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.
Spooky
Richard Berry Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Spooky' by these artists:
Andrea Balducci Spooky In the cool of the evening when everything is gettin…
Andy Williams In the cool of the evening when everything is getting…
Annabel Fay In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
ARS In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin…
Atlanta Rhythm In the cool of the evenin' when ev'rything is gettin'…
Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
Boots Randolph In the cool of the evening When everything is getting Kind O…
Chris Montez In the cool of the evenin' when evErything is gettin'…
Classic Iv N the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
CVTEBOY$ Yeah, ooh, yeah Bitch I'm spooky, yeah Bitch I'm spooky (yea…
DAN BAKER O.M.B. You don't wanna get spooky in this bitch You don't wanna You…
Daniel Ash In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
Daniel Ash/Love and Rockets When the night gets Dark - Cold, Over-freeze & Your brain…
Dennis Yost In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
Devics he waits for no one and i'm all by myself he…
Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus Okay, I pull up to the party in my mustang Lookin…
Dr. Saxlove Mommy! Daddy! It's Halloween, baby! Let's get this candy Got…
Dusty Springfield In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin'…
E-40 feat. Bosko Ha ha (Yeah) Spooky in this bitch nigga Alright alright huh…
El - B You don't wanna get spooky in this bitch You don't wanna You…
Element of Crime In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin kind…
Estella Dawn I was hung up on you day one You had the…
Four Classics In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
Full Bush Does she do it for fun Make them run Because she likes…
Funky Diamonds Here we go here we go here we go I'm gonna…
Gary Puckett Tommy Roe Dennis Yost and the Classics IV In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
Gary Walker & The Rain In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
God Module I like it spooky Don't ever change I like it spoo…
Groovenics It doesn't compare to what's happening right now IM not sur…
Hairy & Scary Creatures Spooky scary skeletons Send shivers down your spine Shriekin…
Imogen Heap In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
in V.I.T.R.I.O.L. Waking up, feeling strange A look in the mirror confirms…
J.P. He's flowing syndical You niggas bitches its miserable We ca…
Jamaar Milton Come to tempt me devil? And listen to temptation freely eno…
Jimmy & The Teasers You were out late last night with your hair up…
Joan Osborne In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
John and the Time Traveling Bicycle Save me from sense Pave the new way Bring the last dawn San…
KIDZ BOP Kids In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin' kinda…
Kolg8eight Ez az a szar, amit már tavaly előtt átéltem Addig öregszek,…
Kumiho In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kinda…
Lil Revive Yuh, in my mouth I taste blood I hate the Fact…
Lydia Lunch In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kinda…
M. Baptista Benedict Moving all over the map Stay undercover can't find where I'm…
M.A.S.E You don't wanna get spooky in this bitch You don't wanna You…
Martha Reeves In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
Martin Zamora Jag e tankarna som dyker upp på spöktimman Vålnader som bruk…
Money Mark In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
Mr. Day I can't tell you fell Bet your luck we won't sleep…
Nada Surf Do you remember lying on the ground You were smart…
New Order Once in a while I need a friend So why won't…
New Order/Stephen Hague Once in a while I need a friend So why won't…
Nightmares on Wax In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin'…
Original TV Soundtrack In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
Otis Wongsam “They’ve never experienced bumbaclart greatness!” Me being …
Peggy Simms In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin' kinda…
Percy Sledge In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
Popa Chubby In the cool of the evenin′ when ev'rything is gettin′…
PUPPINI SISTERS - rise & fall of ruby woo In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
Riverdale Cast feat. Ashleigh Murray In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kinda…
Riverdogs Tommy got a medal in the war He never wears it Man's…
Rustic Overtones feat. Imogen Heap In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
S.C.A.M. Moving all over the map Stay undercover can't find where I'm…
S.E.A.M You don't wanna get spooky in this bitch You don't wanna You…
S.P.O.C.K Waking up, feeling strange A look in the mirror confirms…
S.P.O.C.K. Waking up, feeling strange A look in the mirror confirms…
Santo & Johnny Double vision, I see my body risen From the rubble prison…
Sharon Needles Yeah! Come on! In the cool of the evening When everything i…
Shock of Pleasure This is not a test, It's just the radio. There's no place…
skatta verse 1: back two double o an one i was in…
Sledge Percy In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
Springfield (Dusty) In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin'…
Supermax This is your subconscious Talking to you Far far back On the…
The 3-D's It's time for screams And it's time for scares Cause it's ha…
The Classics In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
The Classics IV In the cool of the evenin' When everything is gettin' kind…
The Classics IV And Dennis Yost In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
The Classics IV Feat. Dennis Y In the cool of the evenin' When everything is gettin' kind…
The Classics IV Feat. Dennis Yost In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
The Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus (Marty Gold) Okay, I pull up to the party in my mustang Lookin…
The Puppini Sisters In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
V.A. Take me to another land (nother land) A place where I…
Various Artists In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin kind…
Vicious Pink In the cool of the evening When everything is getting…
Vicious Pink Phenomena In the cool of the evening When everything is getting kind…
Williams Andy In the cool of the evening when everything is getting…
Yost Denis And The Classics IV In the cool of the evening when ev'rything is gettin'…
КАРТЫ ДЕНЬГИ 2 СТВОЛА_D.SPRINGFIELD In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin'…
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD In the cool of the evening When everything is gettin'…
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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@kapetanmarul
r.b. gave me goosebumps when he started singing for some reason
@thewhistlingmonkey
Looks as if a good time was had by all!!!!
@LiquidGardener
Hey, EYE...it rocks you a----way!
@fragileindustries
Oh Christ. I'm in that crowd next to the bearded, cigar- chewing man with a baby girl on his shoulders. My misspent youth!
@eplouie
The big 1961 NW hit was by Rockin' Robin Roberts, backed by the Wailers. They created the prototype used by the Kingsmen, Paul Revere & Raiders, and countless others. This is an odd version- Richard Berry and a surf band! I'm sharing SOME of the good stuff.. more to come....
@rockinron40
Yeah that's M Dung from KFOG onstage singin' with RB and it looks like they had the big fun you EYE!!! AWAY!!!!
@eplouie
Check out the Ace Records compilation entitled LOVE THAT LOUIE. It's got the Little Bill version, plus much more...
@chevydavehartwig
Thanks eric for saving rock history. Your web site is outasite. Me gotta go.
@eplouie
Getting back to the original question by GeoSliver 4 years ago, I don't know if Little Bill actually had a NW hit with LOUIE? I do know there was some debate about who recorded it first, but I've been told Rockin Robin & Wailers recorded it before Little Bill.