1949
  

Bobby Nunn with The Robins start to make hit records for Johnny Otis on Savoy Records in Los Angeles in December.
  

1950
  

Late this year two young Jewish Los Angeles residents, Jerry Leiber (born April 25, 1933 in Baltimore) and Mike Stoller (born March 13, 1933 in Belle Harbor, Long Island), start to co-operate with distributor-agent Lester Sill.
 

1951
  

Leiber-Stoller bring That´s What The Good Book Says, their first studiorecorded song (and first record issue), to the Bihari Brothers´ Modern label in Los Angeles  where it is waxed by Bobby Nunn & The Robbins (sic - should be Robins) on March 2. Carl Gardner (born April 29, 1928 in Tyler, Texas) plans to leave his home-town (and Houston) where he had sung with Lasalle Gunter´s territorial band to join his brothers Richard and Howard in Los Angeles.
   

1952
  

Leiber-Stoller publish "Kansas City" and "Hound Dog".
  

1953
  

Carl Gardner has arrived in California and gets established in Los Angeles´ blues and jazz clubs as a night club dance band vocalist, singing ballads and jazz standards (often with jazz pianist Carl Perkins), and playing drums at "The Oasis" (the new Johnny Otis club) in Watts. The Robins are contracted to RCA Victor (with Grady Chapman as fifth singer) in January. Leiber-Stoller write Ten Days In Jail for the Robins on RCA (with Chapman lead singer). Leiber and Stoller and their mentor and guide, Lester Sill, born in L.A. January 13, 1918 (who had been sales manager for Modern Records, and later was manager of the original Coasters), embark serious business partnership.
 

1954
  

Carl Gardner joins The Robins as their new lead singer around February-March and records "If Teardrops Were Kisses" for Spark Records. The Leiber-Stoller composition "Riot In Cell Block #9" by The Robins is a regional California hit during the Summer. Cornell Gunter creates The Flairs with Richard Berry and Young Jessie. In New York Earl Carroll founds The Cadillacs, and Ronnie Bright joins The Valentines.
  

1955
  

Will "Dub" Jones forms The Cadets in Los Angeles. The Robins with Gardner as lead hit with "Smokey Joe´s Cafe" on Atco Records in November (recorded for Spark - possibly in January or around August/September). The Coasters are formed via a Leiber-Stoller / ATCO Records deal on September, 28 (as Gardner and Nunn leave The Robins). If one wants to pin-point a specific date for the birth of The Coasters it is September 28, 1955.
  

1956
  

The Coasters debut with "Down In Mexico" on Atco Records in January (featuring lead Gardner, second tenor Leon Hughes, baritone Billy Guy, bass Bobby Nunn, and guitarist Adolph Jacobs).
  

1957
  

The Coasters are awarded a double golden disc in August for the double-sided smash "Young Blood" (led by Gardner) b/w "Searchin´" (featuring baritone lead Billy Guy). Atco Records issue their and The Coasters´ first LP, "The Coasters", in November.
   

1958
  

The Coasters move from California to New York in January, and sell a million with "Yakety Yak" during the Spring (featuring new-comers Cornell Gunter and Will "Dub" Jones - who replace Hughes and Nunn). King Curtis is featured on tenorsax. Jimmy Norman joins Jesse Belvin´s Chargers.
  

1959
  

The Coasters hit internationally with "Charlie Brown" and "Along Came Jones" during the year and have a fourth million seller with "Poison Ivy" in the Autumn. The Coasters second Atco LP, "The Coasters´ Greatest Hits", is issued in October.
  

1960
  

The group records an underrated, but wonderful LP, "One By One", in June and waxes the magnificent "Shoppin´ For Clothes" in July.
  

1961
  

During the Summer "Little Egypt" hits the U.S. Hot 30 and Earl Carroll (who had disbanded his Cadillacs) replaces Gunter by suggestion from the group's soon-to-be new manager Lover Patterson.
  

1962
  

Thomas "Curley" Palmer joins The Coasters as new regular guitarist around February. The Coasters´ third Atco LP is issued, "Coast Along With The Coasters". Several of the tracks on the stereo edition of that album turn out to be alternate and edited takes. Billy Guy starts to record as a solo artist - still recording with the group for a further ten years.
  

1963
  

Both Bobby Nunn and Cornell Gunter start to compete with the original Coasters via their own separate new line-ups of "Coasters". Leiber-Stoller leave Atco later that year.
  

1964
  

The Coasters are featured on Atco Records´ "Apollo Saturday Night" LP.
  

1965
  

The budget LP "That Is Rock & Roll" is issued on the Atco subsidiary Clarion around January. The group appears on the Shindig TV on February 10 with a live "What Is The Secret..." (plus "Along Came Jones" and "Searchin'"). Billy Guy leads The Coasters´ original recording of "Let´s Go Get Stoned" in April. Lover Patterson dies.
  

