Leon Hughes Sr. (May 6, 1930 – March 1, 2023) was an American rhythm and blues singer. He was the last surviving original member of

The Coasters The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group who had a string of hits in the late 1950s. With hits including "Searchin'", "Young Blood (The Coasters song), Young Blood", "Charlie Brown (The Coasters song), Charlie Bro ...

Biography

Leon Hughes was an original member of The Coasters ( Bobby Nunn, Carl Gardner, and Billy Guy). He recorded with the original group line-up until 1958. His tenor voice is heard on many of the group's hits, including " Down in Mexico", " Searchin", and " Young Blood". The group's national debut happened in 1957, when the group appeared on NBC-TV's ''

The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has been broadcast on NBC since 1954. The program has been hosted by six comedians: Steve Allen (1954–1957), Jack Paar (1957–1962), Johnny Carson (1962–1992), Jay Leno (1992–2 ...

''. Both of these hits were National Top 10 Hits and the Top R&B Hits of 1957. He also appeared on

Dick Clark Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American television and radio personality and television producer who hosted ''American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 1989. He also hosted five incarnations of the Pyramid (game show), ...

's popular new national show ''

American Bandstand ''American Bandstand'' (AB) is an American Music television, music performance and dance television series that aired in various iterations from 1952 to 1989. It was hosted by Dick Clark who also served as the program's Television producer, pr ...

''. He had been working at a car wash when Bobby Nunn had recommended him as second tenor for

. He was replaced after 1957 by Cornell Gunter. Leon's career with the Original Coasters can be seen on the group's timeline at the

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and the ...

Museum. Leon's career has given him opportunities to travel the world & to appear at many prominent venues. Some of them include the Famous Apollo Theatre, The Historic Howard Theatre, The

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

, Madison Square Garden,

Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York C ...

and Disneyland. He has appeared with legendary artists of the Rock and Roll Era. Some of these artists include:

Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and de ...

Little Richard Richard Wayne Penniman (December 5, 1932 – May 9, 2020), known professionally as Little Richard, was an American singer, pianist, and songwriter. He was an influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. Described as the "Ar ...

The Platters The Platters are an American vocal group formed in 1952. They are one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound bridges the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the new burgeoning genre. The act ...

, The Drifters, Bill Haley and the Comets, The Shirelles and many more. The Coasters legendary recordings continue to entertain millions worldwide. Many of their songs are featured in the popular award-winning music revue '' Smokey Joe's Cafe''. Their hits are also featured in major motion pictures such as ''

Home Alone ''Home Alone'' is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dar ...

'' and recently in the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's ''

Death Proof ''Death Proof'' is a 2007 American slasher film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It stars Kurt Russell as a Stunt performer, stuntman who murders young women with modified cars he says are "death-proof". Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito ...

''. With Carl Gardner's death on June 12, 2011, Leon Hughes was the last surviving member of the original Coasters. Leon has received numerous accolades for his 67 years in entertainment. He received the Rhythm and Blues Pioneer Award in 1994. In 2014, Leon Hughes was honored and inducted into the Doo Wop Music Hall Of Fame in Hollywood California. Leon was given a Recognition of his over 60 years in entertainment by The Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. In addition, he was also given a Certificate of Recognition for his outstanding contributions in entertainment from the U. S. Congress. This honor was presented to him by U.S. Congress Representative Maxine Waters (D, CA.) at the Doo Wop Music Hall Of Fame event on April 6, 2014. Hughes died at his home in Watts, Los Angeles, on March 1, 2023, at the age of 92.

Other music groups

Leon was an original member of the Lamplighters during 1952–53 (together with Mathew Nelson and Willie Ray Rockwell). Hughes left the Lamplighters before they recorded with new lead Al Frazier. Before joining

, Leon had been a member of doo wop groups

The Hollywood Flames The Hollywood Flames were an United States, American Rhythm and blues, R&B human voice, vocal group in the 1950s, best known for their No. 11 hit record, hit "Buzz-Buzz-Buzz" in 1957. Early years They formed as The Flames in 1949, in the Watts ...

. 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 Signals which included his sister Shirley Hughes and brothers Elder O'Neal and Bernard McCants. Leon also recorded a single as "Leoneal and Janet" (backup vocals by The Signals). 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, he 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 Will J. "Dub" Jones (May 14, 1928 – January 16, 2000) was an American R&B singer. He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, and died in Long Beach, California.

. This album was released on

American International Records American International Records was a record label which was a subsidiary of American International Pictures that was used to release music from their films. It also released recordings from individual artists. Background AIP started their own re ...

(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 performed with a Coasters group, sometimes as "Leon Hughes and his Original Coasters." He also has done some performances with a Hollywood Flames group.

Discography

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 Signals) *No One/What Is This Thing (Leoneal #02) (1956) (Leoneal & Janet) *Leap Year Cha Cha (Leoneal) (unreleased) (1956) (The Signals) *Down In Mexico/Turtle Dovin (Atco #6064) (1956) (The Coasters) * One Kiss Led to Another/Brazil (Atco #6073) (1956) (The Coasters) *Searchin/Young Blood (Atco #6087) (1957) (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) * My Best Friend (2012) (Leon Hughes)

References

External links

The Coasters website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, Leon 1930 births 2023 deaths Singers from Los Angeles American rhythm and blues singers The Coasters members