Godoy Colbert

A native of Crosset, Arkansas, USA Godoy was a founding member of the early 1950s rhythm and blues vocal group, the Pharaohs. Together with two friends, Robert Harris, and Noel Collins, the Pharaohs were formed out of the Jefferson High School in Los Angeles, in 1954. They are probably best known as the backing band of singer Richard Berry, with whom they recorded the 1957 hit single, "Louie Louie." The recording which was originally written in 1955 by Berry was based on The Rhythm Rockers version of composer Rene Touzet's "El Loco Cha Cha", and somewhat based on Chuck Berry's "Havana Moon." 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. 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 did a series of singles for the DelFi Record Label, and more performing. It was soon after this that Colbert and the Pharaohs themselves decided to call it quits and disband. Colbert went onto perform with such musical acts as The Exits, the Afro Blues, the Visitors, the Kuf-Linx, and Free Movement who had a Top Five pop and Top 20 R&B Billboard Music Chart hit with the 1971 single, "I've Found Someone Of My Own." He also sang successfully as a solo artist. In 1996, for the first time in 30 years the original members of the Pharaohs including Richard Berry reunited for a special concert put on by the Southern California Doo Wop Society. A year later Richard Berry died from a heart attack. Colbert himself passed away in Sacramento, California, from several forms of cancer including liver, colon, and prostate on July 17, 2002. He was interred in Inglewood Park Cemetery.