Richard Berry (born in Extension, Louisiana on 11 April 1935; died 23 Janua… Read Full Bio ↴Richard Berry (born in Extension, Louisiana on 11 April 1935; died 23 January 1997) was an American singer and songwriter, best known as the composer and original performer of the rock standard "Louie Louie" (released in 1957 by Richard Berry & The Pharaohs).
Berry moved with his family to Los Angeles as a baby. He began singing and playing in local doo-wop groups, recording with several of them including The Penguins, The Cadets and The Chimes, before joining The Flairs (who also recorded as The Debonaires and The Flamingoes) in 1953.
The Flairs’ record "She Wants To Rock", on Modern Records, featured Berry’s bass vocals, and was an early production by Leiber and Stoller. When, a few months later, that pair needed a bass voice for their production of The Robins’ "Riot In Cell Block #9" on Spark Records, they recruited Berry to provide the menacing introduction to the song – uncredited, as he was contracted to Modern. Berry’s voice was also used at Modern, again uncredited, as the counterpoint to Etta James on her first record and big hit, "The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry)", and several of its less successful follow-ups. Berry also recorded with several other groups on the Modern and Flair labels, including The Crowns, and girl group The Dreamers (who later became The Blossoms).
By the end of 1954, he left the Flairs to form his own group, the Pharaohs (see Richard Berry & The Pharaohs), while also continuing to work with other groups as a singer and songwriter. One of these was a Latin and R&B group, Rick Rillera and The Rhythm Rockers. In 1955, Berry was inspired to write a new calypso-style song, "Louie Louie", based on The Rhythm Rockers version of René Touzet's "El Loco Cha Cha", and also influenced by Chuck Berry's "Havana Moon". Richard Berry & the Pharaohs recorded and released the song on Flip Records in 1957, originally as a B-side. It became a minor regional hit, and, when the group toured the Pacific Northwest, several local R&B bands began to adopt the song and established its popularity. "Louie Louie" finally became a major hit when The Kingsmen's raucous version – with little trace of its calypso-like origins other than in its lyrics - became a national and international hit in 1963. The nearly unintelligible (and innocuous) lyrics were widely misinterpreted as obscene, and the song was banned by radio stations and even investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The song has been recorded over 1,000 times, but, because Berry sold its copyright cheaply in 1959, he received little financial reward for its success for many years.
Berry continued to record in the late 1950s, but with little commercial success, and also continued as a performer. His other songs included "Crazy Lover", recorded on their 1987 debut album by the Rollins Band.
During the 1980s, "Louie Louie" received a number of unprecedented accolades, with hundreds of cover versions being issued on CD compilations and played on radio marathons. In 1986 and again in 1993, Berry finally received substantial financial benefits for writing the song. In February 1996, he performed for the final time, reuniting with The Pharaohs and The Dreamers for a benefit concert in Long Beach. However, his health declined, and he died of heart failure in 1997. He was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Berry moved with his family to Los Angeles as a baby. He began singing and playing in local doo-wop groups, recording with several of them including The Penguins, The Cadets and The Chimes, before joining The Flairs (who also recorded as The Debonaires and The Flamingoes) in 1953.
The Flairs’ record "She Wants To Rock", on Modern Records, featured Berry’s bass vocals, and was an early production by Leiber and Stoller. When, a few months later, that pair needed a bass voice for their production of The Robins’ "Riot In Cell Block #9" on Spark Records, they recruited Berry to provide the menacing introduction to the song – uncredited, as he was contracted to Modern. Berry’s voice was also used at Modern, again uncredited, as the counterpoint to Etta James on her first record and big hit, "The Wallflower (Roll With Me, Henry)", and several of its less successful follow-ups. Berry also recorded with several other groups on the Modern and Flair labels, including The Crowns, and girl group The Dreamers (who later became The Blossoms).
