The Coasters were formed in Los Angeles, California in 1955 by Carl Gardner (tenor) and Bobby Nunn (bass) after the split of doo wop group The Robins. Their collaboration with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller gave them a unique sound that was very humorous most of the time. Their first huge hit came with "Young Blood" and "Searching." They also had success with hits such as "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Little Egypt."
Their collaboration with legendary songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller gave them a unique sound that was very humorous most of the time. Their first huge hit came with "Young Blood" and "Searching." They also had success with hits such as "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," and "Little Egypt."
Gardner was still touring with The Coasters as late as 2005, although he is the only surviving original member. Gardner is now semi-retired and has handed the reins over to his son Carl Jr.
In 1987, they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, thus becoming the first group to be inducted (the other inductees at the time were solo acts). In 2000, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame. In 2004, "Young Blood" was #414 on Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs Of All Time. "Young Blood" and "Yakety Yak" were part of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll. The band's song "Down in Mexico" appears on the new film, Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof.
Clyde McPhatter 13
King Curtis 12
The Cadillacs 2
The Del-Vikings 1
The Drifters 35
Flamingos 1
Marcels 4
The Moonglows 6
The Olympics 5
Hank Ballard 5
Jackie Wilson 28
Jay And The Americans 1
Little Anthony & The Imperials 4
Screamin' Jay Hawkins 17
The '5' Royales 9
The Crests 2
The Five Keys 3
The Jive Five 1
The Orioles 6
The Penguins 1
Ray Charles 131
The Dells 25