Died On This Date (June 12, 2011) Carl Gardner / The Coasters

Carl Gardner
April 29, 1928 – June 12, 2011

Carl Gardner was the founder and front man of ’50s R&B group, the Coasters.  Formed with Bobby Nunn, Billy Guy, Leon Hughes, and Adolph Jacobs in 1955, the Coasters went on to have several iconic hits including “Yakety Yak,” “Poison Ivy,” and “Charlie Brown – all of which had Gardner singing lead.  The Coasters were one of the few vocal groups of their era that were considered as much rock ‘n roll as they were R&B.  In fact, when the inaugural group of inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame were announced in 1987, the Coasters were included on that list.  Carl Gardner, the last surviving member of the original Coasters passed away from congestive heart failure on June 12, 2011.  He was 83.

Thanks to Craig Rosen at Number1Albums for the assist

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The Coasters

 

Died On This Date (November 5, 1986) Bobby Nunn / The Coasters

Ulysses “Bobby” Nunn
September 20, 1925 – November 5, 1986

bobbynunnBobby Nunn was an R&B singer who first came to some prominence as a singer in the ’50s vocal group, the Coasters.  During those early years, Nunn also made a handful of recordings with Little Esther Phillips.  In 1955, Nunn joined up with Billy Guy, Carl Gardner, and Leon Hughes in the Coasters, another vocal group that went on the become one of the most renowned from the era.  With hits like “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown,” The Coasters were one of the few vocal groups that were considered as much rock ‘n roll as they were R&B.  In fact, when the inaugural group of inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were announced in 1987, the Coasters were included on that list.  Nunn continued to record and perform well into the ’70s, including with a revamped version of the Coasters.  Bobby Nunn was 61 when he passed away on November 5, 1986.

What You Should Own

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The Coasters