Richard Berry

Richard Berry (April 11, 1935–January 23, 1997) was an American singer and songwriter.

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He is best known as the composer and original performer of the rock standard "Louie Louie". The song, which was inspired by Ren? Touzet's "El Loco Cha Cha" and by Chuck Berry's "Havana Moon", was a regional hit when released on the American West Coast in 1956, and The Kingsmen's more raucous version became a national hit in 1963.

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The song has been recorded over 1,000 times. The nearly unintelligible (and innocuous) lyrics of The Kingsmen's versions were widely misinterpreted as obscene, and the song was banned by radio stations and even investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Richard Berry is also known as the voice of Henry on Etta James' "Roll with Me, Henry" and as the narrator on The Robins' "Riot in Cell Block #9".

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On his death in 1997, he was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

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1935: 1935 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar)....

January 23: January 23 is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 342 days remaining, 343 in leap years....

1997: 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar....

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