The story in this book is about a young man who left his home and family in Tyler, Texas at the age of twenty three and moved to Los Angeles to follow his dream of becoming a big band singer or to be another Nat King Cole or Billy Esktine. Like fate had it, instead, he became the lead singer and founder of the first vocal group to be inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, along with other members, Billy Guy, Will Jones and Cornell Gunter and has performed over five decades internationally before many large audiences.
Today, due to poor health Carl has retired from show business but still controls the group he formed in 1955.
Carl Gardner now resides with his wife Veta of nineteen years in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Veta Gardner was born in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies in 1932. Migrated to the United States of America in 1963 and became a citizen in 1970.
She is married with three adult sons, Hanif, Ramon and Wayne, six grand-children and one great-granddaughter.
The eldest of four children, she was educated in her native country, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.
She obtained a degree in Business, specializing in Business English and Business Writing.
Currently she manages “The Coasters” and still tours with the group.
Epilogue
I thank God that I was able to perform for so many years. In January, 2001, The Coasters performed at the Stardust Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, for four nights along with Bill Pinkney’s Drifters, and Sonny Turner, former lead singer of The Platters. We did so well that they brought us back in July for five nights.
In September of 2004, I suffered a mild stroke. Since then, I have not been able to give my best performance—although I feel I have a lot more in me to give to my fans who still love The Coasters and our music. The Coasters’ music will live forever—and even when I am no longer able to perform, I hope the group will continue on in my name. With that in mind, I have decided it is time for me to retire and take it easy. My son, Carl, Jr., will carry on the name with the same style and integrity, just as I have done for forty-five years. Carl, Jr., is a very talented young man, and I believe he will live up to the good name of The Coasters. I will miss show business, because that has been my life. But there comes a time when you know it is time to quit. My mobility is not so good these days, and I have lost some of my hearing. I now just want to sit back and enjoy the rest of my days.
I have been through times when I would question and curse what I thought had actually become of my private life and my professional and public career. I lived for a season in a sort of self imposed exile, a time of misery and bitterness that I never really understood. That period was a debasing act of violence I committed against myself. Thankfully, I eventually tired of such self-abuse, since God had blessed me with good self-esteem. Somehow, against all odds, I had survived, bringing my group, The Coasters, right along with me.
I used to constantly question my past. I brought great emotional stress upon myself, with questions like, “Am I The Coasters?”, “Could The Coasters have happened without me?” My final answer is true and timeless. My mom had taught me the answer so very long ago. However, for so many painful years in my life, the answer in all its simplicity had eluded me.
My life actually had been a good one, but it has also been crude at times. I often felt that I was at my life’s end--especially when I was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1993. Here I was, a singer. The only life I knew. Told by my doctor that I had only a ten percent chance to live, much less to ever sing again. But, by God’s grace, my life was far from over. Finally, I feel all my old bitterness and anxiety lift away. And goodbye to it, I shout! Better late than never. God’s light has triumphed over darkness. I weathered the storm and have come full circle.
Sitting here, I feel a certain peace as if I were in the web of God’s own arms. Yes, I have remained at the forefront of The Coasters. Yes, The Coasters are—and always will be--my baby. Whether musicians, historians, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or other artists, fans and friends agree with me, is no longer important. My mind and spirit are at peace. My work, recordings and personal appearances speak for themselves. I shall always be a performer. Through God’s grace I have triumphed in the ways that are important to me. I no longer question what’s in the back of the sky. My faith and love have always been my foundation. I have enjoyed a long career. My voice is always drawn to a good song. I still know the power of music.
It is with renewed faith that I will continue to fight to protect what is rightfully mine. Although I continue the uphill battle against bogus groups of Coasters infringing on my trademark, as well as unpaid royalties, I am still happily moving into a period of my life when to live and enjoy is enough. I am still here, having my turn. I am still accomplishing my goals. Every moment of my life, I am thankful. By God’s grace, I have been able to “Yakety Yak” and fight back. By God’s grace, I have overcome the deadly disease of cancer. By His grace, I have never lost faith. And by His grace, I am still standing. Yes, indeed, it’s been a good life, “Charlie Brown.”