About the song
“Little Latin Lupe Lu” is a song that holds a special place in the history of American pop music. Written in 1962 by Bill Medley, it marked the beginning of The Righteous Brothers’ musical journey. Medley, along with his partner Bobby Hatfield, initially performed the song with their band, The Paramours. Inspired by a high school romance and a girl named Lupe Laguna, the song was a playful ode to dancing and youthful fun.
The track was first recorded by the duo and released on Moonglow Records. Despite its catchy rhythm and upbeat nature, it did not achieve significant commercial success initially. However, the song’s journey took a pivotal turn when The Righteous Brothers began performing at The Rendezvous Ballroom in Newport Beach, California. The local audience embraced the song, leading to an unexpected surge in popularity.
Encouraged by enthusiastic fans, Hatfield and Medley distributed copies of the single to local record stores. This grassroots effort paid off as radio stations in Los Angeles, noticing the rising sales, began playing “Little Latin Lupe Lu.” The song quickly became a local hit, climbing to No. 4 on KRLA and No. 5 on KFWB. By May 1963, it had reached No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The song’s success caught the attention of Phil Spector, who later signed The Righteous Brothers and produced their most renowned hits. “Little Latin Lupe Lu” thus became a stepping stone in their career, paving the way for their future successes.
Over the years, “Little Latin Lupe Lu” has been covered by numerous artists, including The Chancellors, The Kingsmen, and Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, each adding their own twist to the song. Notably, Bruce Springsteen has performed it frequently, bringing new life to the classic.
The song’s enduring appeal was also highlighted in the 2000 film *High Fidelity*, where it was mentioned as a favorite track, showcasing its lasting influence in popular culture.
Overall, “Little Latin Lupe Lu” is celebrated not only for its role in launching The Righteous Brothers’ career but also for its vibrant energy and timeless charm, making it a cherished piece in the annals of American music history.
Video
Lyrics
Talk about my baby
A little Latin Lupelu
She’s a hot footin’ baby
There ain’t no dance she couldn´t do
She’s my groovy little baby
A little Latin Lupelu
A Bopa Bopa Lupelu
A shake it, shake it, shake it, Lupe
Wahtusi pretty baby
C’mon and do the who-chee-coo
Magic love, pretty baby
A little Latin Lupelu
And if you wanna do the twist
The Lupelu can put it down
If you Wah Wahtusi
She’s the best for miles around
She’s my mash potato baby
A little Latin Lupelu
A Bopa Bopa Lupelu
A shake it, shake it, shake it, Lupe
Wahtusi pretty baby
C’mon and do the who-chee-coo
Magic love, pretty baby
A little Latin Lupelu
One, one more time
A shake it, shake it, shake it Lupe
Wahtusi pretty baby
C’mon and do the who-chee-coo
Magic love, pretty baby
A little Latin Lupelu
A little Latin Lupelu
A little Latin Lupelu
A little Latin Lupelu