love Potion No. 9 - Clovers
10. You're So Fine - Falcons
100 Greatest Recordings of 1959 |
|
ctsy
The Coasters´ touring schedule:
March 7:
The Dick Clark TV Show with
Dale Hawkins, Paul Anka, and Jaye P. Morgan. March 13: one
week at the Howard Theatre, Washington, D.C. with Clyde McPhatter, and Nina Simone. March
27: five days tour with "The Biggest Stars of ´59"
(Richmond, Charlotte, Norfolk) with Lloyd Price, Clyde McPhatter, The Chantels, The
Crests, Bo Diddley, LaVern Baker, Frankie Lymon, Wade Flemons, Bobby Hendricks, and Little
Anthony & The Imperials.
May 7:
Dick Clark TV-show (“Charlie Brown”).
May 19: the Auditorium at Klamath
Falls, Oregon with Ernie Freeman and his orchestra. July 3: one week at the Apollo
Theatre, New York with The Falcons. August 7: one week at the
Howard Theatre, Washington, D.C. with Milt Buckner, Tiny Topsy, and the Jesse Powell
Combo. September 4: four days at the Michigan State Fair,
Detroit with Frankie Avalon, LaVern Baker, Billy & Lillie, Jack Scott, Anita Bryant,
Freddie Cannon, Bobby Rydell, Rusty York, Skip & Flip, Jan & Dean, Santo &
Johnny, Duane Eddy, and Dick Clark. September 18: 44
one-nights up to October 31 with the "Dick Clark Caravan" (including Syracuse,
Montreal, Toronto, Rochester, Richmond, and Norfolk) with Paul Anka, Duane Eddy, Lloyd
Price, LaVern Baker, Annette, The Skyliners, Bobby Rydell; and the first week also The
Drifters, and Phil Phillips. November 26: TV appearance on
"American Bandstand" ("What About Us"). |
|
ctsy
 
 
 
ctsy
THE
SIXTIES
1960
The Coasters revive Besame
Mucho (Pop #70), with Jones acting bass lead. That record is followed by the
Billy Guy penned gospel-based story of a recalcitrant garbage man, Wake Me, Shake
Me (Pop #51, R&B #14 that summer). In July the Coasters wax the magnificent
Shoppin´ For Clothes (where Guy tries to buy an expensive suit on credit from
Jones). It only reaches Pop #83 on the Billboard chart and #57 on the Cash
Box chart (never even hitting the national R&B chart) but
becomes a huge Coasters-fans´ favorite, which splendidly showcases the group´s original
black ghetto roots (the song is based on a forgotten West-Coast R&B record written by
Kent Harris, titled Clothes Line - in the Coasters´ version issued as
composed by Elmo Glick, an often used pseudonym of Stoller´s, who certainly gives new
dimensions to this classic). Some later
pressings of the Coasters' version were issued as "Clothes Line (Wrap It
Up)", which was the original title by Harris. Later Leiber-Stoller-Harris
were credited as composers to "Shoppin' For Clothes".
The album "One By One" (comprising
individual soft-jazz standard vocals) is issued during early Autumn. It introduces
Gardner, Guy, Gunter, and Jones as wonderful and smooth vocal individuals.
|
More on Shoppin' for Clothes |
The Coasters´ touring schedule:
From March 18
Two weeks at the Apollo with Isley Brothers and Save “Baby” Cortez. From
April 16: The Biggest Show of Stars tour in the Eastern stateswith Lloyd
Price, Little Anthony and the Imperials, Clyde McPhatter, Bo Diddley, Jimmy
Reed a.o. From late June: Twelve states tour ranging from Maryland
and Florida to Texas and Wisonsin. From July 8: Weeklong stint at the
Regal in Chicago with Ray Charles. Fall and winter 1960: Apollo
Theatre and the chitlin’ circuit in the South featuring Little Anthony, Bo
Diddley, Brook Benton, Lloyd Price, the Drifters, Ray Charles and his revue
(with Betty Carter and the Raelets). From December 3: the annual
Brooklyn Paramount Theater Christmas Show with Chubby Checker, Ray Charles,
Neil Sedaka, the Drifters, the Shirelles, Dion and others.
 |
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. Brook Benton - Kiddio
2. Brook Benton/Dinah Washington - Baby (You've Got What It Takes)
3. Ike & Tina Turner - A Fool In Love
4. Chubby Checker - The Twist
5. Sam Cooke - Chain Gang
The Best rock ´n´ roll records of the year - according to Life Rock & Roll Gallery:
1. I'm Sorry - BRENDA
LEE
2. Teen Angel - MARK DINNING
3. Theme from A Summer Place - PERCY FAITH
4. Only the Lonely - ROY ORBISON
5. Stay - MAURICE WILLIAMS AND THE ZODIACS
The Best rock ´n´ roll songs of the year - according to The Rock ´n´ Roll Vault:
1. The Twist - Chubby Checker 2. Cathy’s Clown - The Everly
Brothers 3. Stay - Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs 4. Chain
Gang - Sam Cooke 5. Only the Lonely - Roy Orbison 6. New
Orleans - Gary U.S. Bonds 7. Save the Last Dance for Me - The
Drifters 8. Wonderful World - Sam Cooke 9. Running Bear
- Johnny Preston 10. You’re Sixteen - Johnny Burnette.
