Keeping It ‘Original’
The Coasters Keep the Classic Spirit and Sound of Group Alive
By Amanda Stevens
Journal Staff Writer
Take out the papers and the trash, but
don’t talk back! The Original Cornell Gunter’s Coasters will perform at 3 and
The group is best known for its ’50s
and ’60s classics such as “Yakety Yak” “Charlie
Brown” and “Poison Ivy.”
“The Coasters were the classic fun group, the group that had
fun, so we incorporate that in the uniforms — we’ll be dressed really good and
we have the choreography and the vocals,” said Lionel ”Z” Pope, who took the
place of original singer Cornell Gunter after his death. “We are just blessed
and humble about it, but we know what we are selling and we are selling a good thing.” The group also includes Charlie Duncan and Tony
Scruggs.
“I think what’s kept us together so long is really the
music,” Pope said. “The kids, the older people and the in-between people all
really enjoy our show, so that makes it fun.”
Pope said he often gets surprised by the ages of his fans.
“Once, after a performance, I came into the hotel room and
the message light was flashing. When I came out of the bathroom, my wife was
sitting on the bed with her mouth open and her lip on the
floor, saying there was a letter for me at the front desk,” he said. “She asked
me, ‘What you got going on?’ I said I didn’t have anything going on — we’ve
been married for 30 years. So she said she wanted to go for a walk. Later, I
hear a knocking on the door, really softly. It’s my wife. She comes in real
quiet, sits on the bed and didn’t say anything. She gave me the letter. It
said, ‘I really like you guys. I love you so much. I like when you do ‘Charlie
Brown’ and my brother likes ‘Yakety
Yak.’ I am 5 years old and my brother is 6 years old.’”
The younger generation of fans is what gives the band
motivation, even though imposter bands can get frustrating, he said.
“There’s so many pretenders out there claiming to be The
Coasters, the Platters ... it’s unfortunate because it confuses the public.
That’s why we call ourselves The Original Cornell Gunter’s Coasters,” Pope
said.
Before a performance, the three men have a ritual that takes
place before every show, he said.
“The three of us grab hands and say a silent prayer: ‘Lord help us do a good show for these people.’ And we shake hands
and go out, almost like an athletic team,” Pope said. “We’re very serious about
it, but when we are on stage, we have so much fun.”
If You Go
What: The Original Cornell Gunter’s Coasters When: 3 and 7
p.m. Wednesday Where: Santa Ana Star Casino event center Tickets: $10,
available at the Santa Ana Star Casino Player’s Club or at starticketsplus.com.