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. 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.
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