Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans

Louisiana Artists Biography Series

by Ben Sandmel

Ben Sandmel

Genres: Music, Biography, Cities, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 12, 2012

Reviews

[Phil Overeem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not done yet, but hats off to the New Orleans Historical Collection and Ben Sandmel for getting this book out there. I wouldn't say this is for the general reader, but it's a must for Nola nuts and R&B fanatics, and I just have to say, if you are going to read it, you need to remember to hit WFMU's Aircheck Archive, scroll down to the June 19, 2003 entry, and stream a sample of K-Doe's show on WWOZ from the early Eighties. Here's the link: http://wfmu.org/playlists/AC Lots of other cool stuff, too. Note: the book's photos are wonderful.

[Redsteve · Rating 3 out of 5]

R & B isn't really my thing, but Ernie K-Doe IS New Orleans - his characteristics, good and bad, are pretty much what this city is all about. An excellent biography one one of our best-known native sons with a ton of insight into the local music industry. 3.5 stars.

NOTE: At the time this book was published, the Mother-in-Law Lounge was vacant (following the deaths or Ernie and Antoinette) but has since been re-opened under the name of Kermit's Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge (https://www.facebook.com/Ruffinsbbq).

[Lauren Patton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valuable not only as an inside look into the life of Ernie K-Doe, but also that of Antoinette K-Doe and the histories of music and New Orleans. I wish the format wasn't so large and at times it suffered from the sheer depth of information provided.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating bio of Ernie K-Doe. This book is marinated with New Orleans culture and populated with the "characters" of the city and local R&B history. My only concern is that it might be difficult for non natives to comprehend, but for locals it really captures the uniqueness of this city. I will never forget The Emperor's second line funeral procession as it marched down Poydras St in front of my office building on a hot Friday in July. It was as surreal as Burn K-Do Burn.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked this up I thought, "How much information about Ernie K-Doe is there to fill a book this large?"
I really enjoyed the book, which is well done as a biography and insight into New Orleans music & culture. I knew nothing about his 70's/80's recordings, most of which are available digitally. I went to the K-Doe Lounge and the Saturn Bar in N.O. in the 90's a few times. K-Doe had such spirit.

[Robert A. Kalanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading about one of NOLA legends