Chris Kenner

Born: Dec. 25, 1929 in Kenner, LA
Died: Jan. 25, 1976

Southern Louisiana based R&B artist who started making records in 1955 for Baton Records, in 1957 he recorded "Sick and Tired" with Dave Bartholomew for the Imperial Records label; which became a hit only after Fats Domino covered it. His biggest 60's records were 1961's "I Like It Like That" recorded for Joe Banashak's Instant label. The song "I Like It Like That" co-written with pianist Allen Toussaint reached number 2 in the US pop charts and Kenner later received a Grammy nomination for the song. "I Like It Like That" was also a 1965 hit for The Dave Clark Five , 70's duo Loggins & Messina and there was a popular spanish Conjunto version by Fania artist Pete Rodriguez. Kenner wrote & recorded "Something You Got" which was a big 1965 hit for Chuck Jackson and Maxine Brown, while Kenner's 1962's "Land of 1000 Dances" hit #77 on the US charts, it was a bigger hit for Wilson Pickett and Cannibal & The Headhunters. "Land of a 1000 Dances", a perennial party fave was also later redone by The J. Geils Band,Roy Orbison, The Trashmen,The Ventures,Sam & Dave,The Residents, Johnny Rivers, Tina Turner, Tom Jones, Rufus Thomas amongst many others. Firmly rooted in the regional New Orleans R&B scene, Kenner collaborated with contemporaries like Eddie Bocage aka Eddie Bo on songs like ‘All Night Rambler’. Later on he also laid down funkier sides like 1967’s ‘Fumigate Funky Broadway’. Kenner, a heavy drinker, was found guilty of statutory rape of a minor in 1968, and spent three years in Louisiana's Angola prison, never regaining chart success before his death in 1976.