The name was chosen by students in the early days of the school as a reference to a song by The Kingsmen, and not the brand of vegetable.
The song "Ballad of The Kingsmen" concerns the controversy surrounding their hit song "Louie Louie".
Major musicians and bands to have used the Center's stage in the past include: Dwight Yoakam, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Montgomery Gentry, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless, Ralph Stanley, IIIrd Tyme Out, Merle Haggard, The Temptations, Percy Sledge, The Platters, The Drifters, The Kingsmen, The Bishops, John Hagee, Dottie Rambo, and Steve Green.
The Kingsmen, a garage band from Portland, Oregon, had a breakout hit with their 1963 cover of "Louie, Louie", cited as "punk rock's defining ur-text".
Many other artists have covered the song, including Aerosmith, Roger Daltrey, Green Day, Hans Theessink, The Flamin' Groovies, The Kingsmen, The Sonics, The Trashmen, Luv'd Ones, Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass and Ratt.
April 10, 1998 – The Kingsmen won a historic legal case against Gusto Records/GML, regaining ownership and royalty rights to all their recordings.