Top R&B Hits of the 1950s and 1960s
Greatest 10 Songs of 1960 according to
DigitalDreamDoor
1. Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles
2. Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
3. Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison
4. Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go - Hank Ballard &
the Midnighters
5. Stay - Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs
6. Chain Gang - Sam Cooke
7. Spoonful - Howlin' Wolf
8. Shop Around - Miracles
9. The Twist - Chubby Checker
10. Cathy's Clown - Everly Brothers
100 Greatest Recordings of 1960 |
ctsy
 
 
1961
Written by Bobby Darin-Don Kirshner,
and released in January, Wait A Minute (recorded at Capitol´s studios in
New York in December, 1957, with Guy in terrific action), hits Pop #37. This record is
followed by the Coasters´ last U.S. Pop Top 30 hit, Leiber-Stoller's own
favorite - the original story of Little
Egypt (Ying-Yang); with Gardner introducing the tattooed belly dancer, who by the
end of the story will become lead singer Guy´s wife. Little Egypt reaches
Hot 100 #23 and R&B #16 in June, just as Earl Carroll (who had disbanded
his Cadillacs) joins the group, by suggestion
from the group´s soon-to-be new manager Lover Patterson, to replace Cornell Gunter. Lester Sill had
stayed in Hollywood and managed the Coasters from there.
The group is scheduled
for a European tour, but several of the members fear the flight.
Little Egypt is followed by
another Leiber-Stoller song - originally written directly for the Coasters and later
copied by Elvis Presley, Girls Girls Girls (Pop #96). The first single
with Carroll, (Ain't That) Just Like Me, fails to score.
 
 
 
The Coasters´ touring
schedule:
January-February:
a pair of weeklong engagements at the Howard in Washington. February 25:
TV-appearance on NBC’s Saturday Prom, New York City. February-March:
regular stints at the Apollo in New York. Circa early 1961: Guests at
Wink Martindale’s game-show in Las Vegas. Circa June-July: the Regal
in Chicago with Ray Charles and Betty Carter. From September 29 (with
Earl Carroll replacing Gunter): Rockland Palace, New York City with Jackie
Wilson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ruth Brown, the Vibrations, and Chris Kenner. This
troup playing clubs and concert halls in the Northwest and Midwest through
October.
|
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. Bobby Lewis - Tossin' And Turnin'
2. Ike & Tina Turner - It's Gonna Work Out Fine
3. Bobby Bland - Don't Cry No More
4. Freddy King - Hideaway
5. The Miracles - Shop Around
The Best rock ´n´ roll records of the year - according to Life Rock & Roll Gallery:
1. Hit the Road Jack -
RAY CHARLES
2. Bristol Stomp - THE DOVELLS
3. Please Mr. Postman - THE MARVELETTES
4. Blue Moon - MARCELS
5. Runaway - DEL SHANNON
The Best rock ´n´ roll songs of the year - according to The Rock ´n´ Roll Vault:
1. Tossin’ and Turnin’ - Bobby Lewis
2. Runaway - Del Shannon 3. Runaround Sue - Dion
4. Travellin’ Man - Ricky Nelson 5. Quarter to
Three - Gary U.S. Bonds 6. Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles
7. Running Scared - Roy Orbison 8. Stand By Me -
Ben E. King 9. Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles
10. Crying - Roy Orbison.
Greatest 10 Songs of 1961 according to
DigitalDreamDoor
1. Stand By Me - Ben E. King
2. Crazy - Patsy Cline
3. The Wanderer - Dion
4. Runaround Sue - Dion
5. Crying - Roy Orbison
6. Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles
7. Runaway - Del Shannon
8. Quarter To Three - Gary U.S. Bonds
9. It Will Stand - Showmen
10. Running Scared - Roy Orbison
100 Greatest Recordings of 1961 |
 
1962
Now without hit records (Ridin'
Hood - recorded in Los Angeles in 1960 and produced by Lester Sill and
Lee Hazlewood - fails), the group is
still popular on TV appearances and live shows all over America (even doing
Coca Cola commercial jingles during the 1960s). Thomas "Curley"
Palmer (born in El Paso, Texas on August 15, 1929 and a veteran R&B stage musical
director) becomes the Coasters´ third regular guitarist around February, debuting at
Atlantic´s new NYC studios, with the unscoring Jones-led dance-craze satire, The
Climb, in July (originally intended to be named The Slime). The
fourth Atco Coasters´ LP, "Coast Along with The Coasters", is
issued late that year (although produced already in 1961).
Several of the tracks on the stereo edition of that album turn out to be alternate
and edited takes. Billy Guy
debuts as a solo artist on ABC-Paramount and records Women
for Lloyd Price´s Double-L Records in Detroit (Guy´s recordings will be
issued on several "Coasters" LPs during the ´70s), but he continues to
record with the Coasters for a further ten years.
|
 |
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. King Curtis - Soul Twist
2. Ray Charles - I Can't Stop Loving You
3. The Isley Brothers - Twist And Shout
4. Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home To Me
5. James Brown & The Famous Flames - Lost Someone
The Best rock ´n´ roll records of the year - according to Life Rock & Roll Gallery:
1. Big Girls Don't Cry - THE FOUR SEASONS
2. He's A Rebel - THE
CRYSTALS
3. You've Really Got a Hold on Me - THE MIRACLES
4. Duke of Earl - GENE CHANDLER
5. Twist and Shout - THE ISLEY BROTHERS
The Best rock ´n´ roll songs of the year
- according to The Rock ´n´ Roll Vault:
1. Big Girls Don’t Cry -
The Four Seasons 2. Return to Sender - Elvis Presley 3. The
Locomotion - Little Eva 4. Sherry - The Four Seasons 5.
