The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United Stat… Read Full Bio ↴The Kingsmen is a 1960s garage rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They are best known for their 1963 recording of Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the #2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks. The single has become an enduring classic.
When recorded the band members were Jack Ely (vocalist/rhythm guitar; d. April 28, 2015), Lynn Easton (drummer), Mike Mitchell (lead guitar), Don Gallucci (electric piano) and Bob Nordby (bass guitar). Ken Chase (Kingsmen manager and Portland radio station KISN music director) produced the recording session. Robert Lindahl (Northwestern Inc. recording studio owner) was the audio engineer.
"Louie Louie" was kept from the top spot on the charts in late 1963 and early 1964 by the Singing Nun and Bobby Vinton, who monopolized the #1 slot for four weeks apiece. The Kingsmen single reached #1 on the Cashbox chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additionally in the UK it reached #26 on the Record Retailer chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The B-side of the single was an instrumental, "Haunted Castle".
The band attracted nationwide attention when "Louie Louie" was banned by the governor of Indiana, Matthew E. Welsh, also attracting the attention of the FBI because of alleged indecent lyrics in their version of the song. The lyrics were, in fact, innocent, but Ely's baffling enunciation permitted teenage fans and concerned parents alike to imagine the most scandalous obscenities. All of this attention only made the song more popular. In April 1966 "Louie Louie" was reissued and once again hit the music charts, reaching #65 on the Cashbox chart and #97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
After the success of "Louie Louie", the members of the Kingsmen took varied paths. Easton, whose mother had registered the name of the group and therefore owned it, declared that from this point on he intended to be the singer, forcing Ely to play the drums. This led Jack Ely and Bob Nordby to quit the group.
Ely would later form his own group Jack Eely And The Courtmen (with the reason for the extra "e" in his surname not clear). Don Gallucci was forced out because he wasn't old enough to tour and later formed Don and the Goodtimes, which morphed into the short-lived Touch. Later, Gallucci would become a record producer with Elektra Records, with his most famous production being The Stooges' seminal second album Fun House. ("Louie Louie" was frequently performed at Stooges concerts; the song appears on their live album as well as an Iggy Pop solo record.) The two remaining original Kingsmen, Lynn Easton and Mike Mitchell, toured as the official band.
Following legal action on both sides, Easton established his right to the "Kingsmen" name. Thus Ely was forced to stop using it, and Easton was forced to stop lip syncing to Ely's vocals. This initially hurt the Easton Kingsmen's popularity, after audiences realized that this was no longer the band they had come to see. Eventually, though, the official band (with Easton on vocals) charted several more singles in the 1960s.
The Kingsmen's 1964 follow up to "Louie Louie" was a party version of "Money (That's What I Want)" which hit the Billboard Hot 100 at #16 and on Cashbox at #17. Then came "Little Latin Lupe Lu" peaking on Billboard at #46 and Cashbox at #49. After that it was "Death of An Angel" #33 on Cashbox and #42 on Billboard.
1965 saw the Kingsmen return to the Top 10 nationally with "The Jolly Green Giant" reaching #4 on Billboard and #8 on Cashbox. The follow-up song was "The Climb" #45 on Cashbox and #65 on Billboard. "Annie Fanny" was released next reaching #43 on Cashbox & #47 on Billboard. Next came "(You Got) The Gamma Goochee" #98 on Cashbox & #122 on Billboard.
In 1966 the Kingsmen continued to hit the charts, with "Killer Joe" reaching #77 on Billboard & #81 on Cashbox. In 1967 they made the chart for the last time with "Bo Diddley Bach" reaching #128 on Billboard.
On November 9, 1998, The Kingsmen were awarded ownership of all their early recordings released on Wand Records from Gusto Records, including "Louie Louie." They had not been paid royalties on the songs since the 1960s.
Original vocalist Jack Ely passed away in 2015, and original guitarist Mike Mitchell in 2021. A reformed Kingsmen performed at the "24 Hour Louie Louie Marathon" in Portland in October 2023, a testament to the enduring fascination with this song.