By the end of 1954, he left the Flairs to form his own group, the Pharaohs (see Richard Berry & The Pharaohs), while also continuing to work with other groups as a singer and songwriter. One of these was a Latin and R&B group, Rick Rillera and The Rhythm Rockers. In 1955, Berry was inspired to write a new calypso-style song, "Louie Louie", based on The Rhythm Rockers version of René Touzet's "El Loco Cha Cha", and also influenced by Chuck Berry's "Havana Moon". Richard Berry & the Pharaohs recorded and released the song on Flip Records in 1957, originally as a B-side. It became a minor regional hit, and, when the group toured the Pacific Northwest, several local R&B bands began to adopt the song and established its popularity. "Louie Louie" finally became a major hit when The Kingsmen's raucous version – with little trace of its calypso-like origins other than in its lyrics - became a national and international hit in 1963. The nearly unintelligible (and innocuous) lyrics were widely misinterpreted as obscene, and the song was banned by radio stations and even investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The song has been recorded over 1,000 times, but, because Berry sold its copyright cheaply in 1959, he received little financial reward for its success for many years.
Berry continued to record in the late 1950s, but with little commercial success, and also continued as a performer. His other songs included "Crazy Lover", recorded on their 1987 debut album by the Rollins Band.
During the 1980s, "Louie Louie" received a number of unprecedented accolades, with hundreds of cover versions being issued on CD compilations and played on radio marathons. In 1986 and again in 1993, Berry finally received substantial financial benefits for writing the song. In February 1996, he performed for the final time, reuniting with The Pharaohs and The Dreamers for a benefit concert in Long Beach. However, his health declined, and he died of heart failure in 1997. He was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
Next Time
Richard Berry Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Next Time' by these artists:
Al Stewart He heard the clatter of her heels in the street The…
Alan Merrill I′ve been thinking for the past few days About you and…
Alissa Moreno Let me out, slow it down, I'll get off here It's…
Ann-Margret I see myself in a way some girls do no one…
Attraction As I stepped out upon the landing my heart was…
Barenaked Ladies You can always get it right next time, next time You…
BBMak I lie awake and die I try but I can't…
Ben Evolent Boy I′ve been waiting I'm just so frustrated But I guess ill…
Billy Currington So there's somewhere you gotta be Well I sure hate to…
Blry I don't want you to go but I'll see you…
Boy Next time I sing a ballad And they say that I'm…
Bridge L.T.H. (Verse) When you mess up When you get opportunities When you…
Brightside My life is not a poem It's just a dreamer's dumb…
Brooke Oh I'm just lookin' for a guy That's got some of…
Casey Donahew Band Never felt so sick in so long You hung up the…
Castlebeat I've seen you walk by Bout a hundred times Only you can…
Cliff Richard They say I'll love again someday A true love will come…
Cliff Richard & The Shadows They say I'll love again someday A true love will come…
Common [Chorus] I'm gonna blow your mind, hold you close Squeeze …
Curtis Harding We could've went to heaven What d'you mean you played Now …
Dan Fogelberg One too many days I've felt forgotten And one too many night…
Disciple The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me Because He…
E.A.T.E.R. You don't have to send me flowers like you used…
Ellis Prescott Had to give up on my ex life You the girl…
Emilie Zoé & Christian Garcia-Gaucher FADED JEANS AND TSHIRT WE WEAR KNEES AND ELBOWS SAGGING WE W…
Eric Bay If I had more time, I'd make this whole world…
Everthe8 Bruises on your knees speak volumes Scratches on my back wou…
Frank and the Bitches My name is Francis Albert (Francis Albert Sinatra) And I sin…
Gang Starr Word is bond, these cats been on the mic fantasizing…
geneva.b Still shooting for the stars Had to stop to heal up…
