DATE: Sunday, May 4, 1997                   TAG: 9705020255

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 12   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   47 lines

COASTERS, WITH JUST ONE ORIGINAL MEMBER, STILL BELT OUT THE OLDIES

The current incarnation of the Coasters has suffered from roaming imposters playing gigs under their moniker.

But fear not.

The Chesapeake Jubilee has the real thing coming May 17 at Chesapeake City Park.

The Coasters, featuring original lead singer Carl Gardner, anchor the second night of big league entertainment at this year's Jubilee. They take the main stage at 8:30 p.m., between two sets by 17 South.

The outfit, which has survived on a combination of parodies and tunes, has not had a hit record since the 1960s, but are still known for such hits as the classic ``Yakety Yak,'' ``Charlie Brown'' and the million-selling double-sided single ``Searching'' and ``Young Blood.''

All were written by the team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who worked with many Los Angeles-based rhythm and blues outfits.

Not to mention ``Poison Ivy,'' on which they abandoned their traditional sax-driven instrumentation in favor of a driving guitar hook.

As they were originally known, the Coasters were elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Jan. 21, 1987, after a career that sold 100 million records.

They also starred in the film ``Let The Good Times Roll.''

This is not the band coming here, however.

Original member Leon Hughes departed in the late 1950s, as did the late Bobby Nunn, whose deep bass delivered the famed Yakety Yak line: ``Don't talk back.'' And their eventual replacements, including bass Will Jones who held down the bottom end of most of their hits, departed by 1970.

Carl Gardner is the only Coaster left.

The current group is rounded out by Ronnie Bright, formerly of the Valentines and the Cadillacs, Jimmy Norman and Thomas Palmer, formerly of the Thompson Band.

With a wide arsenal of rock standards and humorous offerings, the Coasters now play everything from rock revivals, weddings, bar mitzvahs and cruise ship shows.

They are currently managed by Gardner's wife. A safe bet would be to count on the talented lead singer to be the center of attention when he takes the Jubilee's main stage.

Gardner has come out with his own solo album called ``One Cool Cat,'' and hawks ``Carl Gardner and the Coasters'' merchandise over the internet. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

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