Uploaded June 2016 | Updated September 2026, 45 minutes ago
This 1963 hit version of "Louie Louie", by beat/garage rock band The Kingsmen from Portland, Oregon, reached the #2 spot on the Billboard chart. The song was originally written and recorded in the style of a Jamaican ballad by R&B Richard Berry in 1955. The Kingsmen's edition was the subject of an FBI investigation, about the supposed but nonexistent obscenities in the the lyrics, that ended without prosecution. Supposedly, it was a scam by someone who made and distributed copies with dubbed obscenities over the lyrics. As it turned out however, this helped to drive the listening audience's interest turning the song into a big hit. The Kingsman's studio session fee was only $50, done in one hurried take, and includes some recording missteps and embellishments. The Kingsmen's version has been recognized by organizations and publications worldwide for its influence on the history of rock and roll. These include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, National Public Radio, VH1, Rolling Stone, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Recording Industry Association of America.
This 1963 hit version of "Louie Louie", by beat/garage rock band The Kingsmen from Portland, Oregon, reached the #2 spot on the Billboard chart. The song was originally written and recorded in the style of a Jamaican ballad by R&B Richard Berry in 1955. The Kingsmen's edition was the subject of an FBI investigation, about the supposed but nonexistent obscenities in the the lyrics, that ended without prosecution. Supposedly, it was a scam by someone who made and distributed copies with dubbed obscenities over the lyrics. As it turned out however, this helped to drive the listening audience's interest turning the song into a big hit. The Kingsman's studio session fee was only $50, done in one hurried take, and includes some recording missteps and embellishments. The Kingsmen's version has been recognized by organizations and publications worldwide for its influence on the history of rock and roll. These include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, National Public Radio, VH1, Rolling Stone, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Recording Industry Association of America.
