Ernest Kador, Jr. (Feb 22, 1936 - July 5, 2001) was known as Ernie K-Doe, a… Read Full Bio ↴Ernest Kador, Jr. (Feb 22, 1936 - July 5, 2001) was known as Ernie K-Doe, a colorful performer, who became the first artist from New Orleans to have a national charting #1 hit actually recorded in New Orleans (Mother-In-Law,#1 Pop, #1 R&B 1961). Doe was a self promotor extraordinaire, nicknaming himself "Emperor of The World" and “the Greatest Boy-Child ever conceived at Charity Hospital in New Orleans”. While never to top the charts again after his 1961 hit, he toured & recorded sporadically throughout the rest of his career until his last single, an anti violence plea "Children of The world" b/w "White Boy/Black Boy" in late 2000.
His most popular works are those from his early 1960's Minit records years, when he was associated closely with producer/composer Allen Toussaint. During this period he was managed by a local radio DJ named Larry McKinley, the co-owner of Minit, whose other partner was A-1 records distributor Joe Banashak. Other tunes made during Doe's 1961 chart attempts under Toussaint's tutelage included "I Cried My Last Tear" (#69 Pop) b/w "A Certain Girl" (#71 Pop), and "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta" (#53 Pop, #21 R&B. Prior to recording with Minit, Doe had started his professional career on the gospel circuit, eventually joining The Four Blazes, a gig that earned him his first recording session in late 1953 for United but the session went unreleased. His first record ("Honey Love"/"No Mercy") came in 1955 with a group called The Blue Diamonds on Savoy. Solo releases on Specialty and Ember under the surnames Kador & Kado before finally becoming K-Doe were early career moves. After his Minit deal ran out he moved to the Instant & then Duke/Peacock labels, working again with Toussaint for an LP in 1970 on the Janus label.
During his tireless touring years he performed in venues like Harlem's Apollo Theater 8 times, and Chicago's Regal Theater a dozen times. He fell into a period of substance abuse & homelessness during the late 70's, before he began hosting a radio program in on New Orleans FM station WWOZ in 1982. Eventually cleaning up & marrying, he opened his own New Orleans nightclub called the Mother-in-Law Lounge. In the mid nineties, he finally recorded another album with Milton Battiste at the helm. His widow Antoinette still maintains the bar despite heavy flood damage after Hurricane Katrina, and ran her dead husband for mayor in the 2006 elections saying he was the only qualified candidate.
His most popular works are those from his early 1960's Minit records years, when he was associated closely with producer/composer Allen Toussaint. During this period he was managed by a local radio DJ named Larry McKinley, the co-owner of Minit, whose other partner was A-1 records distributor Joe Banashak. Other tunes made during Doe's 1961 chart attempts under Toussaint's tutelage included "I Cried My Last Tear" (#69 Pop) b/w "A Certain Girl" (#71 Pop), and "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta" (#53 Pop, #21 R&B. Prior to recording with Minit, Doe had started his professional career on the gospel circuit, eventually joining The Four Blazes, a gig that earned him his first recording session in late 1953 for United but the session went unreleased. His first record ("Honey Love"/"No Mercy") came in 1955 with a group called The Blue Diamonds on Savoy. Solo releases on Specialty and Ember under the surnames Kador & Kado before finally becoming K-Doe were early career moves. After his Minit deal ran out he moved to the Instant & then Duke/Peacock labels, working again with Toussaint for an LP in 1970 on the Janus label.
During his tireless touring years he performed in venues like Harlem's Apollo Theater 8 times, and Chicago's Regal Theater a dozen times. He fell into a period of substance abuse & homelessness during the late 70's, before he began hosting a radio program in on New Orleans FM station WWOZ in 1982. Eventually cleaning up & marrying, he opened his own New Orleans nightclub called the Mother-in-Law Lounge. In the mid nineties, he finally recorded another album with Milton Battiste at the helm. His widow Antoinette still maintains the bar despite heavy flood damage after Hurricane Katrina, and ran her dead husband for mayor in the 2006 elections saying he was the only qualified candidate.
Tain't It the Truth
Ernie K-Doe Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ernie K-Doe:
A Certain Girl There's a certain girl I've been after a long, long…
Eternity Welcome to the home I created I needed someone new to…
Georgia On My Mind I hope you don't mind Being left behind It's time to walk…
Here Come the Girls Here come the girls (girls, girls, girls-girls) Here come th…
Hey Hey Hey Hey, mama. There go that man again. With that solid gold pen…
I Got a Woman Well, I got a woman, way over town She's good to…
I'm Only Human Kanashimi no mukou kishi ni Hohoemi ga aru toiu yo Tandori t…
Let Me Love You IN MY COLDEST NIGHT WHERE LOVE IS HcRD TO FIND YOU CcME…
Mother -In-Law Mother-in-law (mother-in law), mother-in-law (mother-in-law)…
Popeye Joe I said, my head goes spinnin' like a spinnin' wheel When…
Shake Rattle & Roll Get out from that kitchen, And rattle those pots and pans, …
Shake Rattle And Roll Get out from that kitchen And rattle those pots and pans Get…
So Good Feels so good When it shines bright…
Te Ta Te Ta Ta Every time I call your name I get such a thrill…
Tell Me Georgia, Georgia, The whole day through Just an old sweet so…
Teta Teta Ta Every time I call your name I get such a thrill…
You Got to Love Me IN MY COLDEST NIGHT WHERE LOVE IS HcRD TO FIND YOU CcME…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@stolatboy9058
Great find ! Ernie was doing the Moon Walk before M.J. was born.
@sjmontalbano4044
I was in NOLA that morning getting ready to record JAMES "SUGARBOY" CRAWFORD, when Ernie was finishing this song...memories...Sam Montel.:)
@dannydatwho8253
i always hear such funny stories bout this guy from my older neighbors.
@jamescowley6195
this song on You Tube wow, never thought I see it hear and no comments why Great Song I was 14 y.o. JIM C
@Hewlett-Packard-Lovecraft
That same sax riff is also on “mother in law”
@JettRink5131947
Most of the kids around the country were listening to Frankie Valli or The Beach Boys. Too bad New Orleans
music didn’t get the airplay it deserved. Here in lies the proof.
@brickboo1
The chord at the second four bars is dead wrong and sounds awful. Ernie K-Doe was a Guest vocalist with our band at the Club Sands(?) on St Charles or Carrollton Ave(?) in New Orleans when this tune was very popular along with Mother In Law.
@rickallen77
Do you mean the "turn around?" Thinking in key of C, it's C A/D7 G7/ C F/ C C7
@anthonyhargis9411
@@rickallen77, Sorry I can't edit my comment just above. I wonder when that started! I meant at the beginning of the tune at the second 4 beats not 4 bars. In other words the 5th beat. They play the right chord throughout the rest of the tune. I don't get it.