The Day Charlie Brown Was Banned

The group was formed in October 1955 out of the ashes of the Los Angeles-based vocal group, The Robins (of "Smokey Joe's Caf�" and "Riot in Cell Block #9" fame). Atlantic Records made an offer to the songwriting duo of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, two 22-year-olds with a full five years of hits under their belts, including "Kansas City," "Hound Dog" and "Hard Times." The duo had formed Spark Records in 1953, which prominently featured The Robins. When Atlantic bought out Spark, the label offered Leiber and Stoller the opportunity to produce their own records (and even offer them to other labels).

When Leiber and Stoller moved to Atlantic, the idea was that they would continue to record The Robins. Unfortunately, only two Robins were willing to fly to Atlantic: lead man Carl Gardner and R&B vet (and former Air Force boxing champion) Bobby Nunn. Leiber and Stoller paired them with comedy singer Billy Guy and doo-wop vocalist Leon Hughes. The group also featured a guitarist, Adoph Jacobs, who later made a name for himself as a jazz and blues player, working with Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Larry Williams, among others.