The Peppermint Twist - Joey Dee and The Starliters 6. Dream Baby -
Roy Orbison 7. Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley
8. The Wanderer - Dion 9. Do You Love Me - The
Contours 10. Green Onions - Booker T. and The MGs.
Greatest 10 Songs of 1962 according to
DigitalDreamDoor
1. Green Onions - Booker T. & the MG's
2. Bring It On Home To Me - Sam Cooke
3. You've Really Got A Hold On Me - Miracles
4. The Loco-Motion - Little Eva
5. Sherry - Four Seasons
6. I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles
7. Up On The Roof - Drifters
8. Twist And Shout - Isley Brothers
9. These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding
10. Do You Love Me - Contours
100 Greatest Recordings of 1962
|
 
The Coasters´ touring
schedule:
March:
One week at the Apollo in New York with Ben E. King, Solomon Burke, Huey
Piano Smith and the Clowns. May 11: Porky Chedwick concert at the
Pittsburgh Civic Arena, featuring several other vocal groups. September:
the Zanzibar in Pittsburgh with the Contours, and Aretha Franklin.
November: one week at the Apollo with Sam Cooke, and the Crystals.
Late November: another Chedwick show at the Syria Mosque Theater in
Pittsburgh with Hank Ballard and the Midnighers, the Isley Brothers, the
Olympics, the Clovers, Little Esther and others.
The Touring Schedules: With thanks to Marv
Goldberg, Berndt Kratochwil, and Todd Baptista..
1963
Billy Guy sings lead on the last
Leiber-Stoller produced Coasters Atco recording, The P.T.A., in January. Bobby Nunn, who had to leave the Coasters in late 1957,
officially for health reasons (although Lester Sill had fired both Nunn and Hughes), forms
"The Coasters, Mark II" in L. A. Gunter, who recently had sung with D´s Gents
as back-up singer for Dinah Washington, embarks another rival Coasters group on the West
Coast (later known as "The Fabulous Coasters"). Leiber-Stoller (who had produced
nearly all and written most of the Coasters´ recordings) leave Atco.
|
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. Little Johnny Taylor - Part Time Love
2. Inez Foxx - Mockingbird
3. Jackie Wilson - Baby Workout
4. Little Stevie Wonder - Fingertips
5. Martha & The Vandellas - Heat Wave
The Best rock ´n´ roll records of the year - according to Life Rock & Roll Gallery:
1. Fingertips (Part 2)
- LITTLE STEVIE WONDER
2. Be My Baby - THE RONETTES
3. Surf City - JAN AND DEAN
4. He's So Fine - THE CHIFFONS
5. Louie Louie - THE KINGSMEN
The Best rock ´n´ roll songs of the year
- according to The Rock ´n´ Roll Vault:
1. Louie Louie - The
Kingsmen 2. Sugar Shack - Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs 3.
Fingertips – Pt. 2 - Little Stevie Wonder 4. He’s So Fine -
The Chiffons 5. Walk Like a Man - The Four Seasons 6. Be
My Baby - The Ronettes 7. Heatwave - Martha and The
Vandellas 8. Up On the Roof - The Drifters 9. Wipe Out -
The Surfaris 10. Surfin’ U.S.A. - The Beach Boys.
100 Greatest Recordings of 1963
|
Daily newspaper in Sweden
writes "Unknown youngster out-twists Chubby".
1964
The Coasters are back on
the Pop charts (after four unsuccessful releases) with T´Ain´t Nothin´ To Me
(Hot 100 #64 in April - and R&B #20 during ten weeks from March-May on the
Cash Box Chart), recorded live at the Apollo Theater in November, 1963, with Guy
and Jones in magnificent clowning moods. The follow-up record, Bad Detective,
fails. Issued in October, a revival of the old Robins´ song I Must Be Dreaming
(now with Guy and Gardner splitting leads on a rhythmic soul-blues shuffle), b/w Wild
One (written by Billy Guy - about "beatlemania"), also fail to
score.
1965
The budget LP "That Is
Rock & Roll" (named after the Coasters´ famous flip record title of
1959) is issued on Atlantic´s subsidiary Clarion around January (comprising stereo
versions and alternate takes), and the group's next single, Lady Like
(recorded at the "Wake Me, Shake Me" session in 1960), fails to score.
The Coasters appear at the
"Shindig" TV-show on February 10 (doing a great live "What Is The Secret"...,
plus "Along Came Jones" and "Searchin'"), and wax a Coca-Cola
jingle. Billy Guy leads the original and funky Let´s Go
Get Stoned soul-ballad in April, a year before Ray Charles makes a #1 hit of the
Simpson-Ashford-Armstead composition (one of their first - recorded by
Charles on December 5, 1965. The Coasters appear at the Royal Theatre in Baltimore with the Supremes,
Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, Martha & the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Wilson
Pickett, and the Royalettes. Gunter´s Coasters tour the U.K. The next Coasters Atco
single, Motown-inspired Crazy Baby, written by lead Billy Guy, fails (but
is worth £150.00 in Britain today). Lover Patterson
dies.
