The Coasters

A spin-off of Los Angeles rhythm ‘n’ blues group The Robins, The Coasters formed in 1955 in the New York headquarters of Atlantic Records—a cross-country move reflected in their name. Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller (of “Hound Dog” fame) began penning single after playful single for them, starting with 1956’s evocative postcard “Down In Mexico.” The songwriting duo’s winking, story-like lyrics proved a perfect fit for the vocal quartet’s layered harmonies and punchy comic timing, as heard on 1958’s “Yakety Yak” and 1959’s “Poison Ivy.” Lineup changes slowed The Coasters’ rise at the turn of the ’60s, but the deep impact of their rambunctious hits saw them become the first group inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. That compact songbook continues to be liberally covered and sampled, not to mention savvily deployed in modern soundtracks by filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino.