One-Hit Wonder: Chris Kenner

One hit for himself, and more as songwriter; however, he was troubled by alcohol: Chris Kenner, according to waybackattack.com.

Chris Kenner was born and raised near New Orleans. As a teen and while working a variety of jobs, he sang with The Harmonising Four, a gospel group.

He began working with Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew, hitting the charts in 1957 with "Sick and Tired." In 1958, Fats Domino then recorded it, producing a Top 40 hit, and that also happened with Kenner's "Life is a Struggle." Kenner would write it, record it and release it, but at times others would have more success.

Kenner's use of alcohol would cause him to show up late and not be in any condition to record or not show up at all, bouncing him from label to label.

He wrote "I Like It Like That" and it was very popular in New Orleans in 1960, then reaching No. 2 in 1961 on the charts. Kenner was nominated in 1962 for Best Rock and Roll Recording at the Grammy's. Dave Clark Five reached the Top 10 with the song in 1965.

His follow-up, "A Very True Story," did not do well. His third hit, "Something You Got," was popular only in the New Orleans area. Kenner wrote and recorded "Land of 1000 Dances," which became a hit for Wilson Pickett in 1966.

In the late 60s, he was homeless. Kenner was charged with statuary rape and sent to Louisiana's Angola Penitentiary from 1968-72.

At age 46, Chris Kenner died of a heart attack in 1976.