--Other Groups--
Prior to this group's formation, another group called The Kingsmen operated in 1958 and was made up of members of Bill Haley & His Comets who were moonlighting from their regular work with Haley. This group scored a hit record (#35) on Billboard with the instrumental entitled "Week End", written by Rudy Pompilli, Franny Beecher, and Billy Williamson, backed with "Better Believe It" as the B side. They released a follow-up single on East West Records featuring "The Catwalk" backed with "Conga Rock". Although the Comets did the actual recordings, when The Kingsmen went on tour a different set of musicians performed instead of Haley's people. The band made at least one appearance on American Bandstand in 1958.
Various other groups have used the name "The Kingsmen", including a gospel vocal group formed in 1956 (also referred to as The Kingsmen Quartet) and bands that were later re-named as Flamin' Groovies, The Gants and The Statler Brothers. An a cappella group at Columbia University is traditionally known as The Kingsmen; one incarnation of that group became Sha Na Na; also circa 1962-63, Bruza / Magnoli / Nofz / Tomczyk adopted that name in SE MI until dis-banding during the late-1970s.
When recorded the band members were Jack Ely (vocalist/rhythm guitar; d. April 28, 2015), Lynn Easton (drummer), Mike Mitchell (lead guitar), Don Gallucci (electric piano) and Bob Nordby (bass guitar). Ken Chase (Kingsmen manager and Portland radio station KISN music director) produced the recording session. Robert Lindahl (Northwestern Inc. recording studio owner) was the audio engineer.
"Louie Louie" was kept from the top spot on the charts in late 1963 and early 1964 by the Singing Nun and Bobby Vinton, who monopolized the #1 slot for four weeks apiece. The Kingsmen single reached #1 on the Cashbox chart and #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Additionally in the UK it reached #26 on the Record Retailer chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. The B-side of the single was an instrumental, "Haunted Castle".
The band attracted nationwide attention when "Louie Louie" was banned by the governor of Indiana, Matthew E. Welsh, also attracting the attention of the FBI because of alleged indecent lyrics in their version of the song. The lyrics were, in fact, innocent, but Ely's baffling enunciation permitted teenage fans and concerned parents alike to imagine the most scandalous obscenities. All of this attention only made the song more popular. In April 1966 "Louie Louie" was reissued and once again hit the music charts, reaching #65 on the Cashbox chart and #97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
After the success of "Louie Louie", the members of the Kingsmen took varied paths. Easton, whose mother had registered the name of the group and therefore owned it, declared that from this point on he intended to be the singer, forcing Ely to play the drums. This led Jack Ely and Bob Nordby to quit the group.
Ely would later form his own group Jack Eely And The Courtmen (with the reason for the extra "e" in his surname not clear). Don Gallucci was forced out because he wasn't old enough to tour and later formed Don and the Goodtimes, which morphed into the short-lived Touch. Later, Gallucci would become a record producer with Elektra Records, with his most famous production being The Stooges' seminal second album Fun House. ("Louie Louie" was frequently performed at Stooges concerts; the song appears on their live album as well as an Iggy Pop solo record.) The two remaining original Kingsmen, Lynn Easton and Mike Mitchell, toured as the official band.
Following legal action on both sides, Easton established his right to the "Kingsmen" name. Thus Ely was forced to stop using it, and Easton was forced to stop lip syncing to Ely's vocals. This initially hurt the Easton Kingsmen's popularity, after audiences realized that this was no longer the band they had come to see. Eventually, though, the official band (with Easton on vocals) charted several more singles in the 1960s.
The Kingsmen's 1964 follow up to "Louie Louie" was a party version of "Money (That's What I Want)" which hit the Billboard Hot 100 at #16 and on Cashbox at #17. Then came "Little Latin Lupe Lu" peaking on Billboard at #46 and Cashbox at #49. After that it was "Death of An Angel" #33 on Cashbox and #42 on Billboard.
1965 saw the Kingsmen return to the Top 10 nationally with "The Jolly Green Giant" reaching #4 on Billboard and #8 on Cashbox. The follow-up song was "The Climb" #45 on Cashbox and #65 on Billboard. "Annie Fanny" was released next reaching #43 on Cashbox & #47 on Billboard. Next came "(You Got) The Gamma Goochee" #98 on Cashbox & #122 on Billboard.