 |
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself
2. Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour
3. Jr. Walker & The All Stars - Shotgun
4. Billy Stewart - I Do Love You
5. Barbara Mason - Yes, I' m Ready
100 Greatest Recordings of 1965 |
1966
The Coasters´ Atco contract expires
after a last recording, She´s A Yum Yum, produced by King Curtis in
January, but Leiber-Stoller offer them a stay with CBS subsidiary Date Records, where they
in November do a lively and psychodelic Soul Pad c/w a truly funky cover of New Orleans blues singer Alvin Robinson´s
(1964) original Down
Home Girl at A&R Studios in NYC. The single fails to score, but later becomes one of
the Coasters´ several classics and a favorite among 60s´soul fans. Around this time James Evans (Wilson Pickett´s manager) becomes
the
Coasters´ new manager - a task he will fulfill until the early 1980s.
 |
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. Sam & Dave - Hold On! I'm Comin'
2. The Capitols - Cool Jerk
3. Slim Harpo - Baby Scratch My Back
4. The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud To Beg
5. Robert Parker - Barefootin'
100 Greatest Recordings of 1966 |
1967
With Artie Butler as arranger/director,
the Coasters wax the fabulous D.W. Washburn at Columbia´s studios in
October (where Gardner, in vain, tries to get "wino" Billy Guy saved for a
better life). This song is probably one of Leiber-Stoller´s absolute best and it suits
the revived Coasters just as excellently as the earlier West-Coast ghetto blues songs. The
song is held back for issue by their original, but at this time former manager Lester Sill
- now responsible for the Monkees, who cover it for an international hit the following
year. The Coasters´ original will be issued on Date in July, 1968 and later reissued
twice (on King in November, 1971 - and in 1973).
 |
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. Aretha Franklin - Respect
2. Sam & Dave - Soul Man
3. Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
4. Betty Swann - Make Me Yours
5. Stevie Wonder -
I Was Made To Love Her
100 Greatest Recordings of 1967 |
1968
Date Records issue the Coasters´
swinging cover of the Leiber-Stoller written I´m A Woman (originally
recorded by Christine Kittrell and Peggy Lee in 1962) titled She Can in June (later reissued on King as Talkin´
´Bout A Woman). Original New Yorker Ronnie Bright, from the Valentines of Sugar
Hill, and a late line-up of Cadillacs (also heavily engaged as studio back-up bass
vocalist), joins the Coasters to replace Will Jones in April. Jones had left
the Coasters (afraid of touring via air-plane flights) before the Coasters'
last Columbia recording session in February.
|
 |
Billboard's Year-End R&B Chart
1. James Brown - Say It Loud-I'm Black And
I'm Proud
2. Clarence Carter - Slip Away
3. Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
4. Hugh Masekela - Grazing In The Grass
5. Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell - You're All I Need To Get By
100 Greatest Recordings of 1968 |
1969
Jimmy Norman (veteran West Coast and
N.Y. R&B and soul singer) produces a Coasters single for Lloyd Price´s Turntable
label; and replaces Vernon Harrell as a regular substitute for Billy Guy. The group is
featured on Richard Nader´s Rock ´n´ Roll Revival show in New York - including Billy
Guy. Guy also participates with the group at the
Boston Tea Party (ten live recordings from one of their shows there will surface on the
bootleg CD "Greatest Hits In Concert" more than 30 years
later).
THE
SEVENTIES
1970
For the first time since their initial
creation the Coasters have no new recordings released (neither is any album issued). It
certainly looks like the definitive decline, although Gunter´s "Fabulous
Coasters" are heavily engaged on Dick Clark´s revival shows. Even the old tenor Leon
Hughes tries his luck with a fake "Original Coasters" group.
1971
On August 13 King Curtis is stabbed to
death outside his home in NYC. For the third time the "true" Coasters team up
with Leiber-Stoller (new share-holders of the King-Starday label), and in December they
hit the national Hot 100 #76 with the Gardner-led revival of the old Clovers´ hit Love
Potion Number Nine, the Coasters´ version recorded at Bell Studios in February,
1968, dubbed with Taco Meza on flute in 1971 - and advertised as Love Potion #9 in the trade magazines. Atco
issue the nice "Their Greatest Recordings - The Early Years"
LP in November. British Joy issue an LP
by "The Coasters" titled "Hungry" which actually
features twelve Billy Guy recordings of 1962, which he had done for ABC and Lloyd Price´s
Double-L Records (American Trip do not issue that LP until 1973, now titled "It
Ain´t Sanitary").
1972
The Coasters, who now regularly tour the revival circuit, and even travel over the
Atlantic to tour Europe, are featured in Columbia Pictures´ movie "Let The
Good Times Roll" (starring a.o. also Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little
Richard, and the Shirelles). Leiber-Stoller release an album in December on King /Starday with the
Coasters, "On Broadway"
(comprising Date-recordings and several newly recorded songs). The single
Cool Jerk fails to score.
|
|
1973
The group tour Europe for a second
´70s visit, this time with Jimmy Norman definitely replacing Billy Guy. They re-record
some of their old hits for the New Jersey based Trip label, originally issued in 1975 and
titled "16 Greatest Hits", featuring a.o. a
revival of Down In Mexico (used in the cult movie "Death Proof" in
2007) - and also includig six of Guy´s
Double-L recordings. Today the ten revivals are available on a Masters CD, titled "Golden
Hits" - and on countless other compilations. The Coasters (now with Norman)
again appear at the Boston Tea Party - four new live recordings are included on the
Cornell Gunther´s (sic) Coasters bootleg CD on New Rose several years later. Soul
Pad c/w D.W. Washburn becomes the Coasters´ 36th single (after
18 years of recording). Atlantic Records issue five Coasters´ Oldies singles.
