Bobby Nunn (doo-wop musician) facts for kids

Ulysses B. "Bobby" Nunn Sr. (born September 20, 1925 – died November 5, 1986) was an American R&B singer. He was known for his deep bass voice and was a member of two famous musical groups: The Robins and The Coasters. Bobby was born in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, and passed away in Los Angeles, California, U.S., due to heart failure.

Bobby Nunn's Life and Music Journey

From Boxing to Music

Before becoming a singer, Bobby Nunn was a welterweight (a type of boxer) champion in the U.S. Air Force. After leaving the Air Force in 1947, he moved to Watts, California. There, he joined a group called the A-Sharp Trio. This group later became known as The Robins.

In the early 1950s, Bobby also recorded some songs by himself, called solo recordings. He also sang duets (songs with two singers) with another artist named Little Esther.

Forming The Coasters

In 1955, Bobby Nunn and Carl Gardner left The Robins. They decided to start a new group called The Coasters. They were joined by Leon Hughes and Billy Guy. The Coasters became very famous for their fun and often funny songs, which told little stories.

After leaving The Coasters, Bobby Nunn teamed up with former Coaster Leon Hughes again in 1959. They recorded songs as a group called The Dukes. They released two singles (songs released on their own, not part of an album).

Later Music Career

Bobby Nunn also sang backup vocals for other artists, like Dorsey Burnette. Later, in 1965, Bobby helped arrange a song called "Whip It On Me Baby" for The O'Jays. To "arrange" a song means to decide how the different instruments and voices will fit together.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Bobby Nunn had his own version of The Coasters, which he called "The Coasters Mark II." This group included singers like Grady Chapman, Bobby Sheen, and Billy Richards Jr. (who was the nephew of Billy Richards from The Robins).

In 1975, Bobby also appeared on a record with "The Coasters Two Plus Two." In 1985, Bobby Nunn's group of The Coasters appeared on TV shows like "Our Time" and "Fabian's Good Time Rock 'N' Roll." They even appeared in a commercial for Churches Chicken! After Bobby passed away in 1986, Bobby Sheen and Billy Richards Jr. continued to perform with his group.

Bobby Nunn was laid to rest at the Evergreen Cemetery in Los Angeles.

(It's good to know that another singer named Bobby Nunn recorded music in 1982 for Motown Records, but he was not related to this Bobby Nunn.)

Songs Bobby Nunn Sang On

Here are some of the songs Bobby Nunn recorded:

Singles

• "Why Did You Leave Me Baby?" / "Alone About Midnight" (1950)
• "Bring Your Lovin’ Back To Me" / "I Got A Country Gal" (1950) (as Billy Nunn)
• "Anticipating Blues" / "Hard Luck Women & Strife" (1950)
• "Clappin’ And Shoutin’" / " I'm Tellin’ You Baby" (1951) (as Billy Nunn)
• "Christmas Bells" / "Two Sisters" (1951)
• "Saturday Night Daddy" / "Mainliner" (1952) (Bobby Nunn & Little Esther)
• "You Took My Love Too Fast" / "Streetlights (1952) (Bobby Nunn & Little Esther)
• "Please Don’t Hurt Me" / "Delicious Are Your Kisses" (1952) (with Bobby Byrd & Ty Terrell)
• "Candle Of Love" / "Peanut Brittle" (1952) (with Bobby Byrd & Ty Terrell)
• "Like" / "Henrietta" (1960) ("Henrietta" with Ginny Tyler)
• "Sixty Minute Man Is Back"/"Been Thinking It Over" (Date unknown)

Collections of Songs

• Blues For Dootsie: The Blue And Dootone Sides (2006)
• Rhythm And Blues Christmas (2006)
• From The Doo Wop Vaults Of Titan Records