(AKA:Cornell Gunther)

(b. 14 November 1936, LA, CA, d. 26 February 1990)

The Coasters

After leaving the Coasters, Cornell embarked “D´s Gents” (with Chuck Barksdale and Johnny Carter from Chicago’s the Dells plus the nucleus from Pittsburg’s the Altairs), touring as back-up group to Dinah Washington. In late 1963 he formed his own Coasters group in L.A.   The spin-off Coasters were heavily engaged in Las Vegas (with a fresh line-up comprising Nat Wilson, Bobby Stregar and McKinley Travis) and even toured Britain in the mid ´60s as “The Fabulous Coasters”. Cornell´s group became stage favorites and performed with various line-ups into the ´80s. Cornell´s bass singer Nat “Buster” Wilson was killed in 1980 (by their at that time manager – Wilson´s body was found in 1982). Cornell (who was gay and in later years preferred to spell his name Cornell Gunther) was in the process of making a new comeback, when an unknown shot him in his car in Las Vegas. He died on February 26, 1990 (some files say February 27). The survivors of his group continue to tour and have recently formed a “Cornell Gunter´s Coasters Inc.” –