The Kingsmen

American rock band

The Kingsmen were a popular American band of the early 1960s. Their most famous hit was "Louie, Louie". Many people believed the song contained obscenity or suggestive lyrics, and tried to have the song banned. An American court decided the song was not obscene, and the controversy over the song only helped to promote sales of the record.

The Kingsmen
The Kingsmen in 1966
Background information
OriginPortland, Oregon, United States
GenresGarage rock
Years active1959–present
LabelsJerden, Wand, Sundazed
MembersMike Mitchell (1959-present)
Dick Peterson (1963-present)
Steve Peterson (1988-present)
Todd McPherson (1992-present)
Dennis Mitchell (2006-present)
Past member(s)Lynn Easton (1959-1967)
Jack Ely (1959-1963)
Bob Nordby (1959-1963)
Don Gallucci (1962-1963)
Gary Abbott (1962-1963)
Norm Sundholm (1963-1967)
Barry Curtis (1963-2005)
Kerry Magness(1966-1967)
J.C. Reick (1966-1967)
Turley Richards (1967)
Pete Borg (1967)
Jeff Beals (1967-1968)
Steve Friedson (1967-1973)
Fred Dennis (1972-1984)
Andy Parypa (1982-1984)
Kim Nicklaus (1982-1984)
Marc Willett (1984-1992)
Keith Blake (1994-1999)
Websitewww.louielouie.org

The Kingsmen had other hits, including "Jolly Green Giant", a parody of the mascot of Green Giant vegetables. They appeared in a movie, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, accompanying Annette Funicello onstage.