The original group, formed in 1956, was Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, Leon Hughes, and Bobby Nunn. In 1958, Hughes and Nunn were replaced by Cornell Gunter and Will "Dub" Jones. It was this lineup that recorded most of the classic hits - Yakety Yak, Charlie Brown, etc. Cornell Gunter was replaced by Earl Carroll in 1961. Gunter went on to lead his own version of the Coasters into the 1970's, although Gardner owned the name.
Cornell Gunter sang lead on Zing Went the Strings of my Heart.