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.
New Orleans
The Kingsmen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
Well come on everybody take a trip with me
Well down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
The Honey Suckle's bloomin' on the Honey Suckle vine
And love is a blooming there all the time
Down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
Well come on everybody take a trip with me
Well down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
Oh well the magnolia blossom fills the air
If you ain't been to heaven then you ain't been there
You got French Moss growing from big oak tree
Down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
I said look out child yeah, yeah, yeah
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
I said hey
The Kingsmen's song New Orleans describes the journey down the Mississippi River to the vibrant city of New Orleans. The singer encourages everyone to join him on this trip and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. The Honey Suckle's blooming on the vine and love is everywhere, symbolizing the flourishing nature of the city and the romantic undertones that accompany it. The Southern Belle represents the quintessential lady and serves as the embodiment of elegance and grace. As the journey continues, the singer highlights the magnolia blossoms that fill the air and the French Moss that thrives on the large oak trees. These elements represent the unique flora of the region and reflect the importance of nature in the city's history and culture. The song ends with an exclamation, informing the listeners to be prepared for what they might experience on this trip.
Overall, the song captures the essence of New Orleans, offering a vivid portrait of the city's many charms. The lyrics provide a snapshot of the city's atmosphere, highlighting its natural beauty, romanticism, and unique culture. The song is a tribute to the city and its inhabitants, celebrating its vibrancy and the sense of community that is so important to the region. It is a journey worth taking, as it offers a glimpse into the heart and soul of New Orleans.
Line by Line Meaning
I said a hey, hey, hey yeah
Let's get excited and prepare for a journey
Well come on everybody take a trip with me
Let's go on a trip together
Well down the Mississippi down to New Orleans
We'll travel down the Mississippi to New Orleans
The Honey Suckle's bloomin' on the Honey Suckle vine
The Honeysuckles are in full bloom on their vines
And love is a blooming there all the time
There's always love in the air over there
You know every Southern Bell is a Mississippi Queen
Every Southern Belle is like a queen of the river
Oh well the magnolia blossom fills the air
The scent of magnolias fills the air
If you ain't been to heaven then you ain't been there
Going to New Orleans is like going to heaven
You got French Moss growing from big oak tree
The French moss is hanging from big oak trees
I said look out child yeah, yeah, yeah
Be careful and pay attention
I said hey
Hello
Contributed by Oliver T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.