I don't remember seeing this mentioned here. It's sort of a local story, but many here on the forum are aware of Rich's influence. SEATTLE (AP) -- Rich Dangel, credited with creating the opening guitar chords of garage band staple "Louie Louie," died Tuesday of an aneurysm at his home. He was 60. Dangel was a member of the seminal Northwest rock band the Wailers, who introduced the nation to the Northwest sound -- raw, unpolished and catchy. He may be best known for coming up with the power chords that opened the Wailers' 1961 regional hit, "Louie, Louie," written by rhythm-and-blues singer Richard Berry and taken to the top of the national charts by another Northwest band, the Kingsmen from Portland, Ore. Dangel co-wrote his first chart hit, "Tall Cool One" with fellow Wailer John Greek when he was still in high school. The song resulted in the group's first album, "The Fabulous Wailers," a cross-country tour and a 1959 appearance on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand." Other links: Rich's Biography Louie Louie History
Man, that's a shame. The Wailers opened the doors to the Seattle/Tacoma scene, paving the way for the Sonics and tonsa other cool bands to waltz on through... If you wannna hear the Wailin' Wailers grungy R&B, check out the Ace and Norton Records catalogs for alla the goods from Golden Crest (Tall Cool One) through the Wailer's own Etiquette label.
