The Coasters Thrill Crowd of 4,000 on Norwood Town Common for Summer Music Series-August 13, 1992

The four members of The Coasters yakity-yaked, doo-wopped, shoo-bopped, and dom-diddy-dooed last night to the absolute delight of 4,000 music fans gathered on and around the Norwood Town Common. The free concert served as a premier highlight of Summerfest, a nine-week Wednesday-night summer music series sponsored by the Norwood Arts Council. Anticipating the massive turnout, police proactively blocked off Nahatan Street from Central Street to Washington Street, and closed Central Street between Nahatan Street and Cottage Street. The common and surrounding roadways were filled to capacity with residents seated in lawn chairs and on blankets, swaying, clapping, and singing along to timeless classics like “Searchin’,” “Young Blood,” “Yakity Yak,” and “Charlie Brown.”

The legendary group inspired plenty of lively fan interaction, including when one of the singers strolled directly off the stage and into the audience, drawing a delighted gaggle of pre-teen girls. “I held his hand!” exclaimed 11-year-old Kelly Delsignore, racing back to the stage area to catch the remainder of the performance. While many attendees fondly remembered the group from their 1950s heyday and television appearances on American Bandstand—such as 51-year-old Mary Murray who traveled from Attleboro to secure a prime spot near Norwood Town Hall—the audience spanned multiple generations. Even young children and toddlers joined in the festivities, including 8-year-old Bobby Flaherty, who was invited onto the stage to whistle the solo line in “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay,” and 1-year-old Bobby Smith, who danced to “The Twist” with his mother Janet Smith.

The group’s enduring appeal crossed international borders as well. Concertgoers included Robert Critchley, a 45-year-old Australian native, along with neighbors Varin Ang and Herbert Ang, who emigrated from Thailand and Hong Kong respectively, all of whom noted that the Coasters’ iconic American radio hits had reached global audiences during their youth. (Reporting by Sari Kalin for The Patriot Ledger).

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger