Song:Mother-In-Law
Album:A Real Mother-In Law For Ya: The Allen Toussaint Sessions 1959-63
Mother-In-Law topped the pop and R & B charts in 1961. It may be the biggest New Orleans R & B song ever and it was the only top 40 hit for Ernie K-Doe. He was born Ernie Kador Jr. Feb. 22, 1936 in New Orleans. He grew up singing in his daddy's church and sang in gospel groups as a teen. At age 17 he moved with his mother to Chicago and sang with The Flamingos and The Moonglows. He moved back to New Orleans in 1954 and recorded with The Blue Diamonds. He recorded a few singles as a solo artist but his big break came when he signed with Minit Records in 1959 and hooked up with legendary producer Allen Toussaint. K-Doe had a regional hit with Hello My Lover but then hit the jackpot with Mother-In-Law. It topped the pop singles and R & B singles charts in 1961. I'm sure most folks have heard the song but know nothing of K-Doe. The story goes that Toussaint wrote Mother-In-Law and threw it in the garbage. K-Doe begged him to record it and the rest is history. The good natured humour of the song fit right in with K-Doe's flambuoyant stage show. The bass singer on Mother-In-Law is Benny Spellman. This comp has all of the Minit recordings. K-Doe continued to record through the 60s but didn't have much success. After a bout with alcoholism, K-Doe became a radio show host in New Orleans in the 80s. Then he opened the Mother-In-Law Lounge in 1994 and continued to perform there until his death on July 5, 2001 at age 65. A couple of weeks ago, Ernie K-Doe was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame. The LMHOF have put together a video featuring Ernie K-Doe performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in the 80s.
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