1966
  

The Coasters move from Atco Records to Columbia´s subsidiary Date in November - renewing their collaboration with Leiber-Stoller and around this time James Evans succeeds Patterson as manager.
  

1967
  

The Coasters wax the original of "D.W. Washburn" for Date Records in October (later reissued on King).
  

1968
  

Ronnie Bright joins the Coasters - replacing Will "Dub" Jones - in April.
  

1969
  

The Coasters record for Lloyd Price´s Turntable label (with Jimmy Norman the producer). Gardner, Guy, Carroll, and Bright appear at the Boston Tea Party (ten live recordings from one of their shows there will surface on the CD "Greatest Hits In Concert" in 2001).
  

1970
  

Cornell Gunter´s "Fabulous Coasters" are engaged in Dick Clark´s revival shows and Leon Hughes starts his "Original Coasters" tribute group.
  

1971
  

British Joy issue an LP by "The Coasters", titled "Hungry" (which actually features 12 Billy Guy recordings of 1962, which he had done for ABC and Lloyd Price´s Double-L). The German Stateside LP issue of those recordings, titled "The Coasters", comprises all 16 Guy ABC/Double-L recordings. Atco issue "Their Greatest Recordings - The Early Years", comprising hits and alternates. Carl Gardner´s original and true Coasters hit the U.S. Hot 100 with a re-rendition of "Love Potion Number Nine" on King Records in December (written and produced by Leiber-Stoller).
  

1972
  

The Coasters are featured in the movie "Let The Good Times Roll". The last record with baritone Billy Guy as a member of The Coasters, "The Coasters On Broadway" LP on King Records, is issued during the latter part of the year.
  

1973
  

Jimmy Norman now definately replaces Guy in the line-up. The American release of Billy Guy´s "Hungry" LP is issued, now titled "It Ain´t Sanitary", on Trip. Carl Gardner´s true Coasters wax ten re-recordings of their hits, including "Love Potion #9", for Trip (issued in 1975 as "16 Greatest Hits" - with six "bonus" tracks from Guy´s LP). Gardner´s Coasters (with Norman) again appear at the Boston Tea Party (and four new live recordings are included together with Cornell Gunters´ Coasters of 1970 - featuring bass Nat Wilson - on a New Rose bootleg CD several years later).
  

1974
  

Billy Guy starts his luck as a producer and comic story teller (aka "The Tramp") for All Platinum /Snake Eyes. Bill Millar publishes his book "The Coasters" on Star Books in the U.K.
  

1975
  

Leon Hughes and Bobby Nunn (together with Grady Chapman and Jerome Evans) cut a single in Los Angeles, produced by Bumps Blackwell, featuring newly recorded versions of "Searchin´" and "Young Blood". The record is issued as by "The Coasters - Two Plus Two". Around the same time Billy Guy is featured on another "Coasters" single, "You Move Me" (actually Guy solo).
 

1976
  

Carl Gardner and his true Coasters record a single for Wilson Pickett´s Wicked label. Will Jones and Leon Hughes lead a "Coasters" group on GAP/DJM, "The World Famous Coasters" (including the Jones-led "If I Had A Hammer"), later reissued on a C5 CD as "Just Coastin´".
   

1977
  

Billy Guy and Will Jones are featured on a King-Starday "Coasters" session in Nashville. An LP, titled "Greatest Hits" will be issued the following year. The session also produces the European single "Jumbo Bwana" and the later so often reissued "One Foot Draggin´".
  

1978
  

The true Coasters, now without new recordings, have to settle for an Atlantic compilation issued in the U.K., "20 Great Originals" (featuring stereo alternates of their Atco hits).
   

1979
  

Bobby Nunn with Bobby Sheen, Billy Richards Jr, and Randy Jones are featured on a disco-styled "Coasters" album on Salsa Picante, titled "Coastin´". Earl Carrol, who had actged with The Coasters since 1961 and had been on stage with them withouth Norman in the very late 1970s, leaves The Coasters by the end of the year (after more than 18 years with the group).
  

1980
  

A true Coasters compilation on the Swedish Mr. R&B label, titled "What Is the Secret Of Your Success?", comprising rare Coasters Atco tracks is issued.
  

1981
  

Earl Carroll reforms his Cadillacs and Jimmy Norman returns to The Coasters.
  

1982
  

A marvelous double-LP on Atlantic-DeLuxe, titled "Young Blood", is issued in U.S. and Europe (featuring 21 original Atco super-sounding mono tracks plus three bonus tracks from "On Broadway"). The album has extensive liner-notes by Robert Palmer and a serious try at a session discography (based on the discography Kurt Mohr and Norbert Hess had supplied to Bill Millar).
  

