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Koko Taylor
324,175 plays (65,331 listeners)
Chicago, United States (1962 – 2009)
Koko Taylor (born September 28, 1935 as Cora Walton, on a farm just outside Memphis, Tennessee; died June 3, 2009) was an American blues musician, popularly known as the “Queen of the Blues.” She is known primarily for her rough and powerful vocals and traditional blues stylings.
Taylor left Memphis for Chicago, Illinois in 1954 with her husband, truck driver Robert “Pops” Taylor and in the late 1950s began singing in Chicago blues clubs. She was spotted by Willie Dixon in 1962, and this led to wider performances and her first recording contract. In 1965, Taylor was signed by Chess Records, for which her single Wang Dang Doodle (written by Dixon, and a hit for Howlin’ Wolf five years earlier) became a major hit, reaching number four on the R&B charts in 1966 and selling a million copies. Taylor has recorded many versions of this Dixon-penned song over the past several decades and has added more material, both original and covers, but has never repeated that initial chart success.
National touring in the late 1960s and early 1970s improved her fan base, and she became accessible to a wider record-buying public when she signed with Alligator Records in 1975. She has since recorded over a dozen albums for that label, many nominated for Grammy awards, and come to dominate the female blues singer ranks, winning 24 W. C. Handy Awards (more than any other artist). After her recovery from a near-fatal car crash in 1989, the 1990s found Taylor in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000, and she opened a blues club on Division St. in Chicago in 1994, but closed it in 1999.
Taylor left Memphis for Chicago, Illinois in 1954 with her husband, truck driver Robert “Pops” Taylor and in the late 1950s began singing in Chicago blues clubs. She was spotted by Willie Dixon in 1962, and this led to wider performances and her first recording contract. In 1965, Taylor was signed by Chess Records, for which her single Wang Dang Doodle (written by Dixon, and a hit for Howlin’ Wolf five years earlier) became a major hit, reaching number four on the R&B charts in 1966 and selling a million copies. Taylor has recorded many versions of this Dixon-penned song over the past several decades and has added more material, both original and covers, but has never repeated that initial chart success.
National touring in the late 1960s and early 1970s improved her fan base, and she became accessible to a wider record-buying public when she signed with Alligator Records in 1975. She has since recorded over a dozen albums for that label, many nominated for Grammy awards, and come to dominate the female blues singer ranks, winning 24 W. C. Handy Awards (more than any other artist). After her recovery from a near-fatal car crash in 1989, the 1990s found Taylor in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000, and she opened a blues club on Division St. in Chicago in 1994, but closed it in 1999.
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What It Takes
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Deluxe Edition
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The Earthshaker
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Old School
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Top Tracks
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Wang Dang Doodle
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Don't Mess With The Messer
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Insane Asylum
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I'm a Woman
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I Got What It Takes
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Voodoo Woman
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I'd Rather Go Blind
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I'm A Little Mixed Up
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I Don't Care Who Knows
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Yes, It's Good For You
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I Love A Lover Like You
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Mother Nature
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Whatever I Am, You Made Me
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Beer Bottle Boogie
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Shoutbox
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vanahich wrote:
hey great!!!!
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notawake wrote:
I love I'm A Woman. Great song!
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jasebro wrote:
wow. amazing.
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bronwyn_west wrote:
I'll rain on your parade, and storm allover you!
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velvetbride wrote:
What a voice!!! Magic!!! Rest in Blues, dear Koko!! <333
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Vulfia wrote:
Queen of the Blues
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randytuggle wrote:
I heard her for the first time today on public radio. Wang Dang Doodle live from Mountain Stage was BAD-ASS!
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brzoziaa wrote:
'KOKO for ever!' xD
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elkemarie03 wrote:
May she rest in peace...Koko for ever!
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diazinon wrote:
Koko was amazing ... I live with her voice ... :-(
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Batiste369 wrote:
Her passing should be a huge loss for everyone
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atrin_mute wrote:
It's a huge loss for all Blues fans....
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OldGrayPuppet wrote:
she had great voice and i never forget her.
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almagal wrote:
I can make love to a crocodile.
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polk81 wrote:
Ruhe in Frieden!
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dante_portinari wrote:
Rest in peace. :'-(
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gabilubu wrote:
este en paz... taylor siempre sera la mejor!
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cee-lo wrote:
RIP Koko...
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epi_gee wrote:
R.I.P. Koko Taylor - Blues singer | 1928 - 2009. Powerful voice of blues who earned the title ‘The Queen’. The Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor, died on 3 June, 2009, aged 80. During her 50-year career, which began in the bars of Chicago, she exemplified the blues with her powerful voice and impassioned performances. She won a Grammy Award for ‘Best Traditional Blues Album’ in 1985 and another eight of her many albums were nominated. She also won a record 25 WC Handy Awards, establishing her as the leading female exponent of classic blues. She also appeared in two films, David Lynch's Wild at Heart (1990) and Blues Brothers 2000 (1998). Koko Taylor was born Cora Walton in Shelby County, Tennessee, on 28 September, 1928. She married truck driver Robert Taylor in 1952 and they moved to Chicago. There she launched a career as a singer in blues bars and clubs. In 1962 she was spotted by legendary producer Willie Dixon who offered her her first record deal...
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MarcelaLSD wrote:
Vai fazer muita falta...
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MESSAGE FROM THE TAYLOR FAMILY
28 Jun 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/kokotaylor
On behalf of the entire family of Koko Taylor, I wish to express my profound gratitude for the outpouring of love, sympathy, and support sent via Mama's web site and Myspace, by so many wonderful fans. …
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18 Jun 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/kokotaylor -
5 Apr 2007 | from blog.myspace.com/kokotaylor -
1 Feb 2007 | from blog.myspace.com/kokotaylor
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Recent Activity
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bak1an tagged Koko Taylor with female vocalists, chicago blues and blues. 2 hours ago
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cris_hahn, amlbarros, arda26x and 15 other people added Koko Taylor to their libraries. 9 hours ago
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NymphaMarini tagged Koko Taylor with erotic dance, beautiful, soul and 3 other tags. last week
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koko_szanel added Koko Taylor to koko_szanel’s library. last week
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BraveD tagged Koko Taylor with supper with friends, driving and garage. last week
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polin1980 tagged Koko Taylor with ‘soul’. 12 days ago
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polin1980 and KevinxO added Koko Taylor to their libraries. 12 days ago
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MarcelaLSD tagged Koko Taylor with rhythm and blues, chicago blues, female vocalists and one other tag. 12 days ago
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aprilinmyheart, recabe, anakinman and 2 other people added Koko Taylor to their libraries. 12 days ago
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