Carl Gardner facts for kids

Carl Edward Gardner (born April 29, 1928 – died June 12, 2011) was an American singer. He is best known as the main singer and founder of the famous group The Coasters.

Carl Gardner helped create many popular songs. One of their biggest hits was "Yakety Yak" in 1958. This song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 pop list. Because of his amazing contributions to music, he was welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Carl Gardner's Musical Journey

Carl Gardner was born in Tyler, Texas. His parents were Rebecca and Robert Gardner. He loved to sing from a young age.

Early Success with The Robins

Carl's first big step in music was with a group called The Robins. They were a rhythm and blues group. In 1955, they had a very popular song called "Smokey Joe's Café." This song showed off Carl's singing talent.

Forming The Coasters

After leaving The Robins, Carl Gardner decided to start a new group. In 1956, he formed The Coasters. He teamed up with Bobby Nunn, Leon Hughes, and Billy Guy. Two famous songwriters, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, helped them get started.

The Coasters quickly found success. In 1957, they had two hit songs: "Young Blood" and "Searchin'." Carl sang the main part on "Young Blood."

The Coasters' Big Hits

Later, new members Cornel Gunter and Will "Dub" Jones joined the group. With this new lineup, The Coasters made many classic rock and roll songs in the 1950s.

Some of their most famous songs include:

• "Yakety Yak"
• "Charlie Brown"
• "Poison Ivy"

These songs are still loved by many people today. They helped define the sound of 1950s rock and roll.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 1987, Carl Gardner received a huge honor. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was inducted along with other members of The Coasters: Cornell Gunter, Billy Guy, and Will "Dub" Jones. This showed how important their music was to rock and roll history.

Passing on the Legacy

Carl Gardner's son, Carl Jr., began touring with The Coasters in 1998. In 2005, Carl Sr. semi-retired from performing. He officially made Carl Jr. a member of the group. Carl Sr. wanted his son to continue the legacy of The Coasters as the lead singer.

Carl Gardner Sr. passed away on June 12, 2011. He had been dealing with heart issues. Carl Jr. took over as the main singer to keep his father's musical legacy alive.