The Coasters

The Coasters are an American vocal group that emerged from the rhythm and blues scene of the 1950s to become one of the most successful acts of the early rock and roll era. Formed out of the earlier group the Robins, the Coasters became closely associated with the songwriting and production team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who crafted the witty, story-driven songs that defined the group's sound.

The Coasters distinguished themselves through comic, narrative lyrics delivered with theatrical vocal interplay, often built around a deep bass voice trading lines with the lead. Hits like «Yakety Yak», «Charlie Brown», «Poison Ivy» and «Searchin'» combined playful humor about teenage life with tight R&B arrangements and prominent saxophone breaks, setting them apart from the more romantic ballads typical of vocal groups at the time.

Although their classic lineup and biggest hits date from the late 1950s, the Coasters' songs were widely covered and imitated for years afterward, embedding them in the broader doo-wop and early rock and roll canon. The group was among the influential vocal acts inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, recognizing their role in shaping how humor and storytelling could work within a hit single.