Carroll, Gardner, Bright and Guy (from US "On Broadway" LP)
1974
Billy Guy tries his luck as producer,
and as a night club story-teller and issues a pornographic rhyme-speech album titled "The
Tramp Is Funky" on All Platinum /Snake Eyes. Carl Gardner´s Coasters tour
Australia and Europe (and hit Germany). |
![In Australia in 1974 [ctsy manager James Evans].](images/austr764.jpg)
|
1975
Bill Millar publishes his book "The
Coasters" on Star Books in the U.K. In the U.S. Searchin´ 75
is issued on a Chelan single, produced by Bumps Blackwell, as "The Coasters Two Plus
Two" (which Coasters actually are on the record is unknown to most - actually Hughes,
Nunn, Chapman and Jerome Evans). Around the same time Billy Guy is featured solo on
another "Coasters" single, "You Move Me".
Some images from Bill Millar´s book "The
Coasters:
Top left: The Cadets (featuring Will Jons, top); Bobby Nunn of the ´70s;
Bottom left: The Coasters with Leiber-Stoller, Sill, Wexler and Ertegun in 1959.
Top right: The Cadillacs (featuring Earl Carroll, top);
Bottom right: Sonny Forriest (guitarist) and Young Jessie.
1976
Gardner´s Coasters make a single on
Wilson Pickett´s Wicked label. AIA of the U.S. and DJM of the U.K. issue an album titled "The
World Famous Coasters" (an LP which features Leon Hughes and Will Jones -
the latter fronting a fake line-up on a.o. If I Had A Hammer). This album
is later issued on a C5 CD as "Just Coastin´".
1977
Billy Guy waxes new recordings of old
Coasters hits for Gusto in Nashville (the old King/Starday label with new owners again)
together with Will Jones; and a single from that same session - Jumbo Bwana -
is later issued in Europe as by the Coasters. On this session One Foot Draggin´
is born.
Carroll, Palmer, Gardner, Bright, and Norman in the late
1970s.
1978
British Atlantic issue "20
Great Originals" (containing stereo versions of the hits). Robert Palmer publishes "Baby, That Was Rock
& Roll" – a tribute to Leiber-Stoller.
1979
The Coasters participate with Chuck
Berry, Bo Diddley, the Five Satins, Jay & the Americans, a.o., at the 20th anniversary
"Rock ´n ´ Roll Revival Concert" in New York. Salsa Picante issue a heavily
disco-styled "The Coasters ... Coasting" album recorded by
Bobby Nunn´s group featuring Bobby Sheen and Billy Richards Jr (one title though, The
Big Rip-Off, written by Kent Harris, originator of Shoppin´ For Clothes,
has the old ghetto style). Leiber-Stoller hit the musical scene with "Only In
America", featuring 30 LS hits – later to be revived in England as "Yakety
Yak". Earl Carroll, who had acted with the group since 1961
and by the late 1970s was featured with the Coasters on stage without Jimmy
Norman, leaves Gardner´s true Coasters by the end of the year
(after more than 18 years with the group). Carl now satisfies with only three singers in
the group (himself, Bright and the soon returning Norman, plus guitarist Palmer).
Bright, Gardner, Carroll and Norman in
1979.
THE EIGHTIES
1980
At long last album buyers can enjoy the
1957 recording of What Is The Secret Of Your Success?. Gunter´s bass
singer Nat "Buster" Wilson is shot in April, dumped near Hoover Dam, and later
found in a canyon near Modesto, California.
Top: Gardner and Carroll bottom Bright and Palmer
(in late 1979).
1981
Earl Carroll re-forms his Cadillacs
and Norman returns to the Coasters. Japanese Pioneer, who represent Warner/Atlantic, issue the second (of three) Coasters
compilations.
1982
Nunn´s Coasters tour Germany and
Atlantic issue a superb double-album, "Young Blood"
in July, containing 24 original mono-tracks. Old friends Billy Guy and Will Jones compete with Gardner´s
Coasters (featuring Norman, Bright and Palmer). The Guy-Jones group act with new
versions of West-Coast revival "World Famous Coasters".
Jimmy Norman, Carl Gardner and Ronnie Bright in
1982.
(ctsy "The History of Rock", Orbis Publishing Ltd)
1983
Carl Gardner´s Coasters suffer hard
times and Carl spends most of his time in his one-roomer in Mount Vernon, New
York. Grady Chapman (formerly of the Robins and
Bobby Nunn´s Coasters) tours with his own fake Coasters. Billy Guy & Will
"Dub" Jones perform with their combined "Coasters" group in Los
Angeles and Las Vegas.
Carl Gardner, Ronnie Bright, Tommy Pike, Jimmy Norman, and
Thomas Palmer.
1984
Gardner regularly faces the severe
problems of several phony groups using the name of "The Coasters" in the oldies
circuit, wondering if he shall join his brother´s chicken farm in his old home town of
Tyler, Texas. British Edsel issue a "rare Atco" compilation LP, "Thumbin´
A Ride".
