A Rock Legend's Legacy - Coasters' Carl Gardner

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Added: Tue. Jun 14, 2011 3:13pm
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On June 12, 2011, a legend of rock 'n roll passed away and nobody noticed. Carl Gardner who died at the age of 83 was one of the most unique characters in the history of rock. Yet, his name is mostly anonymous to listeners today, and that’s just wrong! 

As lead singer of the Coasters in the 1950s, his is the voice that propelled the classics Yakety Yak, Charlie Brown and Poison Ivy straight up the charts. Songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller insist that Gardner was as strong an actor as he was a singer, who possessed the talent and ability to bring the humorous stories in their songs to life. 

It earned Gardner and the Coasters distinction of being one of the first groups inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame. But honors did not pay the bills. Because of the era he recorded in, Gardner never made much money and spent most of his later years living a quiet existence in Florida. 

He owned the Coasters name and continued to tour until the early 1990s when he was stopped by a life-threatening bout with throat cancer. But even that could not keep him down for long. He not only recovered, but went right back into the studio to record a “comeback” album, One Cool Cat. During the sessions he sat down to talk with me for a story on GrowingBolder.com. 

This important video is a rare and revealing snapshot of the true character of the man. Doctors had told him he would never sing again. Yet, Gardner’s attitude, strength and courage helped him prevail. 

Not only did he survive, he thrived. Gardner went back on the road with the Coasters and became a mentor to his son, Carl, Jr., grooming him to take over the group in his father’s footsteps. 

Gardner was a passionate man who loved people as much as he loved music. He carried a great deal of hurt, believing that he missed out on an income rightfully his, but he was never bitter. Carl’s main goal in life was to make people feel good. He accomplished that his whole life long through song, stories and humor. 

In his last few years dementia diminished his abilities but did not stop him completely. With the loving help of his wife Veta he continued to entertain when he could. 

We can learn a lot from Carl Gardner, a lot about taking life in stride. He never ran from his problems, but neither did they consume him. For all his accomplishments there were just as many disappointments. He refused to give in to anger and bitterness and as a result, Gardner leaves behind a legacy of purpose, passion and pride.