Gladys Knight I wish I could have given you Everything you need The power…
Government Issue Situations and advice I'm hearing Was it just you or talk? I…
HDBEENDOPE Yeah, alarm ringing early It’s 8 am wake my vision blurry I…
If Walls Could Talk (Hey!) When I texted you, I didn't think you would show…
Inevitable Pinay I know it′s late But I had to tell you what's…
J.T. Lauritsen This game of love, I forfeit Now I'm sitting here…
Jay Ollero I feel lost I'am hurtig alone This hasent turnd out the way…
Jessia I wasn't gonna say this But it seems to be the…
Jessica-Jade I walked out the plant today for the final time I…
Johnnie Taylor Next time I'll be kinder If I could only find her I'll…
Kacey Musgraves I've gotten this far on my own I don't have anything…
Karma Zero Let’s go!! Those feelings, I ‘ve got to forget them They ha…
Keyshia Cole The fightin' and the arguin' and cussin' all loud Sometimes …
Kina Grannis Well I believe in a land A land where fairy tales…
Le Boom It suddenly ended this morning For the last time maybe I wal…
Little Wings This is a note, to self situation A microphone test or…
Louis Prima I saw this stranger leave my pad And this made me…
MARCELLINA Fearful eyes, unsure smile, all along Butterflies and compro…
Marie Wilson (marie wilson/mark hudson/jim vallance) I heard you knocking…
Matt Costa Painted black all my windows Faded like a quill in this…
Merik Spitteler I know when I've lost And I was beaten up my…
Mudhoney I've been thinking of you Yeah, I've been thinking of you …
O. Rex Do you wanna fly I can take you high Come ride…
Paragon Cause Maybe next time I'll find someone Good Maybe next time Cou…
Paris Deshawn Roll up that dope baby get high Yea yea yea Bad b****…
Peter Cetera & Amy Grant Love like a road that never ends How it leads me…
Pinay I know it's late But I had to tell you what's…
Pusher Next time, will be better than This time Next time, will be…
Radish Its so sad your not here Wish you were more sincere You…
Rollins Band I saw this cat leave my pad And this made me…
Roman Clarke What you gonna do with all of your money I'm gonna…
Ryan Long My father told me not to go and my mother…
S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Yo Last time next time we home Rest time last time we…
sam blehar Next time I'mma do better Next time I'mma do better Next tim…
Sam Butera And The Wildest I saw this stranger leave my pad And this made me…
Sawyer The next time it happens I′ll know what not to do The…
Soan J'ai vendu la santé d'mon dos En me pliant durant des…
SoulDecision And how can I believe one thing you said? When hearing…
Steven Coconuttreez next time, cuz im just not ready to? change. to became som…
Stroke 9 Can't take back the things you said 'Cause I won't ever…
Supergroove Next time I see you I'll remain seated and mysterious And…
The B-Shakers Still shooting for the stars Had to stop to heal up…
The Guidance Next time things won't be the same, I'll make better choice…
Three Souls Next time. There won't be no next time, for me to watch…
Trent Tomlinson Woke up face down in a cheap motel Had a King…
Tynisha Keli Oh, oh, oh, oh There won't be a next time, no There…
Valley of Visions I'll tell you all the things I wish I did…
VFSix All I want Is to be With you To hold Your hand tight I wish…
Virgos I didn't come here making fusses I came to make…
What we seek I keep saying these prayers, and I keep I keep cycling…
Wipers It sure is a thrill tonight Hope everything works out just…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Richard Berry:
A Love People making lists, buying special gifts Taking time to be …
At Last At last, my love has come along my lonely days are…
Have Love Will Travel Wow, Have love Whoa baby will travel Uh huh, uh huh, have…
Hey Henry You couldn't dance at all But now you're over ball The way…
Louie Louie Louie, Louie, oh, oh, me gotta go Louie, Louie, me gotta…
Louie, Louie Louie, Louie, oh, oh, me gotta go Louie, Louie, oh, oh,…
The Wallflower (Hey Baby, What do I have to do,) (To make you…
Visiteur La première fois d'sa vie qu'un homme a le bonheur D'entrer…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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