Ernie K-Doe
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Website | k-doe.com |
Ernest Kador Jr. (February 22, 1933 – July 5, 2001),[1] known by the stage name Ernie K-Doe, was an American R&B singer best known for his 1961 hit single "Mother-in-Law", which went to number 1 on the Billboard pop chart in the U.S.
Early career
Born in New Orleans, K-Doe recorded as a member of the group the Blue Diamonds in 1954 before making his first solo recordings the following year. "Mother-in-Law", written by Allen Toussaint,[2] was his first hit, reaching number 1 on both the Billboard pop chart and the Billboard R&B chart. In the UK, the song peaked at number 29.[3] K-Doe never had another top-40 pop hit, but "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta" (number 21, 1961) and "Later for Tomorrow" (number 37, 1967) both reached the R&B top 40.
Later career
In the 1980s, K-Doe did
In the 1990s, K-Doe began billing himself as "The Emperor of the Universe" and, wearing a cape and crown, became a famous local
Later recordings of note included "White Boy, Black Boy". While best known as a singer, he was also an accomplished drummer. The song "Here Come the Girls" was released in 1970 in the UK, but was not a hit. It was re-released in 2007 as a result of its use in an advertising campaign for Boots and reached number 43 in the UK Singles Chart.[3]
Death
K-Doe died in 2001 of kidney and liver failure from years of alcoholism.[4] After a traditional jazz funeral, he was interred in the 200-year-old Duval tomb in Saint Louis Cemetery number 2, in his native New Orleans. He had burial space in his father's family cemetery in Erwinville, Louisiana, but his widow, Antoinette, as well as his fans and friends in New Orleans, wanted his remains in the city, so the Duval family offered him some of their burial space. He is buried in the same tomb with his second mother-in-law, with whom he was very close, and his best friend, Earl King.
After death
His widow,
Antoinette also led a tongue-in-cheek campaign for K-Doe's election for mayor of hurricane-ravaged New Orleans in 2006, five years after his death. She is quoted as saying, "He's the only one qualified—that's my opinion."[5] Although K-Doe's name did not appear on the ballot, the campaign generated revenue from sales of T-shirts and bumper stickers. Antoinette used the proceeds from these sales for rebuilding the Mother-in-Law Lounge and helping the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic, both of which were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
In November 2007 the
Antoinette died in New Orleans on February 24, 2009, Mardi Gras day, after a heart attack.[7]
Ernie K-Doe was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2009.[8]
Discography
Single | Year | US | US |
---|---|---|---|
"Mother-In-Law" | 1961 | 1 | 1 |
"Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta" | 53 | 21 | |
"I Cried My Last Tear" | 69 | — | |
"A Certain Girl" | 71 | — | |
"Popeye Joe" | 1962 | 99 | — |
"Later For Tomorrow" | 1967 | — | 37 |
"(It Will Have To Do) Until The Real Thing Comes Along" | — | 48 |
References
- ISBN 978-0313344237.
- ^ a b "The Rise, Fall And Redemption Of New Orleans' 'R&B Emperor'". Npr.org.
- ^ a b "ERNIE K-DOE". Official Charts. 17 May 1961. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ Laing, Dave (10 July 2001). "Obituary: Ernie K-Doe". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ "Deceased 'Mother-in-Law' Singer to Run for Mayor of New Orleans". Oldies.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
- ^ "Boots 2007 Christmas Advert Featuring 'Here Come the Girls!'". YouTube. Retrieved 2007-11-26.
- Times-Picayune, February 24, 2009.
- ^ "Louisiana Music Hall of Fame - ERNIE K-DOE 2009". Louisianamusichalloffame.org. Retrieved 2019-12-28.
- ^ a b "Ernie K-Doe Chart History". Billboard.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
Further reading
- Sandmel, Ben (2012). Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans. New Orleans, Louisiana: Historic New Orleans Collection. OCLC 756045398.