Ernie K-Doe (1936–2001) Ernie K-Doe (born Ernest Kador Jr. in New Orleans) was an American R&B singer known for his flamboyant personality and 1961 No. 1 hit “Mother-in-Law.” Starting in gospel and touring with acts like Allen Toussaint, he signed with Minit Records. Allen Toussaint wrote/produced “Mother-in-Law”—a humorous complaint about a meddling relative—that topped the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts, selling millions. Follow-ups like “Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta” charted modestly. K-Doe’s career waned in the 1960s–1970s due to personal struggles (alcoholism, decline in popularity), but he reinvented as a New Orleans character in the 1990s, hosting radio and reopening Mother-in-Law Lounge (with a life-size mannequin of himself). He died of kidney/liver failure on July 5, 2001, at 65. The lounge (now Ernie K-Doe’s) preserves his legacy with tributes. As of 2026, no active musical presence (deceased), but “Mother-in-Law” endures as a New Orleans R&B classic, featured in media and festivals. His eccentric, soulful style remains a symbol of Crescent City flair.