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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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‘Louie, Louie’ Singer Ely, 71, RIP

In this April 16, 2009, file photo, Jack Ely, co-founder of the early 60's band The Kingsmen and best known for his 1963 rendition of the song "Louie, Louie", poses for a photo at his home in Terre Bonne, Ore. Ely has died after a long battle with an illness, his son, Sean Ely, confirmed today. He was 71. Story here. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)

Jack Ely, the Portland guitarist and singer best known for the Kingsmen's 1960s hit "Louie, Louie," has died at age 71. His son, Sean Ely, confirmed the death Tuesday to The Associated Press, saying the Kingsmen singer died at home in Redmond, Oregon, after a long battle with an illness. In 1963, as the story goes, The Kingsmen recorded "Louie, Louie" in a studio at Northwest 13th Avenue and Burnside. Ely, the only band member who knew all the words to Richard Berry's calypso-meets-R&B song that day had just had his braces tightened and couldn't enunciate clearly. The producer moved the microphone away from him, capturing the music but muffling the words/Oregonian. More here.

Question: Is there any Baby Boomer out there who has NOT danced to "Louie, Louie"?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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