In 1966 the Kingsmen continued to hit the charts, with "Killer Joe" reaching #77 on Billboard & #81 on Cashbox. In 1967 they made the chart for the last time with "Bo Diddley Bach" reaching #128 on Billboard.
On November 9, 1998, The Kingsmen were awarded ownership of all their early recordings released on Wand Records from Gusto Records, including "Louie Louie." They had not been paid royalties on the songs since the 1960s.
Original vocalist Jack Ely passed away in 2015, and original guitarist Mike Mitchell in 2021. A reformed Kingsmen performed at the "24 Hour Louie Louie Marathon" in Portland in October 2023, a testament to the enduring fascination with this song.
--Other Groups--
Prior to this group's formation, another group called The Kingsmen operated in 1958 and was made up of members of Bill Haley & His Comets who were moonlighting from their regular work with Haley. This group scored a hit record (#35) on Billboard with the instrumental entitled "Week End", written by Rudy Pompilli, Franny Beecher, and Billy Williamson, backed with "Better Believe It" as the B side. They released a follow-up single on East West Records featuring "The Catwalk" backed with "Conga Rock". Although the Comets did the actual recordings, when The Kingsmen went on tour a different set of musicians performed instead of Haley's people. The band made at least one appearance on American Bandstand in 1958.
Various other groups have used the name "The Kingsmen", including a gospel vocal group formed in 1956 (also referred to as The Kingsmen Quartet) and bands that were later re-named as Flamin' Groovies, The Gants and The Statler Brothers. An a cappella group at Columbia University is traditionally known as The Kingsmen; one incarnation of that group became Sha Na Na; also circa 1962-63, Bruza / Magnoli / Nofz / Tomczyk adopted that name in SE MI until dis-banding during the late-1970s.
Good Lovin'
The Kingsmen Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Good Lovin'' by these artists:
Benjamin Ingrosso Can't focus I'm numb You're here, now you're gone Haven't sl…
Betty Wright I want some man who knows how to love me And…
Blackstreet Good lovin' Unh..... yeah Blackstreet coming back inches…
Bobby & The Bombers When this crazy world Has got me going When I'm feeling hung…
Bobby McFerrin I was feelin' so bad I asked my family doctor just…
Britton Buchanan Oh, yeah Alright, listen One, two, three Good lovin' Good l…
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band A 1-2-3 Good lovin', good lovin', good lovin' I was feelin'…
Bruce Willis (Good love) (Good love) (Good love) (Good love) I was feeli…
C.C. Adcock Oh yeah baby oh yeah You be bad mutherfucker girl you…
Crystal Waters You give good lovin' Good lovin', good lovin' You give good …
Dani Murcia Something so nice with you I don't got much to prove You…
David Clayton-Thomas Got somethin' for you darlin' That you never never had Well …
Dead & Company If I hear you knockin' hard upon my door, Ain't…
DEAD DEAD Well, I was feelin' so bad, asked my family doctor…
Dickey Lee I was feelin' so bad I asked my family doctor just…
Dickey Lee & The Collegiates I was feelin' so bad I asked my family doctor just…
Fabolous/Ryan Leslie/Slim [Verse 1: Slim] Tell me why you're here tonight Are you look…
Fantasia One sunny, sunny morning When my man's right by my side Held…
Fantasia Barrino One sunny, sunny morning When my man’s right by my side He…
George Jones & Tammy Wynette Good lovin' keeps a home together Good lovin' sure can make…
Golda Riding through the city, top down Next to me so pretty…
Grateful Dead Well, I was feelin' so bad, asked my family doctor…
Hanson Good lovin' Good lovin' Good lovin' Good lovin' Said I was …
It's A Beautiful Day You're walking down the street You know the way it feels W…
J.R. Funk & The Love Machine Baby i need your lovin' Need your Baby that good good lovin'…
