One-Hit Wonders: Ernie K-Doe

He had a No. 1 hit and was famous in New Orleans, then he fell on some bad luck and made a local comeback: Ernie K-Doe.

Originally from New Orleans, Ernie Kador sang "Mother-In-Law," written by Allan Toussaint. A back-up singer encouraged K-Doe to record it one more time after a session of retake after retake. It was a chart topper in 1961, according to npr.org. In that three-hour session, K-Doe and Toussaint recorded three other songs.

After his tour of duty in the Army, Toussaint joined K-Doe and started to record again. The songs were popular in New Orleans.

Their guitarist, Ernie Vincent, said that, "K-Doe was strictly positive about his self-ability." K-Doe was known for saying, "I'm cocky, but I'm good."

The British Invasion happened and in the mid-'70s, K-Doe was dropped, started to drink and was said to have been seen living on the streets. He made a comeback on a local radio station in the 1980s. The station's general manager said, "As you began to enter into that crazy universe, you'd surrender to it and it made sense." K-Doe's shows continued to play into the late '80s into the '90s and played around the world.

He married Antoinette Fox, who created a new look with shiny suits and feathered hats. She also created the Mother-In-Law Lounge, where K-Doe and others would perform.

In 2001 at age 65, Ernie K-Doe died. His wife fashioned a department store mannequin likeness to be put in the lounge.

According to erniek-doebook.com, "the R&B Emperor of New Orleans" Ernie K-Doe was 25 when he hit No. 1 with "Mother-In-Law." He began singing gospel in church and then late night on New Orleans backstreets.

Author Ben Sandmel wrote about how K-Doe practiced self-projection and reinvention. He crowned himself Emperor of the Universe.

This is "Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta" from 1961.