Died On This Date (April 27, 2015) Jack Ely / The Kingsmen Singer On “Louie Louie”
themusicsover Jack Ely
September 11, 1943 – April 27, 2015
Jack Ely was an American singer and musician who is most famously remembered as the lead vocalist on the Kingsmen‘s classic garage anthem, “Louie Louie.” Born in Portland, Oregon, Ely was classically trained on the piano at an early age, but switched to the guitar after seeing Elvis Presley on TV. He co-founded the Kingsmen in 1959, and after spending the next few years playing local fashion shows and such, he and the band recorded “Louie Louie,” which went on to become one of the most influential, if not easiest to play, rock and roll songs of all time. It reportedly cost just $36 to record. After leaving the group shortly after the release, Ely formed a new band, the Courtmen who made a handful of records and toured the region. He enlisted in the Army in 1966 but upon his return in 1968, he didn’t have much luck restarting his music career. In later years, he devoted his time to speaking against drug and alcohol abuse. Jack Ely was 71 when he died following a long illness on April 27, 2015.
What You Should Own
Born in New York City, Lesley Gore was just 16 years old when she recorded her first, and biggest hit, “It’s My Party,” a song that helped define her generation. Several major hits followed including, “You Don’t Own Me,” “Judy’s Turn To Cry,” and “She’s A Fool.” In 1965, Gore received a Grammy nomination for “Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows,” and another nominations came 1981, but this time as a co-writer for “Out Here On My Own,” from the immensely popular Fame soundtrack. Gore acted in several television shows throughout her career as well, most notably, portraying Pussycat, one of Catwoman’s cohorts, in two episodes of Batman. Gore continued to tour well into the ’90s and released what would become her final album, the critically acclaimed Ever Since, in 2005. Lesley Gore lost her battle with cancer on February 16, 2015. She was 68.
Paul Revere was the founder, keyboardist and iconic face of late ’60s/early ’70s rock and roll band, Paul Revere & the Raiders. Formed in Boise, Idaho in 1958 as the Downbeats (with Mark Lindsay on lead vocals), the band scored its first regional hit in 1961 with 
Phil Everly, along with his brother Don Everly, are considered the must influential vocal duo pop music has ever known. Working together as the Everly Brothers, they created such seamless and glorious harmonies that no less than members of the Byrds, the Beatles, and the Beach Boys have preached their influence ever since. Born in Chicago, Illinois to a musical family, Phil learned to play the guitar at an early age. Family patriarch, Ike Everly was a respected professional musician himself, so the boys were introduced to music as a way of life while still in their childhood. Ultimately settling in Knoxville, Tennessee, the Everly family performed as a group throughout the area for many years. By the early ’50s, Phil and Don were working as a duo, making an early believer out of 