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. 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).
Clay Hammond Leon Hughes
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. 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.
