ORANGE LOUIE
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Mike Boehm’s timeline of Orange County rock ‘n’ roll history (Feb. 16) was of great interest to me since I’m researching a history on L.A.-area R&B; groups from 1945 through ’65.
There’s one piece of O.C. rock history not known by many but overwhelming in its legacy: namely, the Harmony Park Ballroom in Anaheim, where Richard Berry in 1956, after hearing the Rhythm Rockers (a.k.a. the Rillera Brothers, who later backed Dick Dale and the Righteous Brothers) perform “El Loco Cha Cha,” took pen to napkin and created “Louie Louie.”
That’s right, “Louie Louie” was born in Orange County.
STEVE PROPES
Long Beach
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