1983
  

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. Several Atco Coasters albums are issued in Japan on the Warner/Pioneer label (also featuring alternates) during the early 1980s.
  

1984
  

Edsel in the U.K. issue "Thumbin´ A Ride" with rare Atco tracks.
  

1985
  

After 30 years of fame, and of late-coming struggles, Gardner meets Veta, marries and moves to Florida.
  

1986
  

Carl Gardner´s original and true Coasters (featuring Norman, Bright and Palmer), now managed by Gardner´s wife Veta face new regular bookings all over America. Warner (WEA in Europe) issue The Coasters´ very first CD, "The Ultimate Coasters". Bobby Nunn dies in November, but Billy Richards Jr (of The Robins) continues to tour with a West-Coast version of "Coasters".
  

1987
  

Gardner, Guy, Jones and Gunter are inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame in January as the first vocal group receiving that honor. The "On Broadway" LP is reissued on a Highway-DeLuxe CD titled "20 Greatest Hits" (also featuring 8 tracks from the Guy-Jones Nashville session - and reissued in 2006 on Gusto TeeVee).
  

1988
  

The classic Coasters reunite for a one-time-event to participate at Atlantic Records´ 40th Birthday concert at Madison Square Garden in May (and do it again seven years later for Lester Sill). The original four million records awards are completed with yet another two Golden Records - for "Young Blood" and "Along Came Jones". The Coasters wax six live recordings at Wolfman Jack´s "Little Darlin´s" rock ´n´ roll club in Orlando, Florida (also issued on Video and on a great DVD on K-Tel in 2003).
  

1989
  

Atco reissue "The Coasters´ Greatest Hits" (comprising 12 super classics) again - they had done so several times before - this time though on compact disc. The CD features "Poison Ivy" in the original version - with no wood percussion. Gardner´s Coasters appear in the movie "Phantom of The Ritz".
  

1990
  

Cornell Gunter is shot to death in Las Vegas in February - remnants of his group continue to tour.
  

1991
  

The Coasters (with Carl Gardner) perform at the New York Pops concert at Carnegie Hall in May.
  

1992
  

The Coasters perform regularly at Wolfman Jack´s rock´n´ roll club in Orlando, Florida. Rhino Records issue the double-CD "50 Coastin´ Classics" (Atlantic had planned a CD, titled "Poison Ivy" in their "The Best Of"-series in 1991, but that CD was withdrawn in favor of the Rhino issue).
  

1993
  

Gardner regularly faces the problem of competing with fake and bogus line-ups of "Coasters" managed by Larry Marshak (and others). At times there are as many as ten "Coasters"-groups active. Several fake "Coasters" albums are recorded during the early 1990s (among others a Leon Hughes video).
  

1994
  

Rhino Records issue "The Very Best of The Coasters". Gardner recovers after a short cancer treatment. "Sorry But I'm Gonna Have To Pass" hits the British charts # 41 in August. Lester Sill dies in October.
  

1995
  

The Leiber-Stoller musical "Smokey Joe´s Cafe" hits Broadway and also hits internationally (featuring several Coasters classics with new performers).
  

1996
  

Carl Gardner records his solo CD "One Cool Cat" in Florida in April.
  

1997
  

The four original Atco Coasters LPs are reissued on four British Sequel CDs, this time though all comprising several bonus tracks, giving the buyer a total of 100 Coasters recordings, including alternate stereo tracks and stereo masters of the original hits. Alvin Morse joins The Coasters in November.
   

1998
  

Billy Guy "leases" his name to Larry Marshak´s fake Coasters (just after an agreement between Billy Richards and Carl Gardner about the use of the Coasters´ name). Jimmy Norman leaves Gardner´s Coasters around February to start a new reggae career - replaced by Carl´s son, Carl Gardner Jr.
  

1999
  

"Yakety Yak" is awarded a Grammy Hall of Fame. "The Coasters Web Site", approved by Veta and Carl Gardner, is published; and Gardner´s Coasters are legally recognized as the true Coasters.
  

2000
  

Will "Dub" Jones dies in California in January. Cornell Gunter´s sister Shirley "leases" Gunter´s name to Marshak´s Coasters (right after Billy Guy´s agreement with Gardner). A phenomenal CD with 1958 Atco studio recordings and studio chat is issued, titled "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, new versions of "I´m A Hog For You", alternates including studio chat, false starts and outtakes etc etc..
  

2001
  

Veta Gardner and Claus Röhnisch start The Coasters Fan Club and make it possible for Coasters-fans to buy Coasters merchandise including a repackage of the 1958 studio CD. Two new official Coasters web-sites are published. JW Lance replaces Gardner Jr in July.
  

2002
  

Yet another Official Coasters Website is published. On November 5, Billy Guy dies in his sleep at home in Las Vegas, Nevada (on the day of Nunn´s death 16 years earlier). Carl Gardner, Jr forms a Coaster´s Review in California.
  

