222:. He did not play in the school band, but had a passion for singing. In 1959, Lynn Easton's mother invited him to play at a Portland hotel gig, with Ely singing and playing guitar with the backup band and Easton on the drum kit. The two teenagers had grown up together, as their parents were close friends. Easton and Ely performed at yacht club parties, and soon added Mike Mitchell on guitar and Bob Nordby on bass to round out a band. They called themselves
257:" being played on the jukebox for hours on end. The entire club would get up and dance. Ely convinced the Kingsmen to learn the song, which they played at dances to a great crowd response. He unintentionally changed the beat of the entire song, basing it on Roberts's intro only. Ken Chase, host of radio station
919:. Various "Ely Kingsmen" and Courtmen line-ups included Jack Ely, Charlie Coe, Mike Holiday, Rick Holley, Gordon Hirsch, Bob Jetter, Steve West, Neil Heller, Ray Salaz, Daryl "Robin" Partlow, Curt Gonion, Wally Todd, Billy Truitt, Mike "Monk" McGrath, Tim Bosworth, William "Willie Dee" Daffern, and Clif Evens.
297:
In a 1998 interview Ely said, "My life stopped at that moment. It was my voice. I was the one who found the song. I was the one that arranged it. It was my band. And look what happened." Seeking "redemption and retribution", he formed his own "Kingsmen" group, touring as "The
Original Singer of Louie
190:
Ely began playing piano while still a young child, and was performing recitals all over the
Portland area before his seventh birthday. When he was eleven, a piano teacher provided what he termed "jazz improvisation lessons." The teacher would show Ely a section of a classical composition, and the boy
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at the time of the performance, further compounding his infamously slurred words. Ely sang the beginning of the third verse a few bars too early, but realized his mistake and waited for the rest of the band to catch up. In what was thought to be a warm-up, the song was recorded in its first and only
286:
and singer. Ely would have to become the drummer, and since the band's name was registered to Easton only, he technically led the group. Ely was not happy with this turn of events, and he and Nordby left the band at once. At the time, the song had sold roughly 600 copies and it was thought that the
364:
to recording artists and record labels. Since Ely was not the original author, he never received any money from the radio play of "Louie Louie." In an interview, he said, "It's not just about me. There are a lot of one-hit wonders out there just like me who deserve compensation when their recorded
269:
Despite the band's annoyance at having so little time to prepare, the
Kingsmen walked into the recording studio on April 6 at 10:00 am. In order to sound like a live performance, the group's equipment was arranged such that Ely was forced to lean back and sing into a boom microphone suspended
265:
and Ken Chase became the band's manager. Ely was begging Chase to let the band record their own version of "Louie Louie", and on April 5, 1963, Chase booked the band an hour-long session at the local
Northwestern Inc. studio for the following day. The band had just played a 90-minute "Louie Louie"
166:
on television. In 1959, he co-founded the
Kingsmen and with them recorded "Louie Louie" in 1963; Ely's famously incoherent vocals were partly the result of his braces and the rudimentary recording method. Before the record became a hit Ely was forced out of the group and began playing with his new
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At the time of his death he was survived by his wife of 16 years, Wendy Maxson Ely, three children, Sean, Sierra and Rob, and two daughters by marriage, Crystal and Sheri. He was also survived by two sisters, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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on the horizon, Ely was conscripted into the army, and found his career had waned upon his return to the United States in 1968. Ely spiraled down into drug and alcohol addiction, but then spoke out against it with the
Rockers Against Drugs.
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429:) – national release; "Lead vocal by Jack Ely" on label after 1964 settlement; B-side changed to "Little Green Thing" on later pressings; re-released in 1966 as "Louie Louie 64-65-66" w/ "Haunted Castle" B-side
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202:", an experience that Ely found so demeaning that he quit after that lesson and began picking out his favorite guitar riffs by ear. Ely played guitar and sang for the Young Oregonians, a travelling
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high above the floor. "It was more yelling than singing," Ely said, "'cause I was trying to be heard over all the instruments." In addition, he was wearing
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take. The
Kingsmen were not proud of the version, but their manager liked the rawness of their cover. The B-side was "Haunted Castle", composed by Ely and
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the song in live performances. Ely also received royalties going forward for "Louie Louie" and "Haunted Castle", plus a gold record for "Louie Louie".
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being required to credit Ely as lead vocalist on all future "Louie Louie" pressings. Ely received $ 6000 in royalties, and Easton had to stop
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On August 16 during a band practice, Easton staged a "hostile takeover", telling Ely that he wanted to abandon the drums and become the
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on television for the first time, and he decided that he wanted to play guitar. At his first guitar lesson, he was required to play "
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504:" appeared on multiple "original artist" compilations of 1960s hits as being by "Jack Ely" or "The Kingsmen featuring Jack Ely".
