The Pharaos (Los Angeles)
aka The Pharaohs (1) (Richard Berry)

Personnel :

Godoy Colbert (First Tenor)

Robert Harris (Second Tenor)

Noel Collins (Baritone)

Discography :

1960 - Heads Up, High Hopes Over You / The Tender Touch (Donna 1327)

Biography :

The Pharaohs were formed out of the Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, in 1954 by Godoy Colbert and two friends, Robert Harris, and Noel Collins. They are probably best known as the backing band of singer Richard Berry, with whom they recorded the 1957 hit single, "Louie Louie." The single first became a minor regional hit for the group, and then a more major hit for them when the Kingsmen recorded a more raucous version of the song in 1963.

  
                                                                                                                   Richard Berry
Colbert's very distinctive voice opens the song with the famous "duh duh duh duh-duh" sounds. After the success of "Louie Louie" the Pharaohs toured for sometime and Richard Berry eventually left the group to pursue other options. After the departure of Berry from the group, Colbert and the Pharaohs cut one singles for the Donna (A DelFi Subsidiary) Record Label under the name of The Pharaos, and more performing. It was soon after this that Colbert and the Pharaohs themselves decided to call it quits and disband.

Songs :

  
       The Tender Touch                      Heads Up, High Hopes Over You

...