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 in 1988. We haven´t heard the last from The Coasters yet!
  

SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL - Joe Turner (1954)
Atlantic Records, formally founded in October 1947 (recording several jazz-oriented titles during the last months of that year) started true business in New York around  March/April 1948. The founders were jazz enthusiasts, record collectors and original owners Ahmet Ertegun (from Washington, D.C., born July 31, 1923; died December 14, 2006) and Herb Abramson (1920-1999; who had helped the Ertegun brothers staging jazz concerts; also former producer for National Records in New York and short lived label owner of Jubilee Records - with Ahmet handling the jazz affiliate Quality label). Atlantic Records was one of several small R&B independents, who emerged during the early post-war years, aiming their business at the so called "Race" market - soon-to-be named "Blues & Rhythm" or "Rhythm & Blues" - although Ahmet and later co-owner Jerry Wexler (born 1917; died August 15, 2008, Billboard editor - who coined the term "Rhythm & Blues" in 1949) later said that a more accurate tag would have been "Rhythm & Soul". Michael Lydon summoned the early importance of Atlantic Records in one sentence in his book "Ray Charles - Man and Music": - The Atlantic team had caught its stride. Jesse´s bluesy charts, Dowd´s full-sound palette, Herbs rough "get it on wax" approach, and Ahmet´s Manhattan polish began to mesh in a distinct style - talkin´ ´bout veteran arranger Jesse Stone (1901-1999 - who regularly arranged several of the Atlantic recordings up to 1959); engineer Tom Dowd (21 years of age in early 1947 - died on October 27, 2002 - 77 years old; he stayed with the label for all of the golden years); and the original two share-holders - (completed with Herb´s wife - manager, chief-of-office and early share-holder - Miriam Abramson).   | In Memory of Ahmet Ertegun | | more on Ahmet |

YAKETY YAK - The Coasters (1958)
Atlantic became the largest and most successful independent - and was the only one to survive through the years of original "Rock ´n´ Roll", "Teen Pop", "Soul" and "Black Music" eras. During the exciting first decade of business Atlantic signed at least one major long-term R&B act each and every year to their ever-growing roster, including some of "the best".

LOWE GROOVIN´ - Joe Morris (1948)
Swing/jazz Alabama trumpeter Joe Morris, fresh out of Lionel Hampton´s band, was mustered in late 1947. He later rivaled West Coaster Johnny Otis´ revue with his band vocalists and one-nighter tours, and hit R&B #1 in 1950 with Anytime, Any Place, Anywhere, featuring Laurie Tate on vocals. Morris left the label as original company president Herb Abramson was drafted by the army in mid 1953, but was re-recruited by the returned Herb in 1956.

SO LONG - Ruth Brown (1949)
The young Virginia thrush Ruth Brown, stationed in Washington, D.C., and spotted by Ertegun in 1948, was managed by the legendary Cab Calloway´s sister Blanche. Ruth joined the label in 1949 and waxed a revival of the beautiful ballad So Long. Later she was accompanied by Atlantic´s newly appointed musical director, baritone saxophonist Budd Johnson. He directed her on the jumpy Teardrops From My Eyes, which hit the R&B charts for half-a-year during 1950/51 (and held #1 for 11 weeks). Ruth´s new-found husband Willis Jackson backed her on the 1952/53 hit Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean, which also went Pop. "Miss Rhythm" became original vice president Ahmet Ertegun´s most productive artist (almost 150 tracks), and a true super-star with her crying ballads and rocking blues, engineered by the youngster Tom Dowd, both staying loyal, and highly credited for the especially "Clean Atlantic Sound".

MARDI GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS - Professor Longhair (1950)
After the rocking country success of Stick McGhee´s Drinkin´ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee Ahmet and Herb started to find the country blues sounds outside New York and regularly visited both New Orleans and Chicago, recording blues and boogie-woogie (by the likes of Professor Longhair, Meade Lux Lewis, and several more). This formula continued when Jerry Wexler joined the staff.

FOOL FOOL FOOL - The Clovers (1951)
The Clovers from the Washington/Baltimore area, trend-setters with their mixture of blues ballads and gospel styled harmonizing, were brought in by Lou Krefetz (soon also sales manager at Atlantic) in late 1950. The success of the "Mighty Clovers", scoring 19 Top 10 R&B Hits for Atlantic, also depended on saxophone solos by Frank Culley on their debut Don´t You Know I Love You, and soon by Willis Jackson on the classic One Mint Julep in 1951/52 (with original lead singer John "Buddy" Bailey). Later Sam Taylor (from Cab Calloway´s band) became Atlantic´s favorite tenor sax soloist, backing the group on the sexy and highly influential Good Lovin´, produced by Ahmet Ertegun in 1953 excluding Herb Abramson, and with an exciting guest lead by Charlie White, who had sung with Clyde McPhatter in The Dominoes. Atlantic´s favorite rhythm section during the early years comprised Van Walls, Hank Jones or arranger Ernie Hayes, pno; Mickey Baker and later Alan Hanlon, gtr; Lloyd Trotman, bs; and Connie Kay or Joe Marshall, dms.

