Leon Hughes
Encyclopedia
Leon Hughes is an American
singer. He is best known as an original member of The Coasters
.
, Carl Gardner
, and Billy Guy
) up until 1957. Before joining The Coasters
, Hughes had been a member of doo wop groups The Hollywood Flames
and The Lamplighters. He had been working at a car wash
when Bobby Nunn
had recommended him as second tenor for The Coasters
. In 1956, he recorded with The Celebritys which included his brother Elder O'Neal. That same year, he also recorded on his own label Leoneal Records with The Signeals which included his sister Shirley Hughes and his brother Elder O'Neal. Leon also recorded a single as "Leoneal and Janet" (backup vocals by The Signeals).
After leaving The Coasters, he teamed with Bobby Nunn
to record as The Dukes in 1959 for Flip Records
. "Looking For You" b/w "Groceries, Sir" (Flip #343), and "I Love You"
b/w "Leap Year Cha Cha" (Flip #344) were the singles released.
In the 1970s, he recorded with several Coasters groups. In 1975, recorded with "The Coasters Two Plus Two" for Chelan Records. The record "Searchin' 75" b/w "Young Blood" stated that these recordings were from the album called "Reunion." In 1976, he recorded an album with "The World Famous Coasters" which included Will "Dub" Jones. This album was released on American International Records (In Europe on DJM). In 1998, a CD called "Leon Hughes: One Of The First Original Coasters" was released on Oldie CD, and a VHS tape called "The Coasters: Tribute To Their Greatest Hits" was released. Hughes still performs with a Coasters group, sometimes as "Leon Hughes and his Original Coasters." He also has done some performances with a Hollywood Flames group.
With Carl Gardner's death on June 12, 2011, Leon Hughes is now the last surviving member of the original Coasters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer. He is best known as an original member of The Coasters
The Coasters
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
.
Biography
Leon Hughes sang with the original Coasters (Bobby NunnBobby Nunn
Ulysses B. "Bobby" Nunn was an American singer with the musical groups The Robins and The Coasters. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S., and died of heart failure in Los Angeles, California, U.S.-Biography:...
, Carl Gardner
Carl Gardner
Carl Edward Gardner was an American singer, best known as the foremost member and founder of The Coasters. Known for the 1958 song "Yakety Yak", which spent a week as number one on the Hot 100 pop list, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.- Life and career :Gardner was born...
, and Billy Guy
Billy Guy
-Biography:Billy Guy is best known as a member of The Coasters, singing lead on such hits as "Searchin'," "Little Egypt," "Run Red Run," "Wait A Minute," among others. Before Guy joined The Coasters in 1955, he was part of a comedy singing duo called "Bip and Bop." One single called "Ding Ding...
) up until 1957. Before joining The Coasters
The Coasters
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
, Hughes had been a member of doo wop groups The Hollywood Flames
The Hollywood Flames
The Hollywood Flames were an American R&B vocal group in the 1950s, best known for their hit, "Buzz Buzz Buzz".They formed as The Flames in 1949, in Watts, Los Angeles, at a talent show where members of various high school groups got together. The original members were Bobby Byrd , David Ford,...
and The Lamplighters. He had been working at a car wash
Car wash
A car wash or auto wash is a facility used to clean the exterior and, in some cases, the interior of motor vehicles.- Categories :...
when Bobby Nunn
Bobby Nunn
Ulysses B. "Bobby" Nunn was an American singer with the musical groups The Robins and The Coasters. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S., and died of heart failure in Los Angeles, California, U.S.-Biography:...
had recommended him as second tenor for The Coasters
The Coasters
The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and "Young Blood", their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing team of Leiber and Stoller...
. In 1956, he recorded with The Celebritys which included his brother Elder O'Neal. That same year, he also recorded on his own label Leoneal Records with The Signeals which included his sister Shirley Hughes and his brother Elder O'Neal. Leon also recorded a single as "Leoneal and Janet" (backup vocals by The Signeals).
After leaving The Coasters, he teamed with Bobby Nunn
Bobby Nunn
Ulysses B. "Bobby" Nunn was an American singer with the musical groups The Robins and The Coasters. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, U.S., and died of heart failure in Los Angeles, California, U.S.-Biography:...
to record as The Dukes in 1959 for Flip Records
Flip Records
Flip Records has been the name of at least two different record labels in the 20th century:* Flip Records * Flip Records...
. "Looking For You" b/w "Groceries, Sir" (Flip #343), and "I Love You"
b/w "Leap Year Cha Cha" (Flip #344) were the singles released.
In the 1970s, he recorded with several Coasters groups. In 1975, recorded with "The Coasters Two Plus Two" for Chelan Records. The record "Searchin' 75" b/w "Young Blood" stated that these recordings were from the album called "Reunion." In 1976, he recorded an album with "The World Famous Coasters" which included Will "Dub" Jones. This album was released on American International Records (In Europe on DJM). In 1998, a CD called "Leon Hughes: One Of The First Original Coasters" was released on Oldie CD, and a VHS tape called "The Coasters: Tribute To Their Greatest Hits" was released. Hughes still performs with a Coasters group, sometimes as "Leon Hughes and his Original Coasters." He also has done some performances with a Hollywood Flames group.
With Carl Gardner's death on June 12, 2011, Leon Hughes is now the last surviving member of the original Coasters.
Various group singles and recordings
- This Is My Plea/Juanita (Caroline #2301) (1956) (The Celebritys)
- We Made Romance/Absent Minded (Caroline #2302) (1956) (The Celebritys)
- Juanita/Show Me The Way (Leoneal #1483) (1956) (The Signeals)
- No One/What Is This Thing (Leoneal #02) (1956) (Leoneal & Janet)
- Leap Year Cha Cha (Leoneal) (unreleased) (1956) (The Signeals)
- Down In Mexico/Turtle Dovin (Atco #6064) (1956) (The Coasters)
- One Kiss Led To Another/Brazil (Atco #6073) (1956) (The Coasters)
- Looking For You/Groceries, Sir (Flip #343) (1959) (The Dukes)
- I Love You/Leap Year Cha Cha (Flip #344) (1959) (The Dukes)
- Searchin ’75/Young Blood (Chelan #2000) (1975) (The Coasters Two Plus Two)
- If I Had A Hammer/If I Had A Hammer (Disco Version) (AI #1122) (1976) ("World Famous" Coasters - also issued as The Coasters)
- So Fine / Baby What You Want Me To Do (AceHi #M-101) (ca 1977) (The World Famous Coasters)