1985
After 30 years of fame, and of
late-coming struggles, Gardner meets his soon-to-be new wife and manager, Veta
(born June 10, 1932) and later settles in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Bookings are once again relatively regular for Carl
Gardner & The Coasters (including Norman, Bright and Palmer).
1986
Carl E. Gardner files a U.S. Service Mark of "The Coasters" for 20 years. Bobby
Nunn dies on November 5 of heart failure in Los Angeles, California. Gardner travels to
his funeral, also visited by his old West-Coast friend Bobby Day, who himself dies some
years later. Nunn had handed
over his "Coasters" to Bobby Sheen and Billy Richards, who continue
their tours, but soon Nunn’s old Robins buddy - Grady Chapman - recruits
Bobby Sheen for tourings (and Billy Richards signs new singers to his
own group).
Sheen had told his
son at the time of Nunn´s death that there were nine groups claiming to be
"The Coasters".
Warner issue the CD "The Ultimate Coasters" (comprising stereo
editions of the "Young Blood" double-LP). |
![1986-87 [Veta Gardner Management, promotion photo].](images/gardn102.jpg)
|
1987
Gardner, Guy, Jones, and Gunter are
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame on January 21 at the second annual dinner at Waldorf Astoria
hotel in New York as the first vocal group receiving that honor. Highland/DeLuxe issue a
CD titled "20 Greatest Hits", comprising the old Date/King
sides (reissued on Gusto TeeVee in 2006).
Cornell Gunter, Billy Guy, Carl Gardner, Will
Jones,
Veta Gardner (plus unknown male).
1988
Carl and his present Coasters celebrate
Gardner´s 60th birthday in Tyler, Texas and Southern newspapers give their performances
high rankings. A month later, in May, the Coasters (specially reformed with Gardner, Billy
Guy, Will Jones, and Cornell Gunter, supplied by guitarist Thomas Palmer), participate in
Atlantic´s 40th birthday concert at New York´s Madison Square Garden. Carl Gardner now
finds six golden records awards hanging on his walls at home (for Searchin´,
Yakety Yak, Charlie Brown, Poison Ivy
together with Along Came Jones and Young Blood). The Coasters'
great performance at Wolfman Jacks Rock 'n' Roll Palace in Orlando is recorded, resulting in videos and
finally a great DVD on K-Tel in 2003.
1989
Gardner´s Coasters appear in the
filmed take-off of the "Phantom Of The Opera", titled "Phantom of the
Ritz", and promote the slogan "Yakety Yak, Don´t Do Crack". The group participates in the 20th
Anniversary Rock 'N' Roll Revival Concert with Chuck Berry, Jay & the Americans,
the Five Satins, the Skyliners, Bo Diddley and others. Atco reissue "The
Coasters´ Greatest Hits" again (they had done so several times before - but
now for the first time on CD).
THE NINETIES
1990
Cornell Gunter is shot to death in his
car in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 26, just as he once again was to launch his Coasters
group at the Lady Luck hotel. Billy (William) Richard´s (of the old Robins) nephew Billy
Richards Jr (who originally had been the old Robins´ chauffeur and later a member of
Nunn´s Coasters), files a law suit against Gardner, claiming the right to use the name of
"The Coasters". Lester Sill testifies in favor of Gardner.
1991
Carl Gardner & The Coasters prove
they´re still "with it", performing at the New York Pops concert at Carnegie
Hall in May. Billy Richards´ Coasters are, rather surprisingly, "acknowledged"
by the Californian court (the reason: the Nunn/Richards group had toured heavily for
several years - and managed
by Larry Marshak after Nunn´s death).
1992
The Coasters perform regularly at
disc-jockey Wolfman Jack´s rock´n´roll club in Orlando, Florida. Rhino Records issue
the 2-set CD "50 Coastin´ Classics" (containing a.o. two
never-before-issued Coasters recordings - from 1958, Hey Sexy; and one
from 1968).
1993
The Coasters with Gardner, Norman,
Bright, and Palmer are booked in Canada and later Orlando again, but during the latter
part of the year Gardner is treated for cancer (substituted by old Robins´
and fake Coasters singer Grady Chapman).
 
1994
Gardner is back in business again, fit, and fronting his group. The
Robins and the Coasters are presented Pioneer Awards at the Fifth Annual Rhythm and Blues Foundation
Award Gala Meeting on March 2 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York. Gardner, Jones, and
Guy re-unite for a Vision Award ceremony in California, honoring their original manager
Lester Sill, who had a remarkable career (Modern Records sales-man, Coasters manager,
Duane Eddy with Lee Hazlewood - Jamie Records, Philles Records with Phil Spector, Screen
Gems Columbia and the Monkees; and now head of Jobete Publishing). Rhino issue "The
Very Best of The Coasters" CD, which will be bonused by Sorry But
I´m Gonna Have To Pass on the European issue, because of demands after
Volkswagen´s TV-commercials using that song; a 4-trackCD hits #41 on the
British charts in August. Carl Gardner, Clyde McPhatter, and Little
Esther are the only ones featured twice on Rhino´s 6CD set "The R&B
Box". Lester Sill dies on October 31, 1994.
From Jet magazine March 28, 1994.
Will Jones, Carl Gardner, Billy Guy (photo ctsy Veta Gardner & Trevor Cajiao).
1995
A successful Broadway musical (later
the longest lasting Broadway show ever) hits America in March (and Australia and England
later), titled "Smokey
Joe´s Cafe", based on Leiber-Stoller´s heritage (with 40 super songs).
