but the songs live on forever

Ernie K-Doe

R&B Singer

Died On This Date (June 3, 2011) Benny Spellman / R&B Singer Who Gave Us “Fortune Teller”

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Benny Spellman
December 11, 1931 – June 3, 2011

Benny Spellman was an R&B singer who released two significant hits during the 1960s.  His “Lipstick Traces (On A Cigarette),” written by Allen Toussaint, cracked the Top 30 on the R&B charts, while his original version of “Fortune Teller” went on to be recorded by the likes of the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Hollies, and more recently, as a duet by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.  Spellman also collaborated with Huey “Piano” Smith and sang back up on the Ernie K-Doe hit, “Mother In Law.”  Although he went on to work outside the music business by the early ’70s, Spellman continued to perform at festivals and such for many years.  Benny Spellman died of respiratory failure on June 3, 2011.  He was 79.

What You Should Own

Benny Spellman Selected Favorites - Benny Spellman


Musician R&B Radio Singer

Died On This Date (July 5, 2001) Ernie K-Doe / New Orleans R&B Star

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Ernie K-Doe (Born Ernest Kador)
February 22, 1936 – July 5, 2001

Ernie_K-DoeNew Orleans born, Ernie K-Doe was best known for his huge #1 hit, “Mother-In-Law,” released in 1961.  A colorful performer, K-Doe was a popular draw in and around Louisiana for many years.  During the ’80s, K-Doe hosted a popular New Orleans radio program.  Ernie K-Doe passed away in 2001 at the age of 65.

What You Should Own

Ernie K-Doe

Musician R&B Singer Songwriter

Died On This Date (March 12, 2010) Rockie Charles / New Orleans’ “President of Soul”

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Rockie Charles (Born Charles Merrick)
November 14, 1942 – March 12, 2010

Photo by Joseph A. Rosen

Rockie Charles was a beloved New Orleans R&B singer and guitarist who had been called “The President of Soul.”  Born into a musical family, Charles was schooled in reading and writing music at a very young age.  As he grew older, he generally won local talent competitions and occasionally shared the stage with the likes of Aaron Neville and Ernie K-Doe.  He formed his first band while still in high school and by the late ’60s he was playing the chitlin’ circuit, opening for some of the biggest names in R&B at the time.  Like many traditional R&B artists, Charles’ career slowed down during the ’70s as local clubs began booking disco acts, but he experienced a nice renaissance during the ’90s.  Since then, he was a popular draw throughout the region’s music festivals, and had been working on a new album at the time of his death.  On March 12, 2010, Rockie Charles, 67,  died of cancer.



Club Owner

Died On This Date (February 24, 2009) Antoinette K-Doe / Owned The Mother-In-Law Lounge In New Orleans

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Antoinette K-Doe (Born Antoinette Dorsey)
February 3, 1943 – February 24, 2009

kdoeAntoinette K-Doe was a popular New Orleans fixture for many years.  Married to local R&B legend, Ernie K-Doe, she helped keep his memory alive after his death in 2001.  Following his passing, Antoinette ran their popular Mother-in-Law Lounge which had originally opened in 1994.  After Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005,  Antoinette was stranded at the club for a week until she could be rescued.  She was then one of the first to return to aid the rebuilding efforts, at times cooking up meals for upwards of 200 volunteers.  The Mother-in-Law lounge reopened one year after Katrina.  On February 24, 2009, Antoinette K-Doe suffered a fatal heart attack.



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