Uploaded by Cantabrigidian on May 5, 2010
Lawrence Fewell Roberts II was born on November 23, 1940 in New York City. He moved to the Pacific Northwest as a child, his family settling in Tacoma, Washington. He started his singing career in the late '50s with Little Bill and the Blue Notes, but the Wailers quickly stole him away as a featured vocalist.
In 1960, Rockin' Robin Roberts happened upon a copy of a 45 by Richard Berry in a record-shop bargain bin. He played the flip-side, a song called "Louie Louie", and liked it enough to add it to the band's live act -- blunting the Latin/calypso-influence and turning it into an all-out rock 'n' roll song for the first time. Roberts would eventually record "Louie Louie" with the Wailers, shrieking the immortal ad-lib "Let's give it to 'em, RIGHT NOW!!", which was to become such an integral part of the eventual hit version.
Robin was in the Marine Reserves from 1962 to 1967. He graduated from University of Puget Sound in 1964, and attended Oregon State University, working on a Biochemistry degree, from fall of 1965 through the summer of 1967. He then moved to San Francisco and worked for Crown Cork & Seal Company.
Robin Roberts was killed in an automobile accident early in the morning of Dec. 22, 1967, in San Mateo County. He was the passenger in a car going the wrong way on the divided freeway.
RIP Rockin' Robin
"Let's give it to 'em, RIGHT NOW!!"
For entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.
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everything was on Etiquette was cool and wild I dig them all!!!
Lungomolto 3 months ago
Cont. search, "who sang the original Louie Louie?" thecourtsmen did that video. There I did a 'horsework' today and wrote many long comments to explain and elaborate all that I know. Please sent a comment to me if you like. But in shorth Berry said, and he ought to know as he wrote and recorded the original: "Louie Louie was about a sailor sitting in a bar, talking to the bartender about his girl back in Jamaica. He is pouring out his troubles to the bartender, Louie. So LOUIE is a BARTENDER.
bellgardens53 7 months ago
First time I hear this version by the Wailers. Ah, what a nice surprise, what a GREAT version of this 100 million seller. One can here hear how Rockin' Robin Roberts do the Jamacian accent as it is supposed to be...anyway if one go by what influenced Richard Berry, among other influences, Chuck Berrys song "Havana Moon" from 1955. Calypso beat and Chuck using a Jamaican accent. Anyone interested about the entire story about this song and what it is about, type in search:
bellgardens53 7 months ago
Died in an Auto Accident in Northern California
TheDonz1943 9 months ago
I was there! And in love with Gail but she didn't know it!
jgbullat 10 months ago
I used to go to the dances at the Tacoma Armory, The Cresent Ballroom and the Spanish Castle. Danced with chicks to The Wailers with Rockin Robin Roberts and Gail Harris. I think they should have made Louie Louie the Washington State song. I have the 45 RPM record of Louie Louie by Rockin Robin stashed away for safe keeping. Super great times......Ed
MrFastestIndian 1 year ago
Yes, they definitely copied it. The hippest Wailer version (IMHO) is the Spanish Castle Live version. Rich was too big of a person to hold the copying against anybody, and after his Wailer days, his playing continued to evolve, ending up at a very sophisticated place. I miss him.
saxforth 1 year ago
@robertkm62 What's a shame is that they copied it from the Wailers and never gave them the credit. You would think they would thank the Wailers. Rich knew it.
TheGWC1946 1 year ago
@robertkm62 You got that right. He even copied Rich's guitar solo and never could admit it and did a poor job at best. Our Seattle Wailers were the best but remember Richard Berry did it in 1957. Sound equipment came a long way in 5 years back then. JC (Keyboard for the Kingsmen for a while) worked with me in LA in the late 60's and early 70's in LA thought so too. Being a guitar player it just bothered me he just couldn't admit it. No Class. Rich was a great guitarist and friend.
TheGWC1946 1 year ago
The best Louie Louie ever, Lan Roberts was right
GRL1946Wa 1 year ago 2