The Coasters

USA, 1955–now

American vocal group who recorded Leiber and Stoller's comic narrative songs, including 'Yakety Yak', 'Charlie Brown' and 'Poison Ivy', in a jump-blues idiom.

MusicRoots documents 2 artists who influenced The Coasters and 2 artists The Coasters influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The Coasters?

• Louis Jordan — The Coasters' comic, storytelling R&B descends straight from Louis Jordan's jump-blues jukebox hits — the humour and shuffle beneath 'Yakety Yak' and 'Charlie Brown'.
• The Ink Spots — The vocal-group harmony tradition of the Ink Spots was the foundation the Coasters' doo-wop-rooted group sound was built on.

Which artists did The Coasters influence?

• Harry Nilsson — One of the acts Nilsson listened to closely in Los Angeles — the comic narrative song, which he kept.
• Michael Monroe — The other set of records he learned the horn from.