Billboard #1 Hits: #50- “Mother-In-Law’- Ernie K-Doe. May 22, 1961. #1 for 1 week. Released on Minit Records. Written by Allen Toussaint. Genre: R&B. Time: 2:25. B-side:”Wanted: $10,000.00 Reward.” Grade: A.

Born Ernest Kador in New Orleans- Ernie K-Doe was a great one hit wonder from 1961- with his first chart single going to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He came close to not even having that one big hit- after several unsuccessful takes Doe threw the composition away and walked out of the room. Willie Harper a back up singer thought differently about the song and convinced Doe to give it another chance. Doe would have 4 more Hot 100 singles but “Mother-In-Law” was the only Top 40 hit of his career. The song was written by the legendary New Orleans songwriter-musician Allen Toussaint one of the great unsung heroes of Rock and Soul.