Leon Hughes

Leon Hughes was born Thomas Leon Hughes on August 26 1932 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He is best known as an original member of The Coasters.

Biography

Leon Hughes sang with the original Coasters (Bobby Nunn, 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. 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 1970's, 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.

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 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)

Book references

* The Coasters (by Bill Millar) (Star Books) (1974)
* L. A. R&B Vocal Groups 1945-1965 (by Steve Propes and Galen Gart) (Big Nickel Publications) (2001)

External links

* [http://www.angelfire.com/mn/coasters The Coasters Web Site]