Jammy Good Good Loving, Good Times Good Good Loving, Good Times Go…
Kenny Ortega Ha! Huh! So! Ha Ha! Uh! I was feeling So bad I asked my fami…
Lee Dickey I was feelin' so bad I asked my family doctor just…
Leven Kali I need my, good lovin', real woman Good lovin' from a…
Ludacris I keep dwellin' on the past, babe Know what I need,…
Menudo Good Love, Good Love, Good Love, I was feelin' so bad …
Miguel I keep dwellin' on the past, babe Know what I need,…
Miguel & Oscar y La Fantasia I was feelin'... so bad I asked my family doctor just what…
O.D I’ve been feelin down Can’t seem to turn my frown upside…
Olympics Well I was feelin' so bad So I asked my family…
P.O.V. I’ve been feelin down Can’t seem to turn my frown upside…
Patti LaBelle I sure don't mind givin you good lovin' baby You know…
Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle It's the way that you hold me And the way that…
Rascals One, two, three (Good love) (Good love) (Good…
Rascals [The] 1 - 2 - 3 (Good love) (Good love) (Good love) (Good love…
Regina Belle I know that God, my God God is good Oh God, my…
Richard Ashcroft Good loving in the morning Like butter through your fingers …
RPA Good loving in the morning Like butter through your fingers…
Sam & Dave IF THE LOVIN WAS GOOD SHE WOULDN’T BE ON FACEBOOK IF…
Shaunta Ohh yeah da da dada da da da dada da…
Slim [Verse 1: Slim] Tell me why you're here tonight Are you look…
Slim (Feat. Ryan Leslie & Fabolous) [Verse 1: Slim] Tell me why you're here tonight Are you lo…
Slim Feat Fabolous [Verse 1: Slim] Tell me why you're here tonight Are you look…
Slim feat. Fabolous & Ryan Leslie [Verse 1: Slim] Tell me why you're here tonight Are you lo…
Slim feat. Ryan Leslie & Fabolous [Verse 1: Slim] Tell me why you're here tonight Are you look…
Slim ft. Fabolous [Verse 1: Slim] Tell me why you're here tonight Are you lo…
Spo-dee-O-dee I’ve been feelin down Can’t seem to turn my frown upside…
Tammy Wynette Good lovin' keeps a home together Good lovin' sure can make…
Tammy Wynette & George Jones Good lovin' keeps a home together. Good lovin' sure can mak…
Tangier Yeah yeah I'm burnin' up, ball of fire (Burnin' up, burni…
The Capitols I was feelin′ So bad I asked my family doctor just what…
The Clovers I was feelin' so bad I asked my family doctor just…
The Dead Well, I was feelin' so bad, asked my family doctor…
The JazzMasters You've got those tender eyes When you look at me I…
The Olympics Well I was feelin' so bad So I asked my family…
The Rascal One, two, three Good lovin' Good lovin' Good lovin' Good lov…
The Rascals攀 1-2-3- (Good lovin' ) (Good lovin' ) (Good lovin' ) I was f…
The Who (Good lovin') (Good lovin') (Good lovin') (Good lovin') …
The Young Rascals 1-2-3 (Good lovin') (Good lovin') (Good lovin') I was feeli…
Tommy James & The Shondells One, two, three Good lovin Good lovin Good lovin Good lo…
Twin Peaks Yeah! Run out by mama, and every girl just gives me…
Various Artists 1 2 3 Good love Good love Good love Good love I was feelin'…
Waters Crystal You give good lovin' Good lovin', good lovin' You give good …
Young Rascals 1-2-3- (Good lovin' ) (Good lovin' ) (Good lovin' ) I was f…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Kingsmen:
A Hard Day's Night It's been a hard day's night, and I been working…
Annie Fanny Easton There's a chick in the magazine we all know (Anni…
Death Of An Angel My baby's gone And she left me to stay My baby's…
Do You Love Me You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance, You didn't even…
Don't You Just Know It Smith-Vincent All girl loosers go for you (Don't ya jus…
Empty Vessel Verse 1 As my feet Walk through dry and barren places…
Excuses Excuses, excuses, you'll hear them every day. And the Devil …
Fever Leiber-Stoller You’ll never know how much I love you Nev…
Get Out Of My Life Woman You don't love me no more Get out my life woman You…
Great Balls Of Fire Blackwell-Hammer You shake my nerves and you rattle my br…
