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Koko Taylor
309,830 plays (62,956 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
Koko Taylor
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The Earthshaker
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Deluxe Edition
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Old School
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Top Tracks
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Wang Dang Doodle
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I'm a Woman
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Don't Mess With The Messer
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I Got What It Takes
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Insane Asylum
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I Don't Care Who Knows
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I'd Rather Go Blind
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I'm A Little Mixed Up
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Voodoo Woman
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Yes, It's Good For You
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(I Got) All You Need
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Whatever I Am, You Made Me
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Mother Nature
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Evil
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I Love A Lover Like You
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Shoutbox
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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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Joe-Doe wrote:
R.I.P.
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purplezorro wrote:
Koko Taylor is Blues Artist of the Week. RIP
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dutchdave wrote:
rest in peace, you will be missed sadly... the blues has lost its greatest queen :(
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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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galadali8, alanlaunder, LoveIsMyMessage and 9 other people added Koko Taylor to their libraries. 14 hours ago
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emcxmc wrote about Koko Taylor in Birthdays of 282 favourite female singers. Friday morning
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guym1958 tagged Koko Taylor with female vocalists and blues. Thursday afternoon
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