Without Richard Berry, there might never have been The Kingsmen. Songwriter and singer Richard Berry, writer and originator of 'Louie Louie'. Thirty tracks of R&B recorded in Los Angeles between 1953 and 1960 by Richard Berry as lead singer in groups, as one half of a duo, and as a solo artist. The CD contains choice cuts from Berry's output on several labels including the Flip, Flair and RPM. The CD includes two hit tracks by other artists, The Robins and Etta James on which Richard Berry was instrumental in their success. The booklet accompanying the CD has full writer, publisher and release information as well as a thousand word essay about the man, his career and the prevailing record business on the West Coast in the 50s.