Jack Ely facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Ely
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| Background information | |
| Born | September 11, 1943 Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Died | April 28, 2015 (aged 71) Terrebonne, Oregon, United States |
| Genres | Garage rock, Christian rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, horse trainer |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1959–2015 |
| Labels | Jerden, Wand, RCA, Bang |
| Associated acts | The Kingsmen, Jack E. Lee & the Squires, Jack Ely & the Courtmen |
Jack Brown Ely (born September 11, 1943 – died April 28, 2015) was an American musician. He was a guitarist and singer, most famous for singing the hit song "Louie Louie" with his band, The Kingsmen.
Jack learned to play piano when he was very young. He started playing guitar after seeing Elvis Presley on TV. In 1959, he helped start the band The Kingsmen. They recorded "Louie Louie" in 1963. Jack's singing on the song sounded a bit unclear because he had braces and the recording equipment was very basic. Before the song became a huge hit, Jack left the band. He then started a new group called the Courtmen. Jack Ely passed away in Terrebonne, Oregon, when he was 71 years old.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Jack Ely was born in Portland, Oregon, on September 11, 1943. Both of his parents loved music. His father was a singer. Jack's father died when Jack was four years old.
Jack started playing the piano when he was a small child. He even performed in shows around Portland before he turned seven. When he was eleven, a piano teacher taught him how to create his own jazz music.
On January 28, 1956, Jack watched Elvis Presley on television. This made him want to play the guitar. He took one guitar lesson but found it boring. So, he quit and taught himself by listening to his favorite songs. Jack also sang and played guitar for a traveling show called the Young Oregonians. This show featured young performers under 18. Jack said they gained experience instead of money from these shows.
The Kingsmen and "Louie Louie"
Jack Ely went to Washington High School in Portland. He loved to sing. In 1959, Jack and his friend Lynn Easton started playing music together. They had grown up together. Soon, they added Mike Mitchell on guitar and Bob Nordby on bass. They named their band The Kingsmen. The Kingsmen played at many different events, like fashion shows and charity events. They usually avoided playing rock songs at first. Jack played with The Kingsmen while he attended Portland State University.
In 1962, while playing at a club, the band heard another version of "Louie Louie" playing on the jukebox. Everyone in the club would get up and dance to it. Jack convinced The Kingsmen to learn the song. They played it at their shows, and the crowds loved it. Jack accidentally changed the song's beat, basing it only on the beginning part of the other version.
A radio host named Ken Chase became the band's manager. Jack really wanted the band to record their own version of "Louie Louie." So, on April 5, 1963, Ken booked them a one-hour recording session for the next day. The band had just finished playing "Louie Louie" for 90 minutes straight!
On April 6, The Kingsmen went into the studio. To make it sound like a live show, their equipment was set up in a way that made Jack lean back to sing into a microphone high above him. Jack said, "It was more yelling than singing," because he had to sing loudly over the instruments. He also had braces at the time, which made his words sound a bit slurred. Jack started the third part of the song a little too early. But he realized his mistake and waited for the band to catch up. The song was recorded in just one take, which was meant to be a warm-up. The band wasn't very happy with it, but their manager liked how raw it sounded.
Later, in August, Lynn Easton wanted to become the lead singer instead of the drummer. Since the band's name was registered to Lynn, he was technically in charge. Jack was not happy about this, so he and Bob Nordby left the band. At that time, "Louie Louie" had only sold about 600 copies.
When Jack found out "Louie Louie" was becoming popular, he tried to rejoin the band. But Lynn stopped him. Jack said later, "My life stopped at that moment. It was my voice. I was the one who found the song. It was my band. And look what happened." He then formed his own band and toured as "The Original Singer of Louie Louie." He also recorded another song called "Love That Louie" in 1964.
There was a legal disagreement about the band name and the song. In 1966, they reached an agreement. Jack stopped calling his group The Kingsmen. Also, the record company had to put "Lead vocal by Jack Ely" on all future copies of "Louie Louie." Jack received money from the song and a gold record for "Louie Louie."
Later Life and Career
After a short time with another group, Jack Ely started touring with his new band, the Courtmen. In 1966, they released two songs, but they didn't become hits. Jack then joined the army. When he returned to the United States in 1968, his music career was not as strong.
He re-recorded "Louie Louie" with other musicians in 1976 and again in 1980. These versions appeared on various music collections.
Jack Ely lived on his farm in Terrebonne, Oregon, where he trained horses. He supported a law called the Performance Rights Act. This law would give money to recording artists when their songs are played on the radio. Since Jack didn't write "Louie Louie," he never got money from radio stations playing it. 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 performances are played and stations get ad revenue from it."
In 2012, Jack Ely released a Christian rock album called Love Is All Around You Now.
Death
Jack Ely passed away at his home in Oregon on April 28, 2015. He was 71 years old. He had been sick for a long time. Jack was a Christian Scientist, and because of his religious beliefs, his family wasn't sure exactly what his illness was. His son believed it might have been skin cancer.
He was survived by his wife, Wendy Maxson Ely, and his three children, Sean, Sierra, and Rob. He also had two stepdaughters, Crystal and Sheri, two sisters, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Discography
Singles
- "Louie Louie"/"Haunted Castle" (Jerden 712) 1963 (as The Kingsmen) – released in his local area
- "Louie Louie"/"Haunted Castle" (Wand 143) 1963 (as The Kingsmen) – released across the country; later copies said "Lead vocal by Jack Ely"; the B-side song was changed on some later copies; re-released in 1966 as "Louie Louie 64-65-66"
- "Love That Louie"/"Octavepuss" (RCA 47-8452) 1964 (as Jack E. Lee and the Squires)
- "Louie Louie '66"/"David's Mood" (Bang B-520) 1966 (as Jack Eely and the Courtmen)
- "Ride Ride Baby"/"Louie Go Home" (Bang B-534) 1966 (as Jack Ely and the Courtmen)
- "Love Is All Around You Now"/"Highway Robbery" (Roar 201) 2012
Albums
- The Kingsman (Signet 3411-56J), 1990 (cassette only)
- Love Is All Around You Now (Mondo Tunes 001), 2012 (released online)
Other Recordings
- Jack Ely's re-recorded versions of "Louie Louie" from 1976 and 1980 appeared on many music collections. These were listed as being by "Jack Ely" or "The Kingsmen featuring Jack Ely."