Hard Day's Night It's been a hard day's night, and I been working…
I Like It Like That Kenner-Toussaint Come on (come on, let me show you where…
I'll Not Turn Back I'm ready to leave this world of sorrow, I'll not …
If I Needed Someone If I needed someone to love You're the one that I'd…
Jolly Green Giant In the valley of the jolly (ho, ho, ho) Heard about…
La-Do-Dada Hawkins-Lewis (La-do-da-do-dada, la-da-do-dada) (La-do-d…
Land of 1000 Dances One, two, three! One, two, three! You gotta know how to pony…
let the good times roll Goodman-Lee Come on baby, let the good times roll Come o…
Little Latin Lupe Lu Talkin' bout my baby Ahhh, Little Latin Lupe Lu She's a high…
Louie Louie Louie Louie, oh no, you take me to where ya…
Louie Louie 1965 Louie Louie, oh no, you take me where ya gotta…
Louie; Louie Louie Louie, oh no, you take me to where ya…
Love Lifted Me You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance, You didn't even…
Mojo Workout Bright I got my mojo workin' (mojo workin’) I got my…
Money You know the best things in life are free But you…
Mother In Law The worst person I know, mother-in-law, mother-in-law She wo…
Mustang Sally Rice Mustang Sally, I think you better slow your Mustang …
New Orleans Guida-Royster I said a hey, hey, hey yeah I said a hey,…
Ooh Poo Pah Doo Hill Yo-o-oh (yo-o-oh) Yo-o-oh (yo-o-oh) Wow! Yea-a-a…
Oppressor Oppressor, breaking hearts crushing souls with your words Ba…
Outsider Manipulation, the satisfaction that feeds the monster Break …
Shake A Tail Feather I heard about the girl you’ve been dancing with All over…
Shotgun I said shotgun shoot 'em 'fore he run now do…
Shout Shout Shout Let it all out These are the things I can do…
Something's Got A Hold On Me Sometimes I get a good feeling I get a feeling that…
Sometimes Thomasson Sometimes I cry when I'm lonely Sometimes I cr…
Sticks and Stones Turner People talkin', tryin' to break us up Why don't t…
That You know the best things in life are free But you…
That's Cool That's Trash There's gonna be a big party at my house (La-la…
The Jolly Green Giant In the valley of the jolly (ho, ho, ho) Heard about…
The Jolly Green Giant/The Kingsman In duh valley of duh jolly (Ho - ho…
Tossin' And Turnin' Baby, baby, can't you see what you're doing to me? I…
Twist & Shout Well, shake it up, baby, now, (shake it up, baby) Twist…
Twist And Shout Well, shake it up, baby, now, (shake it up, baby) Twist…
Under My Thumb Under my thumb, the girl who once had me down Under…
Wild Thing Wild thing, you make my heart sing You make everything groov…
You And Me Jesus You broke my heart 'cause I couldn't dance, You didn't even…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@trudy285
RIP Dino Dinelli. This song brings back good memories. Go-Go Boots! Mini dresses! Floppy hats! Fringes and Bell Bottoms! ☺️✌️❤️🦋🙏
@lindsaydiane7321
Eli's coming. 3 dog night
@joeleves3112
So sad to learn today of Dino's death Thursday. R.I.P. Dino Danelli.
@davidtaylor4222
We've lost one of the greats, the magnificent Dino Danelli of The Rascals. "Good Lovin'," "A Girl Like You," "A Beautiful Morning," "How Can I Be Sure"--just a few of his immortal performances.
May his family be comforted, his memory and music are truly a blessing. 🕯
@alansimpson8962
And just another kick ass unbelievable band from the 60s
@matthewcrich5951
We were blessed to experience so much talent throughout the 60’s
@michaelhegyan7464
RIP..Dino..being a Boomer ( 04/ 58 ) the candle is burning tighter...
@johnall7621
The thing that I believe is most important is these guys told us about our current situation way back then.
@rvvrn
Do not be saddened or upset that they don't make music like this anymore. Be thankful for the memories it sparks in your past. Thank you YouTube and all of your content and contributors.
@rrrrkoop2776
loved this song since the first time i heard it when i was 12 years old