SWEET SIXTEEN - Joe Turner (1952)
Kansas City´s original blues shouter Joe Turner, "Boss of the Blues", was signed by Abramson in 1951, and became the owners´ special favorite. Herb had recorded him already during the ´40s for National. "Big Joe" was marketed with Harry Van Walls at the piano on the ballad hit Chains Of Love in 1951 and on the original Sweet Sixteen blues in 1952. He recorded Honey Hush in N.O. (produced by himself and with Kathy Thomas on the superb piano) and T.V. Mama in Chicago (featuring Elmore James on guitar) in 1953. Turner and the Clovers - and all the other early Atlantic stars - were coached at Atlantic´s combined office/studios in New York City by another K.C. veteran - Jesse Stone (alias Charles Calhoun) - who served as head musical director and A/R man for Atlantic from the beginning. He was responsible for the creation of several classic R&B titles, a. o. The Clovers´ Your Cash Ain´t Nothin´ But Trash (from 1954, with a swinging lead by new group member Billy Mitchell, who had sung for Joe Morris back in 1951), and Turner´s Shake, Rattle And Roll, the most long-lived R&B charter of the 1950s (32 weeks on the charts in 1954/55, although The Chords´ "cat music" original, Sh-Boom, on Atlantic´s short-lived subsidiary Cat Records, outsold it).

DON´T YOU KNOW - Ray Charles (1953)
Piano playing soul blues pioneer Ray Charles - "The Genius" - was bought out from California by Atlantic in connection with a tour with the Joe Morris Revue and recorded the unsuccessfuls The Midnight Hour and Mess Around in N.Y. 1952 and the soulful Don´t You Know in N.O. 1953. Ray recruited his famous band, which debuted on I´ve Got A Woman in Atlanta late 1954, and transformed Jesse Stone´s Cookies to the Raylettes (aka the Raelets) on the double-sided "risky" soul-gospel classic What´d I Say in 1959. Ahmet Ertegun wrote several of The Clovers´, Turner´s and Ray Charles´ early titles.

OF COURSE I DO - LaVern Baker (1954)
The multi-talented "Countess" from the Mid-West, LaVern Baker - ex Little Miss Sharecropper, who had been singing professionally and recording under Al Green´s management for years - was signed in mid 1953 by the new Atlantic co-owner Jerry Wexler, debuting as Ertegun´s co-producer on Baker´s Soul On Fire ballad in June, written by Ertegun, Wexler, and Stone. Baker launched America´s first "Rock ´n´ Roll" pop hit, Tweedlee Dee in 1954/55 and became "Empress of Rock ´n´ Roll". The vocal back-up were the Cues (credited as the Gliders on the record labels). They also backed her famous Jim Dandy hit. In 1958/59 LaVern hit the Pop and R&B charts with the lovely ballad I Cried A Tear, and stayed with the label up to 1965, leaving the company with eight wonderful LPs on her credit.

WHAT´CHA GONNA DO - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters (1954)
In 1954 the R&B market exploded. R&B had been adult black American´s music - now both black and white teenagers started to find their new idols on the independent labels. Ex-lead of The Dominoes (the first gospeloriented R&B vocal group) and Harlem-stationed, North Carolina born, Clyde McPhatter - "the original soul star", head-hunted by Ahmet - created his new vocal back-up The Drifters in 1953. Together they held R&B #1 for 11 weeks with the Jesse Stone-penned, rocking Money Honey. Clyde emerged as a "cult figure" during 1954 and recorded Ertegun´s master-piece, the gospel-tinged What´cha Gonna Do, with his Drifters. Clyde, who was managed by Irving Feld, soon went solo and hit the Pop and R&B charts in 1958 with the Brook Benton penned lovely beat ballad A Lover´s Question.

PAPA AIN´T SALTY - T-Bone Walker (1955)
Atlantic Records´ next two recruits were California veterans: Ivory Joe Hunter, embarking late 1954, and guitar wizard T-Bone Walker, who came in early 1955. Ahmet´s older brother Nesuhi Ertegun (1919-1989) joined the Atlantic staff as West Coast representative and head of the new jazz- and album divisions that year, producing The Drifters´ Adorable hit in L.A. (the first without Clyde - featuring Johnny Moore, lead vocals). Nesuhi developed America´s "best" jazz catalogue and was highly credited for his superb R&B LP compilations. Veteran Howard Biggs and later Ray Ellis became added musical directors in New York with Dick Hyman, pno; Billy Mure, George Barnes and Al Caiola, gtrs; Wendell Marshall, bs; Panama Francis, dms; and Heywood Henry and Taft Jordan, reeds/brass as regular musicians. The successful signings continued.

