News & Updates — Louie Louie

Richard Berry / April 11, 1935 - Jan 23, 1997

Richard Berry / April 11, 1935 - Jan 23, 1997

Richard Berry was the composer and original 1957 performer of the iconic song "Louie Louie", a ballad which was actually based on "El Loco Cha Cha" by Cuban composer René Touzet that would eventually become a rocking standard after a mega-hit by the Kingsmen in '63. It could make a claim as THE most recorded rock song. Unfortunately, Berry had traded the song's publishing rights for $750 two years after his record came out, thus losing the rewards to come. He came up in Los Angeles, singing doo-wop. He sang in a version of The Penguins, plus you can hear...

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