230:
events, and supermarket promotions, generally avoiding rock songs on their setlist. Ely played with the
Kingsmen as he attended
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Ely died at his Oregon residence on April 28, 2015, at the age of 71, having long suffered from an unknown illness. Ely was a
894:
325:, Ely began touring with his renamed group, the Courtmen. In 1966, they released "Louie Louie '66" and "Ride Ride Baby" with
187:, and his father, Ken Ely, was a singer. His father died when he was four years old and his mother subsequently remarried.
950:
279:, the new keyboardist. The one hour session cost either $ 36, $ 50, or somewhere in between and the band split the cost.
226:, taking the name from a recently disbanded group. The Kingsmen began their collective career playing at fashion shows,
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would have to make up 15 similar pieces. He would be required to share each in class and then make up one on the spot.
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show for entertainers under the age of 18. "We didn't get paid in money, we got paid in experience," Ely recalled.
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A legal battle ensued and a 1966 settlement resulted in Ely ceasing to call his group the
Kingsmen and
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154:(September 11, 1943 – April 28, 2015) was an American guitarist and singer, best known for singing
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Here Comes the Night: The Dark Soul of Bert Berns and the Dirty
Business of Rhythm and Blues
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Sonic Boom! The History of Northwest Rock: From Louie Louie to Smells Like Teen Spirit
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Louie Louie: The History and Mythology of the World's Most Famous Rock 'n' Roll Song
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Group renamed following Kingsmen lawsuit settlement. Courtmen name suggested by
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Kingsmen would disband. When he found out "Louie Louie" was climbing up the
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1175:"Jack Ely, whose garbled version of 'Louie Louie' became a sensation, dies"
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He re-recorded "Louie Louie" with studio musicians in 1976 (released on
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Five Years Ahead of My Time: Garage Rock from the 1950s to the Present
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345:, 1982, and other compilations) and again in 1980 (released on
471:"Love Is All Around You Now"/"Highway Robbery" (Roar 201) 2012
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performances are played and stations get ad revenue from it."
1306:
1077:"Jack Ely, Who Sang the Kingsmen's 'Louie Louie', Dies at 71"
810:"The war behind the scenes over rock's relentless party song"
356:, where he trained horses. He was a strong supporter of the
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Wand 143: Second pressing with "Lead vocal by Jack Ely" text
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Louie", and also recorded "Love That Louie" in 1964 for
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1285:. Sandia Park, New Mexico: The Lance Monthly Press.
1009:"'Louie Louie' singer Jack Ely of The Kingsmen dies"
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245:In 1962, while playing a gig at the Pypo Club in
1382:Washington High School (Portland, Oregon) alumni
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183:. Both of his parents were music majors at the
444:47-8452) 1964 (as Jack E. Lee and the Squires)
368:In 2012, Ely released a Christian rock album,
500:Ely's 1976 and 1980 re-recorded versions of "
834:. Berkeley: Counterpoint. pp. 331–333.
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179:Jack Ely was born on September 11, 1943, in
1283:Eleven Unsung Heroes of Early Rock and Roll
1040:"'Louie Louie' Singer Jack Ely Dies at 71"
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490:(Mondo Tunes 001), 2012 (Internet release)
468:B-534) 1966 (as Jack Ely and the Courtmen)
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951:"Overdue fairness for recording artists"
865:"Settle Kingsmen Vs Jack Ely Litigation"
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963:from the original on September 28, 2013
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674:"Rock's Rumored Dirtiest Song Turns 30"
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484:(Signet 3411-56J), 1990 (cassette only)
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760:. London: Reaktion Books. p. 36.
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1187:from the original on January 25, 2018
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1367:People from Deschutes County, Oregon
874:. February 12, 1966. pp. 7, 46.
451:B-520) 1966 (as Jack Eely [
347:10 Big Hits of the Rock 'n' Roll Era
1173:McArdle, Terence (April 29, 2015).
1019:from the original on April 30, 2015
686:from the original on April 29, 2016
13:
447:"Louie Louie '66"/"David's Mood" (
14:
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1243:. New York City: Hyperion Books.
1154:from the original on May 18, 2015
1122:from the original on May 10, 2015
1089:from the original on May 19, 2015
1038:DuBois, Steven (April 28, 2015).
989:from the original on May 17, 2013
897:from the original on May 18, 2015
349:, 1980, and other compilations).
194:On January 28, 1956, Ely watched
1372:Portland State University alumni
1342:20th-century American guitarists
808:Fefer, Mark D. (June 10, 1998).