IT´S TOO LATE - Chuck Willis (1956)
Atlanta, Georgia born Chuck Willis - "King of the Stroll" - started recording for Atlantic in early 1956, and hit R&B and Pop with the old blues C.C. Rider, re-arranged by Jesse Stone in 1957. Chuck, who had been a recording star since 1951, had supplied the company with several wonderful compositions before his own entrance to the roster (LaVern´s Of Course I Do, Ruth´s Oh What A Dream, The Cardinals´ The Door Is Still Open, and The Clovers´ From The Bottom of My Heart). Also in 1956, Southerner Guitar Slim, who had worked with Ray Charles and Renald Richards in 1953/54, was recruited and Herb Abramson had returned, now head of Atco.

YOUNG BLOOD - The Coasters (1957)
Professional million-sellers The Coasters - Jerry Leiber´s, Mike Stoller´s, and Lester Sill´s favorite "creations" in Los Angeles - became Atco´s first super-stars with original lead singer Carl Gardner doing superb jobs on Down In Mexico in 1956, and on Young Blood in 1957. Atco was a subsidiary label, founded in August 1955, in order to avoid too many Atlantic stars. The Coasters managed Atlantic/Atco their first gold record, Searchin´, in 1957 (with Billy Guy´s terrific lead). When the great comedians moved from Los Angeles to New York, young saxophonist King Curtis, originally from Texas, had become part of the Atlantic brand, succeeding honkers Arnett Cobb, Al Sears, and Jesse Powell. Curtis stayed on-and-off with Atlantic up to his violent death, and made several minor hits by himself. The Coasters´ most classic recording was Yakety Yak in 1958 (where Gardner and Guy were joined by new-comers Will "Dub" Jones and Cornelius Gunter, and with Curtis´ famous sax-solo). Leiber and Stoller worked as entrepreneuring producers for Ertegun & Wexler up into 1963 and wrote, produced and arranged most of The Coasters´ hilarious records, a. o. the international hit Charlie Brown, and the "moral teaching" Poison Ivy in 1959.

SPLISH SPLASH - Bobby Darin (1958)
In 1957 Don Kirshner presented a young "blue-eyed soulster" from Bronx, Bobby Darin, to Herb, who produced the first couple of unsuccessful, but interesting, records by Darin. Abramson had been substituted by his wife Miriam during his absense and was bought out by the Erteguns and Wexler in mid 1958, leaving the original R&B cleffer and chanter to Atlantic´s "new-appointed" president Ahmet Ertegun´s successful supervise on Splish Splash. Miriam later also sold her shares and re-married to famous publisher Freddy Bienstock. Reggie Obrecht arranged and directed several of Atlantic´s hit records during the late 1950s.

THERE GOES MY BABY - The Drifters (1959)
New Orleans blues pianist Champion Jack Dupree joined Atlantic in early 1958. Later that year a "second" generation of The Drifters emerged, the soon-to-be world famous line-up, hitting big nationally in 1959 with There Goes My Baby, and internationally with Save The Last Dance For Me a year later. The group was managed by George Treadwell, owner of the Drifters´ name.

SPANISH HARLEM - Ben E. King (1960)
The new Drifters´ lead singer though, yet another North Carolinian, was managed by Lover Patterson, who launched a solo career for his baritone protégé Ben E. King in 1960, famous for the Spanish Harlem and Stand By Me hits. Stan Applebaum was responsible for the string-arrangements on the new Drifters´ and King´s early hits.

CRY TO ME - Solomon Burke (1961)
The skillful "Wonder-Boy-Preacher" from Philadelphia, now mature and soulful Solomon Burke, was drafted by Jerry Wexler around this time. Atlantic Records (with its subsidiary Atco), was now firmly established as THE foremost and most innovative R&B label. Things changed during the ´60s, as almost all of the established Atlantic artists went for other roads to travel. The Drifters stayed loyal, and the new "Soul Clan" co-piloted Atlantic´s multi-billion-dollar industry, still growing, into the ´70s .

SOUL SERENADE - King Curtis (1968)
Atlantic´s Super Stars of Southern Soul in the 1960s included Booker T. & the MGs (Green Onions), Rufus Thomas (The Dog), Joe Tex (One Monkey Don´t Stop No Show), and Otis Redding (Mr. Pitiful) through intelligent distribution and production deals. Jerry Wexler planted Atlantic to a successful Soul Era during the late ´60s via Wilson Pickett (In The Midnight Hour), Sam & Dave (Soul Man), and especially "Lady Soul", Aretha Franklin (Chain of Fools).