Carl Gardner celebrates his 40th anniversary as lead singer of the Coasters and continues
working on his biography, "Yakety Yak, I Will Talk Back" (later
changed to - "Yakety Yak I Fought Back"). Young Blood
and Yakety Yak are listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame´s 500 Songs
Forum.
1996
Gardner enters recording studios in
Florida in April, full-filling a life-long dream by perpetuating his own new renditions of
his old favorites, a.o. T-Bone Walker, Louis Jordan, Percy Mayfield, Roy Brown, the Inkspots, and the
Orioles. A CD is issued around Christmas, titled "One Cool Cat". Leiber-Stoller´s "Smokey Joe´s Cafe" double-CD
gets a Grammy for best Musical CD.
1997
British Sequel Records issue 4 CDs in March named
after the Coasters´ first four original Atco albums (with extensive in-lay presentations)
and comprising a total of 98 Coasters and Robins tracks (although meant to be 102 tracks),
including the previously unissued original I´m A Hog For You of 1958,
and alternate takes and never-before-issued stereo editions (the only missing tracks are
the alternates of Poison Ivy and Dance, the original The
Snake & The Bookworm and the longer version of Three Cool Cats).
The first two chapters of Gardner´s biography are published on the Internet. Carl Gardner, and the Coasters get spacious
coverage in the British TV documentary "Dancing in the Street - the history of rock
´n´ roll".
1998
Jimmy Norman leaves the Coasters around
February, and issues a newly recorded reggae-styled CD, "Tobacco Road",
and Earl Carroll and his Cadillacs tour the world and issue a CD titled "Have
You Heard The News!". Billy Richards and Gardner settle their differences -
Gardner getting solely rights to use the name "The Coasters", with Richards´
group touring as "Billy Richards´ (West) Coasters", but now Billy Guy (who had
been offered a contract by former Richards´ Coasters manager Larry Marshak) starts to
compete in Las Vegas "coaching" a fake Coasters group (often billed as
"Billy Guy´s Coasters"). Marshak had promoted "half-legal"
and fake Drifters, Platters and Coasters groups since the beginning of the 1970s. Gardner
celebrates his 70th Birthday in great style, hosting a huge Birthday Party in Port St.
Lucie with a new Coasters quintet featuring himself, Ronnie Bright, Thomas Palmer, plus
new-comers Alvin Morse (who had joined in November, 1997), and Carl´s son Carl Gardner Jr.
The current (and real) Coasters.
1999
Carl and several other leaders of original rock ´n´ roll and
R&B groups try to get Congress interested in forbidding impostors using the names of
the 50´s and 60´s famous groups. This action is largely covered in U.S. news magazines.
Billy Guy sues Carl Gardner for a million dollar concerning Carl´s trade-mark of
"THE COASTERS" (is he interested in meeting Carl once again? - they actually are
to in January of the year 2000 - settling
their differences).
Yakety Yak (the hit from 1958) receives a Grammy Hall of
Fame Award. The Coasters
are nominated for the 1999 inductees of the newly founded Vocal Group Hall of Fame
- the award ceremonies though are not to be held until October 20, 2000 in Sharon, Pa
together with the inductees of 2000 (among other board and committee members
are Tony Butola, Jon Bauman, and Mary Wilson).
THE
NEW MILLENNIUM
2000
Will "Dub" Jones dies of
cancer and/or diabetes in
Long Beach, California on January 16, 2000 after several years of semi-retirement
(71 years of
age). Gardner wins the sole right to use the name of "The Coasters" in court
decision versus Larry Marshak - although Marshak immediately starts a new fake Coasters
group - Cornell Gunter´s Coasters (via a contract with the late Cornell´s sister
Shirley). Carl receives congratulations from President Clinton for The Coasters´ 45 years
in show-biz and the Coasters hold a celibration party on February 26 in Port St. Lucie
together with Bill
Pinkney & The Original Drifters. Relic Record Shoppe announces a new Coasters CD.
"Charlie Brown" - not yet another compilation but 24 superb
true stereo Atco tracks, comprising unissued masters, the-never-before issued Crocodile,
an alternate Hey Sexy with Gardner doing a superb lead, alternate
versions of I´m A Hog For You, a terrific unissued alternate
of Three Cool Cats, and more alternates including studio chat, false
starts and outtakes.
2001
Veta Gardner and the editor
of The Coasters Web Site start The Coasters Fan Club and make it possible to order Coasters merchandise. Carl
and his Coasters hit Las Vegas for sell-out crowds in January. Millennium Productions of
Florida get Carl Gardner involved in several recording activities and honor Carl in their
advertising. Veta Gardner creates The Original Coasters,
Inc. website (later replaced by
an official Coasters site). The Coasters tour Mississippi and the Caribbean's in the
spring and face Dick Clark (who had promoted fake Coasters groups) in court in June (a
case soon settled). In July the group finishes a 5-day concert in Las Vegas with a young
talent and new-comer to the group (substituting for Gardner Jr) - Joe Lance Williams (better known as J.W. Lance). Larry
Marshak´s bogus Coasters, Drifters and Platters continue to tour (they had even put out
CD records).
 
The bogus Coasters and Drifters.
