Leon Hughes

The Signeals (Los Angeles)
Ref : The Celebritys

Personnel :

Leon Hughes

Shirley Hughes

Elder O'Neal

Mack McKent

Grady Bridges

Discography :

The Celebritys
1956 - This Is My Plea / Juanita (Caroline 2301)

Clay Hammond & Johnnie Young & The Celebritys
1956 - We Made Romance / Absent Minded (No group) (Caroline 2302)

The Signeals
Single :
1956 - Juanita / Show Me The Way (Leoneal 1483)
Unreleased :
1956 - Leap Year Cha Cha (Leoneal)

Leoneal & Janet & The Signeals
1956 - No One / What Is This Thing (Leoneal 02)


Biography :

Born Thomas Leon Hughes, August 26, 1932 in Los Angeles County, CA. Started acting with his parents as a child and toured with early lineups of the Hollywood Flames (with which he also recently acted in a 1998 revival show). He was an original member of the Lamplighters during 1952-53 (together with Mathew Nelson and Willie Ray Rockwell). Hughes left the Lamplighters before they recorded with new lead Al Frazier. Leon was recommended by Bobby Nunn (who knew him from Watts, L.A.) for the Coasters´ original line-up.

  
                                                                                                                    Clay Hammond

Before joining The Coasters, Leon had been a member of doo wop group The Celebritys which included his brother Elder O'Neal, the group cut "This Is My Plea" b/w "Juanita" and backed Clay Hammond & Johnnie Young on "We Made Romance" for the Caroline Label. That same year, he also recorded on his own label Leoneal Records with The Signeals which included his sister Shirley Hughes, his brother Elder O'Neal, Mack McKent and Grady Bridges. Leon also recorded a single as "Leoneal and Janet" (backup vocals by The Signeals).  After leaving The Coasters, he teamed with Bobby Nunn to record as The Dukes in 1959 for Flip Records. "Looking For You" b/w "Groceries, Sir" (Flip 343), and "I Love You" b/w "Leap Year Cha Cha" (Flip 344) were the singles released.

Leon Hughes                                                                                                                    

In the 1970s, Leon Hughes recorded with several Coasters groups. In 1975, recorded with "The Coasters Two Plus Two" for Chelan Records. The record "Searchin' 75" b/w "Young Blood" stated that these recordings were from the album called "Reunion." In 1976, he recorded an album with "The World Famous Coasters" which included Will "Dub" Jones. This album was released on American International Records (In Europe on DJM). In 1998, a CD called "Leon Hughes: One Of The First Original Coasters" was released on Oldie CD, and a VHS tape called "The Coasters: Tribute To Their Greatest Hits" was released. Hughes still performs with a Coasters group, sometimes as "Leon Hughes and his Original Coasters." He also has done some performances with a Hollywood Flames group.



Songs :

The Celebritys

  
This Is My Plea                                            Juanita         


Clay Hammond & Johnnie Young & The Celebritys


 We Made Romance


The Signeals


Show Me The Way



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