Atlantic Records - Early Years presented by Claus Röhnisch.
Reading: Making Tracks - Atlantic Records by Charlie Gillett (WH Allen, 1975)

"History of Rhythm & Blues" as presented on Atlantic´s six-volume LP-series of 1968 - vol 1 SD8161  vol 2 SD8162, vol 3 SD8163, vol 4 SD8164, vol 5 SD8193, and vol 6 SD8194 (with additions from "Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974" LP-box of 1985 plus extras from the Rhino/Warner Platinum reissue 8-CDboxset * of 2006 - with extra bonus tracks).  Please note that not all of the original LP tracks are included in the later issues.   The Roots 1947-52 Ol´ Man River - The Ravens (National Records) It´s Too Soon To Know - The Orioles (Jubilee Records) Lowe Groovin´ - Joe Morris * That Old Black Magic - Tiny Grimes * Annie Laurie - Tiny Grimes * Midnight Special - Tiny Grimes * The Applejack - Joe Morris  * Drinkin´ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee - "Stick" McGhee & his Buddies Cole Slaw - Frank Culley If You See Tears In My Eyes - The Delta Rhythm Boys So Long - Ruth Brown * I'll Get Along Somehow  - Ruth Brown * Hey Little Girl - Professor Longhair * Mardi Gras In New Orleans - Professor Longhair * Tee Nah Nah - Harry Van Walls * Danny Boy - Al Hibbler * Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere - Laurie Tate & Joe Morris Orch Goodnight Irene - Leadbelly Teardrops From My Eyes - Ruth Brown * One Monkey Don't Stop No Show  - Stick McGhee * Don´t You Know I Love You - The Clovers Shouldn´t I Know - The Cardinals The Chill Is On - Joe Turner * Chains Of Love - Joe Turner Heavenly Father - Edna McGriff (Jubilee Records) Fool, Fool, Fool - The Clovers * Wheel Of Fortune - The Cardinals Sweet Sixteen - Joe Turner * 5-10-15 Hours - Ruth Brown Gator's Groove - Willis Jackson * Ting-A-Ling - The Clovers * Daddy Daddy - Ruth Brown * One Mint Julep - The Clovers The Midnight Hour - Ray Charles * The Golden Years 1953-55 A Beggar For Your Kisses - The Diamonds Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Ruth Brown Yes It´s You - The Clovers Good Lovin´ - The Clovers * Wild Wild Young Men - Ruth Brown * Mess Around - Ray Charles * Honey Hush - Joe Turner * Sol On Fire - LaVern Baker * Money Honey - Clyde McPhatter &The Drifters Sh-Boom - The Chords Oh, What A Dream - Ruth Brown * Lovey Dovey - The Clovers * Such A Night - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters * Tipitina - Profesor Longhair * Shake, Rattle & Roll - Joe Turner White Christmas - The Drifers * Honey Love - The Drifters feat. Clyde McPhatter Whatcha Gonna Do - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifers * Jam Up - Tommy Ridgeley After The Lights Go Down Low - Al Hibbler  ** Tomorrow Night - LaVern Baker * Tweedle Dee - LaVern Baker I´ve Got A Woman - Ray Charles Blue Velvet - The Clovers The Door Is Still Open - The Cardinals * Close Your Eyes - The Five Keys (Capitol) Adorable - The Drifters Greenbacks - Ray Charles Flip Flop And Fly - Joe Turner * A Fool For You - Ray Charles * This Little Girl Of Mine - Ray Charles * Play It Fair - LaVern Baker * Rock & Roll 1956-57 In Paradise - The Cookies * The Chicken And The Hawk - Joe Turner * Smokey Joe´s Cafe - The Robins Drown In My Own Tears - Ray Charles * Devil Or Angel - The Clovers Halleluja I Love Her So - Ray Charles  * Down In Mexico - The Coasters * Corrine, Corrina - Joe Turner Ruby Baby - The Drifters Treasure Of Love - Clyde McPhatter Love, Love, Love - The Clovers * It´s Too Late - Chuck Willis * Lonely Avenue - Ray Charles * Since I Met You Baby .- Ivory Joe Hunter Jim Dandy - LaVern Baker Lucky Lips - Ruth Brown * Without Love (There's Is Nothing) - Clyde McPhatter * Fools Fall In Love - The Drifters Empty Arms - Ivory Joe Hunter * Searchin´ - The Coasters Young Blood - The Coasters C. C. Rider - Chuck Willis Just To Hold My Hand - Clyde McPhatter Long Lonely Nights - Clyde McPhatter Down In The Alley - The Clovers

