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.
Oo
Richard Berry Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Oo' by these artists:
Catch-It Kebabs He gives a smile 'cos he knows you're waiting And he…
gigi Wo o o o o o o Sendiri aku berjalan Tak tahu…
Gregor Samsa Out we ran The gallows I dreamt you the same heavenly Lig…
J. J. Jackson and the Jackals Naisip mo na ba Kung bakit ang mga tala Laging nakasilip sa…
Japo Vs the French Girl 'Di na naman mapakali Nasasabik na makasama ka Kahit masilip…
K.O.I. Yeah Yall know what it is man K.P Yo hoe call me Kevin Beat…
Kontra Produktiv 1.3 저 새빨간 모래위에서 아무것도 바라는거 없이 이 순간만을 보고 있는 아이들의 목소리가 들려…
Lenna Kuu vaid särab lombivees Teagi kas ta teab Sügiseses vihmave…
Metsatöll Maa verest nõrub, kui rüpes käed ja kiiora vainul põrub m…
R.V Matagal ko nang inilihim 'to Dahil sa nahihiyang sabihin sa …
RJ Jimenez Naisip mo na ba kung bakit ang mga tala Laging nakasilip…
Science O.C.N. Öö võta mind vastu ma täna ei maga Ristteel on mu…
Skusta Clee Woah Aantayin ko ‘yong oo Muli Gusto na kitang makitang mul…
SUMIN & slom ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ OOOOOOOO ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ OOOOOOOO ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ OOOOOOOO ㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜㅜ O…
To-Sha & L.Eazy Got a pretty girl on the west side Yeah, I got…
Tõnu Raadik Tumedas öös on taevasse suunatud pilgud Ümber on vaikne, kus…
Up Dharma Down hindi mo lang alam naiisip kita baka sakali nga maisip mo…
UpDharma Down 'Di mo lang alam, naiisip kita Baka sakali lang maisip mo…
铁风筝 坏坏有个小宝贝 她从不轻易让人看 如果你真想看它一眼 她就要带你到一个没人的地方 她带你 穿过街道 走过小桥 越过森林 …
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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@thevibeguide
what's your favorite song?
@BarbieBabe897
Just a friend by Jordiiiii ❤️❤️❤️
@user-im1uk4mp1w
LOST SOUL
@gabu7201
🍒👈
@timothymcqueen3408
Il vento d’oro
@camkrat178
Rammstein - Sonne.
@thevibeguide
what a vibe 💃
@santoshkhandelwal9582
Your songs I love them, I love you bro appreciate you bro my bro!💛
@thevibeguide
thanks@@santoshkhandelwal9582 bro
@flfattire959
This has that “rolling credits of a 2003 rom-com” sorta sound to it. So nostalgic feeling.