The Robins were a successful and influential American R&B group of the late 1940s and 1950s, one of the earliest such vocal groups who established the basic pattern for the

doo-wop Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, ...

sound. They were founded by Ty Terrell, and twin brothers Billy Richards and Roy Richards. Bobby Nunn soon joined the lineup. They began their career as the Bluebirds but switched to recording as the Robins in May 1949. In 1955, the group disagreed over whether to remain on the West Coast or sign with

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...

and move to the East Coast. This led to a split within the group. Music producers and songwriters

Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller Leiber and Stoller were an American songwriting and record production duo, consisting of lyricist Jerome Leiber (; April 25, 1933 – August 22, 2011) and composer Michael Stoller (born March 13, 1933). As well as many R&B and pop hits, they wr ...

took former Robins members Nunn and

Carl Gardner Carl Edward Gardner (April 29, 1928 – June 12, 2011) was an American singer, best known as the foremost member and founder of The Coasters. Known for the 1958 song "Yakety Yak", which spent a week as number one on the Hot 100 pop list, he wa ...

, recruited singers

Leon Hughes Leon Hughes Sr. (May 6, 1930 – March 1, 2023) was an American rhythm and blues singer. He was the last surviving original member of The Coasters. Biography Leon Hughes was an original member of The Coasters ( Bobby Nunn, Carl Gardner, and ...

and

Billy Guy Billy Guy (June 20, 1936 – November 5, 2002) was an American singer, best known as a lead singer for the Coasters. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Biography Born Frank Phillips in Texas, Guy is best known as a memb ...

, and formed

the Coasters The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group who had a string of hits in the late 1950s. With hits including "Searchin'", "Young Blood (The Coasters song), Young Blood", "Charlie Brown (The Coasters song), Charlie Bro ...

. The founding Richards brothers and Tyrell continued to record as the Robins until 1961.

Original members

* Bobby Nunn (lead/bass) *Terrell "Ty" Leonard (tenor) *William Gene "Billy" Richard (tenor) *Roy Richard (baritone/bass) *

Grady Chapman Grady Chapman (October 1, 1929 – January 4, 2011) was best known as the American lead singer of doo wop group The Robins. Biography Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Chapman joined The Robins in 1952, singing alongside Bobby Nunn, Billy ...

(lead/tenor)

Deaths

Roy Richard died on May 1, 1983. Bobby Nunn died from a heart attack on November 5, 1986. Billy Richard died from a fall while exercising on December 10, 2007. Grady Chapman died of congestive heart failure on January 4, 2011.

died on June 12, 2011, after many years leading

The Coasters The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group who had a string of hits in the late 1950s. With hits including "Searchin'", "Young Blood (The Coasters song), Young Blood", "Charlie Brown (The Coasters song), Charlie Bro ...

Singles

References

External links

The Robins Story & Discography
* * as The Ding Dongs {{DEFAULTSORT:Robins, The Doo-wop groups African-American musical groups Musical groups established in 1945 Musical groups disestablished in 1960 1945 establishments in California 1960 disestablishments in California