The Big Beat 1958-60 Mr. Lee - The Bobbettes * Betty And Dupree - Chuck Willis * What Am I Living For - Chuck Willis * Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes - Chuck Willis * Yakety Yak - The Coasters Splish Splash - Bobby Darin A Lover´s Question - Clyde McPhatter I Cried A Tear - LaVern Baker Charlie Brown - The Coasters There Goes My Baby - The Drifters Along Came Jones - The Coasters * What´d I Say - Ray Charles (If You Cry) True Love, True Love - The Drifters Poison Ivy - The Coasters * Dance With Me - The Drifters Let The Good Times Roll - Ray Charles * Just For A Thrill - Ray Charles * This Magic Moment - The Drifters Save The Last Dance For Me - The Drifters Shoppin´ For Clothes - The Coasters * Spanish Harlem - Ben E. King Young Boy Blues - Ben E. King * Gee Whiz - Carla Thomas I Count The Tears - The Drifters The Beat Goes On 1961-62 Early In The Mornin´ - Ray Charles Saved - LaVern Baker * Little Egypt (Ying-Yang) - The Coasters Amor - Ben E. King * Stand By Me - Ben E. King Last Night - The Mar-Keys Just Out Of Reach - Solomon Burke I´m Blue - The Ikettes You Don´t Miss Your Water - William Bell Cry To Me - Solomon Burke I Found A Love - The Falcons Don´t Play That Song (You Lied) - Ben E. King * Green Onions - Booker T. & The MG´s Up On The Roof - The Drifters See See Rider - LaVern Baker These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding The Dog - Rufus Thomas On Broadway 1963-64 On Broadway - The Drifters Hello Stranger - Barbara Lewis If You Need Me - Solomon Burke Just One Look - Doris Troy Land Of 1,000 Dances - Chris Kenner Mashed Potatoes - Nat Kendrik & The Swans I (Who Have Nothing) - Ben E. King Walking The Dog - Rufus Thomas Release Me - Esther Phillips * T´Ain´t Nothin´ To Me - The Coasters I´m Gonna Cry - Wilson Pickett I´ve Got No Time To Lose - Carla Thomas Mercy, Mercy - Don Covay Under The Boardwalk - The Drifters * And I Love Him - Esther Phillips * Hold What You´ve Got - Joe Tex Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding     "What´d I Say" - The Atlantic Story - 50 Years of Music (written by Ahmet Ertegun - with lots of and wonderful pictures!) Atlantic R&B 1947-74  - 8 CDs (Rhino/Warner Platinum 747552) -in 2006 (203 tracks). Vol 1: 1947-1952 (77576), Vol : 1952-1954 (77577), Vol 3: 1955-1957 (77578), Vol 4: 1957-1960 (77579), Vol 5: 1961-1965 (77580), Vol 6: 1965-1967 (77581), Vol 7: 1967-1969 (77582), Vol 8: 1970-1974 (77583). Link to: The Atlantic Records Story (by David Edwards, Patrice Eyries, Mike Callahan, and René Wu with lists of all Atlantic / Atco LPs) From Time.com  - Ahmet's Atlantic: Shake Rattle & Roll | Baby, That Is Rock and Roll

Born April 20, 1908 in Louisville, Kentucky. Raised in Birmingham and Chicago (where he started to play drums - getting his first drum set in 1923). Moved to Los Angeles in 1927, where he started to play with the Les Hite orchestra. He also worked  with Reb Spikes´ band in 1924 and recorded with Paul Howard´s Quality Serenaders in 1929/30 (playing drums and two-finger piano). Continued to play with Les Hite and started his try with vibes on October 16, 1930 (with Louis Armstrong) and met dancer Gladys Riddle, who became his wife and business manager. Studied music and started his own band, which worked until 1936 when he joined Benny Goodman, with whom he worked until 1940 - although he became a RCA Victor record star from 1937 - with a total of 91, several classic, recordings featuring all star jazz artists between February 8, 1937 and April 8, 1941. Formed his own big band in September, 1940 and joined Decca, where he debuted on December 24, 1941. Became a super star as Lionel Hampton & his Orchestra (now with his true own band). Had 13 R&B (Harlem Hit Parade/Race) Top 10 Hits between 1940 and 1950. Several famous R&B instrumentalists made music history with Lionel Hampton. Here is a list of some of them: Illinois Jacquet, Dexter Gordon, Dinah Washington (vocals), Bill Doggett, Joe Morris, Quincy Jones, Milton Buckner, Lamar Wright, Earl Bostic, Al Sears, Arnett Cobbs, Benny Carter, Cozy Cole, and Wes Montgomery. Hampton died in Washington, DC on August 31, 2002.
Essential CD: Jukebox Hits 1943-1950 - Acrobat ACMCD 4012 (20 great recordings)
For the Collector:: The Lionel Hampton Story - Properbox 12 (4CD covering 1937-1949 incl his 1950 hit "Rag Mop")
(and with great inlay booklet essay & discography by producer Joop Visser)

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