 Jack Brown Ely ( September 11 , 1943 – April 28 , 2015 ) was an American guitarist and singer , best known for singing the Kingsmen 's version of " Louie Louie " . Classically trained in piano , he began playing guitar after seeing Elvis Presley on television . In 1959 , he co @-@ founded the Kingsmen and with them recorded " Louie Louie " in 1963 ; Ely 's famously incoherent vocals were partly the result of his braces and the rudimentary recording method . Before the record became a hit Ely was forced out of the group and began playing with his new band , the Courtmen . Ely died in Terrebonne , Oregon , on April 28 , 2015 at age 71 . 
