Ernie K-Doe: the R&B emperor of New Orleans / by Ben Sandmel

The Chicago Tribune rained praise on Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans in a recent review! Writer Jake Austen called the second title in The Historic New Orleans Collection‘s Louisiana Musicians Biography Series a “brilliantly researched biography that manages to make facts as intriguing as myths. It is a triumph….Sandmel’s book is a magnificent work of art that helps guarantee the Emperor’s immortality.”

Read the full review here, and if you want to learn more about the man who once said James Brown got all his moves from him, get your own copy of Ernie K-Doe here.

Ben Sandmel will be signing copies of Ernie K-Doe at the Jazz Fest book tent at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 2; he will be playing and selling books at Chickie Wah Wah on Thursday night; and he will be signing at the Louisiana Music Factory, 210 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, at noon on Monday, May 6. And don’t forget, both titles in the Musicians Biography Series are now available as e-books for Kindle and Nook!

Ben Sandmel will sign copies of Ernie K-Doe at the Louisiana Music Factory today, April 29, at 3 p.m., with live music from Zachary Richard, Los Po-Boy-Citos, and Little Freddie King throughout the afternoon.

Ben Sandmel will sign copies of Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans at Jazz Fest on Thursday, May 2, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the book tent.

Thursday, April 4, Music of the South Conference: Author Ben Sandmel will present a paper at the University of Mississippi in Oxford; details to come. 

Thursday, April 4, 6 p.m., Thacker Mountain Radio: Sandmel will give an on-air reading from Off Square Books, 1110 Van Buren Avenue, Oxford, MS, broadcast on Mississippi Public Radio.

Author Ben Sandmel talked about the life and times of the legendary K-Doe on two major radio shows in December.

Nick Spitzer celebrated the careers of New Orleans’s Emperor and the Professor on the December 26th American Routes. The entire first hour of the two-hour show is dedicated to K-Doe, featuring his hits and others influenced by him.  Interviews with Sandmel are peppered throughout the segment, providing context and background on the singer.

On December 23, NPR’s Weekend Edition aired a segment by Karen Michel introducing NPR listeners around the nation to K-Doe’s music, his infamous radio show on WWOZ, and his boisterous personality. In addition to talking to Sandmel, Michel interviewed everyone from legendary pianist and songwriter Allen Toussaint and guitarist Ernie Vincent to WWOZ station general manager David Freedman.

“Fool, shut your mouth up!”

Kirkus Reviews has named Ernie K-Doe: The R&B Emperor of New Orleans one of the top 100 nonfiction books of 2012!

Back in April, Kirkus gave K-Doe a glowing (and starred!) review, calling it a “vital, essential addition to the shelf of great books about New Orleans.” In his introduction to the annual “Best of Nonfiction” list, editor Eric Liebetrau specifically mentions K-Doe, calling it an “unexpected surprise,”  ”comprehensive,” and “lavishly illustrated.”

Don’t believe us? Read it for yourself!

Saturday, November 17
725 Magazine St. in the Warehouse District
11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Reading: 1 p.m.*
*book signing to follow immediately afterward 

The Historic New Orleans Collection is proud to return as a sponsor of the New Orleans Bookfair and Media Expo, taking place Saturday, November 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Now in its 11th year, the annual event celebrates authors, publishers, and books created in New Orleans and the surrounding area. The Collection will have a table at the fair all day, which will feature its recent publications, information about upcoming books and events, and brochures detailing membership opportunities.

Ernie K-Doe author Ben Sandmel will also discuss the biography and its legendary subject at 1 p.m. (location to be announced), with a book signing following immediately afterward.

Saturday, November 3
2:30 p.m.
South Regional Library, part of the Lafayette Public Library System
6101 Johnston St., Lafayette, LA

Author Ben Sandmel will discuss and sign copies of Ernie K-Doe at Lafayette’s South Regional Library this Saturday, November 3. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

Stay tuned for additional K-Doe events throughout November!

Saturday, October 27
Book talk: 11–11:30 a.m.
Signing: 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

“Ernie K-Doe” will be making an appearance at the Louisiana Book Festival in Baton Rouge Saturday, October 27. Author Ben Sandmel will discuss the legendary performer 11–11:30 a.m. in the Louisiana State Museum’s auditorium  and sign copies of the publication at the Barnes & Noble tent 11:45 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

The annual literary celebration will be held 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at several venues in downtown Baton Rouge. Admission is free, and live music and refreshments will be provided. Visit www.louisianabookfestival.org for the full schedule and list of participating writers, poets, and storytellers, in addition to a map of the festival grounds.