2002
Veta and Carl Gardner are alive and
well and doin´ fine. The
Coasters are in good spirit and doing regular gigs all over America. A new Official Coasters Web Site is
introduced. The Coasters Web Site has by January, 2002 been visited by more than
16,000 unique visitors since it was first published in late 1999. On November 5, Billy Guy
dies in his sleep at home in Las Vegas, Nevada (Guy´s funeral is held November 26). By
now only Carl Gardner is the living legend of the four Rock ´n´ Roll Hall of Fame
Inductees. Carl Gardner, Jr forms a Coaster´s Review in California.
The Coasters at the October fest in Palm Springs, October
2002.
2003
Carl Gardner is
75 years old on April 29 and a huge celebration is held in early May. On December 26,
exactly two years after its recording, the DVD titled "Live from The Palace of Auburn
Hills" is issued, featuring the present Coasters. This is not the first Coasters DVD
- earlier in the year K-Tel had issued "The Best of The Coasters - live from Rock
''n' Roll Palace" with six great classics with the Coasters at Little Darlin's in
Orlando. We sure haven´t heard the last from the Coasters yet!
2004
Carl Gardner celebrates 50 years of recording activities in
February - debuted with "If Teardrops Were Kisses" (lead for the Robins in 1954). In August the Original Drifters (featuring Bill Pinkney), Herb Reed and
the Platters
and Carl Gardner's Coasters appear at the Alabama Theatre, Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle
Beach in South Carolina (they will return there every year) - and make a great show - proving the original artists can do it
better than the Sahara, Las Vegas Berry Hobbs' Drifters, the Platters (the Buck Ram group)
and Cornell Gunter´s Coasters. Meanwhile most probable Billy Richards' Coasters,
The Original Cornell Gunter Coasters (with remnants from Gunter's late
group), Edwin Cook's Coasters, Charlie Thomas' Drifters, Bobby Hendricks'
Drifters (plus most probably several other oof-shoot groups), and the Reviews of Monroe Powell´s Platters and
Carl Gardner Jr's Coasters are acting in different areas around the U.S. In November Carl Gardner Jr. returns to his father's
group after more than three years of working in California. In December Collectables
(oldies.com) reissue the Coasters' original Atco LPs "The Coasters" and
"One By One" on one CD (which will be coupled in late 2005 with
"Coast Along with The Coasters", featuring the alternate stereo takes).
2005
On
April 16 Robert Christgau (of the Village Voice) writes (and talks) about "The
Coasters Revisited" at the 2005 Pop Conference at Experience Music Project (emplive.org). | Interview with Christgau
|.
On November 5
Carl Gardner Jr officially takes over lead vocals from his father, who semi-retires.
Carl stays as leader and coach for the group. The album "50 Golden Years with Carl Gardner & The Coasters", an anthology
1955 - 2005 is issued, featuring rare and unissued recordings.
Check it! The story of
the Coasters continues.
2006
Carl Gardner's Autobiography "Yakety Yak I Fought Back - My Life with
The Coasters" is finally written down with Veta Gardner and ready to be
published.
2007
Bright, Gardner Jr, Palmer, Lance, and Morse at
the Alabama Theater, Myrtle Beach - February 2007.
Gardner's book is out for grabs in July! On August 27 VarèseSarabande (VarèseVintage) issue all of The Coasters'
Date/King sides, titled "Down Home"
(CD 302066844-2). On December 12 a terrific 4CD-compilation on Rhino Handmade, "The
Coasters On Atco - There's A Riot Goinä On" is issued, featuring the complete Coasters Atco Recordings (113 tracks
on Rhino RHM2 7740). Rhino are also to issue a 2-set CD in their "The Definitive Soul Collection"
series, comprising 30 Coasters tracks in chronological order, featuring all
their Pop Hits.
2008
The Coasters' touring schedule is steady and regular.
Rhino’s planned issue of a 2-set CD for their "The
Definitive Soul Collection" series, comprising 30 Coasters mono tracks,
featuring all their Pop Hits chronological, is still delayed (but Rhino
reissue "The Very Best of". Veta Gardner’s
thecoasters.com site decides to redirect visitors to The Coasters
Web Site. On April 29 Carl Gardner Sr. is 80. On April 29 Carl
Gardner Sr is 80. In October ALvin Morse is replaced by Primotivo Candelara.
2009
"It sounds familiar but looks different ...
- It's worse for the real oldies, acts like
the Coasters ("Yakety Yak") and the Platters ("Only
You"). Today it's common practice for tribute
bands to capitalize on famous names even though
none of the original members is present or
approving. There could be as many as 50
incarnations of the Coasters, for example,
touring the country today. It's so bad that on
three dates this summer the Coasters will be
opening for the Coasters". (statement from
Michael Smerconish - The Philadelphia Inquirer,
May 24). Late this year Ronnie Bright, member
for over 40 years, is replaced by "Fast" Eddie
Whitfield.
Photo: Carl Gardner today (ctsy Millennium
Productions of Florida).
Photo right. The
Coasters in 2003.
Carl and Veta
Gardner in 2007; photo: Palm Beach Post.
Year By Year Re-Cap
edited by Claus Röhnisch.
| The Coasters Story: Short Re-Cap
(revised) |
|
To enter The Coasters
Web Site
(if you´re on a one-frame page, please click) |
JOHN LEE HOOKER
The World's Greatest Blues Singer
Session Discography and JLH Time-Line plus Ultimate CDs
|
ctsy
Coca-Cola jingle 33-vinyl of 1965.
