Here Come The Girls

Best known for his transatlantic 1961 hit "Mother-in-Law," Ernie K-Doe (born Ernest Kador Jr. in 1936) was a renowned rhythm and blues singer and until his death in 2001 he remained a popular live act on the New Orleans blues scene. Other notable songs from his 1960s/1970s heyday included "A Certain Girl" and his interpretation of "The Star Spangled Banner." In the 1980s he began presenting radio shows in New Orleans. The shows were known for his explosively energetic announcements and frequent self promotion and he became popular for his colorful personality and catchphrases "Burn, K-Doe, Burn!" "I'm a Charity Hospital Baby!" and (addressed to himself) "You just good, that's all!". Never far from controversy, for a time K-Doe billed himself as "Mr. Naugahyde" until he was ordered to desist by the owners of the Naugahyde trademark. K-Doe then explained that it was a misunderstanding; he was actually referring to himself as "Mr. M-Nauga-Ma-Hyde", a word he invented himself. In the 1990s he began billing himself as "The Emperor of the Universe" and wearing a cape and crown. He became a famous local eccentric on the New Orleans scene. He continued performing and occasionally recording until shortly before his death. One of K-Doe's most notable later recordings was "White Boy, Black Boy." K-Doe died in 2001 and, after a traditional jazz funeral, was interred in the 200-year-old Duval tomb in Saint Louis Cemetery #2, in his native New Orleans. He had burial space in his father's family cemetery in Irvinville, LA, but his widow, Antoinette, as well as his fans and friends in New Orleans, wanted his remains in the city, so the Duval family offered him some of their burial space. He is buried in the same tomb with his second mother-in-law, with whom he was very close, and his best friend, legendary Earl King. K-Doe also ran his own music club/bar, "The Mother-in-Law Lounge" before his death, a pub and a shrine in New Orleans now dedicated to his memory. The lounge is a historical icon in the local community. It was completely destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but with the help of the Hands-On Network, the lounge re-opened in August 2006, on the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The Lounge is now owned by K-Doe's widow and musician, Antionette K-Doe.

In November 2007 the British-based high street beauty store and pharmacy Boots used this song as the soundtrack to a Christmas TV commercial. This led to the song being re-released as a single in the UK in December 2007 where, having failed to chart first time around in 1970, this time it reached #43; a new Boots commercial featuring the song was aired between June and August 2008 with a summer theme.

In October 2008, after hearing K-Doe's version on the Boots commercial, UK girl group the Sugababes sampled "Here Come The Girls!" on their UK hit single "Girls," which hit #3 in the UK chart. Boots pharmacy subsequently used the Sugababes version in a new commercial for Christmas 2008.