The Kingsmen

The Kingsmen
1963 "Louie Louie" line-up. L-R: Don Gallucci, Jack Ely, Lynn Easton, Mike Mitchell, Bob Nordby
Background information
Origin	Portland, Oregon, United States
Genres	Proto-punk[1] rock and roll garage rock
Years active	1959–present
Labels	Jerden, Wand, Sundazed, Vogue Schallplatten
Spinoffs	Don and the Goodtimes, Jack Ely and the Courtmen, Touch
Members	Dick Peterson Kim Nicklaus Steve Peterson Todd McPherson Dennis Mitchell Marc Willett
Past members	Mike Mitchell Lynn Easton Jack Ely Bob Nordby Don Gallucci Gary Abbott Norm Sundholm Barry Curtis Kerry Magness J.C. Reick Turley Richards Pete Borg Jeff Beals Steve Friedson Fred Dennis Andy Parypa
Website	louielouie.org

The Kingsmen are a 1960s American rock band from Portland, Oregon. They are best known for their 1963 recording of R&B singer Richard Berry's "Louie Louie", which held the No. 2 spot on the Billboard charts for six weeks and has become an enduring classic.

In total, the Kingsmen charted 13 singles from 1963 to 1968 and five consecutive albums from 1963 to 1966. Their first album, The Kingsmen in Person, remained on the Billboard Top LPs chart for 131 weeks from January 1964 to August 1966. Their early albums were released internationally in Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, and Taiwan.