440:"Love That Louie"/"Octavepuss" (
333:, but neither charted. With the
302:as Jack E. Lee and the Squires.
171:, on April 28, 2015, at age 71.
167:band, the Courtmen. Ely died in
1362:Musicians from Portland, Oregon
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1075:Roberts, Sam (April 29, 2015).
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672:Hayes, Ron (August 13, 1993).
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16:American guitarist and singer
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1307:Official Kingsmen webpage
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321:After a brief stint with
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1352:American rock guitarists
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985:. Jackely.bandcamp.com.
679:Lewiston Morning Tribune
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1258:Peterson, Dick (2005).
1116:(subscription required)
457:] and the Courtmen)
1357:Guitarists from Oregon
1312:Jack Ely Bandcamp page
1281:Stewart, Dick (2010).
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358:Performance Rights Act
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216:Washington High School
200:Mary Had a Little Lamb
40:Background information
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414:) – regional release
323:Don and the Goodtimes
317:Later life and career
251:Rockin' Robin Roberts
240:
1377:The Kingsmen members
1235:Marsh, Dave (1993).
1218:Milwaukee, Wisconsin
756:Bovey, Seth (2019).
421:"/"Haunted Castle" (
406:"/"Haunted Castle" (
214:Ely was enrolled at
185:University of Oregon
1180:The Washington Post
931:, pp. 331–333.
798:Blecha 2009, p. 147
789:Blecha 2009, p. 144
722:Blecha 2009, p. 156
653:Blecha 2009, p. 137
641:Blecha 2009, p. 136
623:Blecha 2009, p. 135
614:Blecha 2009, p. 134
382:Christian Scientist
360:, which would give
249:, the band noticed
1220:: Backbeat Books.
1118:. April 30, 2015.
1082:The New York Times
1015:. April 28, 2015.
940:Marsh 1993, p. 113
854:Marsh 1993, p. 112
780:Marsh 1993, p. 100
569:Stewart 2010, p. 6
557:Stewart 2010, p. 5
532:Stewart 2010, p. 3
520:Stewart 2010, p. 2
460:"Ride Ride Baby"/"
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354:Terrebonne, Oregon
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169:Terrebonne, Oregon
75:Terrebonne, Oregon
55:September 11, 1943
1266:: Thalian Press.
1147:The Bend Bulletin
1056:on April 29, 2015
891:The Lance Monthly
662:Marsh 1993, p. 88
632:Marsh 1993, p. 83
605:Marsh 1993, p. 82
596:Marsh 1993, p. 87
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828:Selvin, Joel
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412:The Kingsmen
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331:Bang Records
320:
311:lip-synching
307:Wand Records
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277:Don Gallucci
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224:the Kingsmen
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210:The Kingsmen
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156:the Kingsmen
151:
150:
116:Years active
70:(2015-04-28)
18:
1337:2015 deaths
1332:1943 births
1013:KOIN 6 News
929:Selvin 2014
917:Bobby Darin
708:Blecha 2009
502:Louie Louie
419:Louie Louie
404:Louie Louie
392:Discography
335:Vietnam War
300:RCA Records
255:Louie Louie
160:Louie Louie
86:Garage rock
1326:Categories
1273:1420856103
1250:1562828657
1203:References
1109:"Jack Ely"
983:"Jack Ely"
744:Marsh 1993
327:Bert Berns
266:marathon.
263:house band
204:vaudeville
175:Early life
99:Musician,
51:1943-09-11
1114:The Times
1093:April 30,
1060:April 28,
1023:April 28,
993:April 30,
362:royalties
290:Billboard
228:Red Cross
120:1959–2015
1212:(2009).
1185:Archived
1152:Archived
1120:Archived
1087:Archived
1017:Archived
987:Archived
967:July 18,
961:Archived
895:Archived
872:Cash Box
830:(2014).
690:July 19,
684:Archived
284:frontman
25:Jack Ely
1158:May 12,
1126:June 1,
901:May 15,
435:2012 CD
397:Singles
1289:
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1191:May 1,
838:
764:
476:Albums
408:Jerden
292:charts
272:braces
129:Jerden
125:Labels
82:Genres
868:(PDF)
509:Notes
495:Other
376:Death
1287:ISBN
1268:ISBN
1245:ISBN
1222:ISBN
1193:2015
1160:2015
1128:2015
1095:2015
1062:2015
1045:Time
1025:2015
995:2015
969:2012
903:2015
836:ISBN
762:ISBN
692:2012
466:Bang
449:Bang
423:Wand
259:KISN
141:Bang
133:Wand
65:Died
45:Born
464:" (
454:sic
442:RCA
329:at
218:in
137:RCA
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