R.I.P. Carl Gardner, 83, Original Lead Singer of the Coasters

[Joey1986]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/14/us-coasters-gardner-idUSTRE75D3LK20110614

 

[GridLeakBias]

I graduated high school in 1958 - just at the time the Coasters released the first of a string of hits - "Yakety Yak." From there they continued to entertain us with "Charlie Brown", "Poison Ivy", "Young Blood", "Searchin' ", "Little Egypt", "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and "One Kiss Led To Another", just to name a few of the delightful and novel tunes they recorded. The Coasters have been imitated, their tunes have been covered, but no one will ever match their sounds.

Carl Gardner is a Rock 'n' Roll legend as lead singer with the Coasters.

Who among us remembers his lead on "Riot In Cellblock #9" ? (1954, The Robins - Spark Records)

 

[radioman148]

He will definitely be missed. One of the best.

 

[Captainfirst]

We keep losing the good ones, don't we?

 

[radioman148]

We keep losing the good ones, don't we?

Sadly, yes.

 

[hornet61]

Down to Herb Reed of the Platters

and

Ben E King and Charlie Thomas of the Legit Drifters

any Coasters still alive???

 

[radioman148]

Down to Herb Reed of the Platters

and

Ben E King and Charlie Thomas of the Legit Drifters

any Coasters still alive???

I don't think there's any original Coasters left.

 

[GridLeakBias]

And yesterday, The Big Man Clarence Clemons passed away. The E Street Band will never be the same without that Sax.

 

[radioman148]

And yesterday, The Big Man Clarence Clemons passed away. The E Street Band will never be the same without that Sax.

Very sad.

 

[hornet61]

And yesterday, The Big Man Clarence Clemons passed away. The E Street Band will never be the same without that Sax.

Maybe the Boss can use Bobby Keyes, Rolling Stones part-time Sax player.

Little known fact..former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson played sax...had to give it up ,


his manager said no sax, before a fight ;D

 

[TheFonz]

Down to Herb Reed of the Platters

and

Ben E King and Charlie Thomas of the Legit Drifters

any Coasters still alive???

Leon Hughes was an original member. I believe he is still alive.

 

[hornet61]

Down to Herb Reed of the Platters

and

Ben E King and Charlie Thomas of the Legit Drifters

any Coasters still alive???

Leon Hughes was an original member. I believe he is still alive.

Yes, you're right, good catch..I forgot about Leon Hughes , because he came from the Hollywood Flames and not the Robins, I have a tendency to forget him. Atlantic put out a fairly accurate tabulation of the different revolving door/personnel line-up's for almost the entire Drifter Discography, this was in the liner notes of the two doulble Lp anthologies from about the mid-80's Early Drifters and post 59 Drifters, it was a pretty cool cross referenced matrix.

They Kinda need one for the Coasters (only that were on the charted recordings)..The Hall of Fame recognizes pretty much the founding members, If I recall, I may be wrong.

I believe Sonny Turner, who was lead on most of the Platters 60's Charted hits and there were at least six or so, how should he be classified in the Platters history? And maybe even Nate Turner (Both a Flamingo and a Platter)

Herbie Cox an Original "Cleftone" is still performing, and Tommy Hunt an Original "Flamingo"will pop-up now and then.