The Kingsmen are a garage/frat rock group from Portland, Oregon. The band first got together in 1959. The original line-up was Jacky Ely (guitar/lead vocals), Lynn Easton (drums), Mike Mitchell (lead guitar), Bob Nordby (bass) and Don Galucci (piano). The Kingsmen started out by performing at high school parties, teen dances, supermarket openings ...
Their hit "Louie Louie" was recorded in one take, cost $36 to produce and has sold (so far) 12 million copies.
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From 1963 to 1965, the FBI investigated claims that the slurred lyrics of the Kingsmen's ''Louie Louie'' contained explicit lyrics that pertained to sex. In late 1965, the FBI dismissed all rumors of foul language in the song.
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The Kingsmen have performed the National Anthem at such places as Rice University, Wrigley Field, Oregon State University, Sea Hawk Stadium, the Kingdome, and the Peoria Sports Complex.
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The Kingsmen performed at the 40th Anniversary of the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington in April 2002.
$900,000
