They didn't have as many hits as contemporaries like the Four Lads or The Four Aces, but The Four Coins nonetheless managed to rack up a respectable list of chart records during their run of popularity in the '50s. Initially known as The Four Keys, the group began their career in earnest with long stint at Pittsburgh club. They also did their first recording in Pittsburgh, getting a deal with tiny Carona Records and debuting with a song called "Hot Toddy". It failed to heat up, as did subsequent Carona releases. As The Four Coins, they signed to Columbia's Epic division, debuting with "In the Church in the Wildwood". Their next single was "I Love You Madly", it was a cover of a regional hit by a duo called Charlie and Ray. The Coins' version was a national hit going top 30 in early 1955. While most artists are lucky to get one shot at the charts, let alone two, The Four Coins were not about to be counted out of the Hot 100 just because of a few flops. In the Spring of 1957 they cut their biggest hit yet, just missing the top 10 with the lush "Shangri-La". The song would go on to become something of a standard. |
