Ronald David Bright (October 18, 1938 – November 26, 2015) was an American
R&B and
doo-wop singer of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He was born in
New York City.
Biography
Bright was the
bass vocalist for doo-wop groups
the Valentines,
the Cadillacs,
the Deep River Boys, and
the Coasters. He did session work for artists such as
Barry Mann,
Jackie Wilson,
Peter Gabriel, and
Johnny Cymbal. His most recognizable vocals are from Johnny Cymbal's 1963 hit song "Mr. Bass Man." He sang with the Valentines (the group was previously called the Dreamers) from 1954 to 1957, briefly with the Cadillacs in 1960, and the Deep River Boys in the late 1960s. In 1965, Bright released a record for
Coed Records as Ronnie and the Schoolmates. He joined the Coasters in April 1968, replacing
Dub Jones,[1] and left the group in 2009. He died on November 26, 2015, at the age of 77.[2]
Discography
Group singles and recordings
"Summer Love"/"For You" (Bruce) (1954) (unreleased) (The Dreamers)
"Tonight Kathleen"/"Summer Love" (Old Town #1009) (1954) (
The Valentines)
"Lily Maebelle"/"Falling for You" (Rama #171) (1955) (The Valentines)
"I Love You Darling"/"Hand Me Down Love" (Rama #181) (1955) (The Valentines)
"Christmas Prayer"/"Kiss Me" (Rama #186) (1955) (The Valentines)
"Why"/"The Woo Woo Train" (Rama #196) (1956) (The Valentines)
"Twenty Minutes Before the Hour"/"I’ll Never Let You Go" (Rama #201) (1956) (The Valentines)
"Nature's Creation"/"My Story of Love" (Rama #208) (1956) (The Valentines)
"Don’t Say Goodnight"/"I Cried Oh, Oh" (Rama #228) (1957) (The Valentines)
"Tell Me Today"/"It’s Love" (Josie #876) (1960) (Speedo & The Cadillacs)
"Just Born (To Be Your Baby)"/"Don't Don't Don't Dropout" (Collectables #1144) (reissue) (Ronnie & The Schoolmates)
References
^Gardner, Carl; Gardner, Veta (2007). Yakety Yak I Fought Back: My Life with the Coasters. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. p. 167.
ISBN978-1-4259-8981-1.