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Koko Taylor

Photo by Christopher Jacobs

Queen of the Blues

Born Cora Walton September 28, 1935 just outside of Memphis, Tennessee, Koko was an orphan by age 11. An early love of chocolate earned her the lifelong nickname Koko. Along with her five brothers and sisters, Koko Taylor developed a love for music from a mixture of songs she heard in church and songs she heard on B.B. King’s daily radio show beaming in from Memphis. Even though her father encouraged her to sing only gospel music, Koko Taylor and her siblings would sneak out back with their homemade instruments and play the blues. With one brother accompanying on a guitar made out of bailing wire and nails and one brother on a fife made out of a corncob, Koko Taylor began her career as a blues woman. As a youngster, Koko Taylor listened to as many blues artists as she could. Big Mama Thornton and Bessie Smith were particular influences, as were Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Sonny Boy Williamson. When Koko Taylor was 18, she moved to Chicago together with her soon-to-be husband, the late Robert "Pops" Taylor to look for work. At night and on weekends, Koko and Pops would visit the various clubs, where they would hear singers like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Magic Sam, Buddy Guy, and Junior Wells. And thanks to prodding from Pops, it wasn’t long before Taylor was sitting in with many of the most legendary blues bands on a regular basis. Koko Taylor’s big break came in 1962. After a particularly fiery performance, arranger/composer Willie Dixon approached her. Willie Dixon got Koko Taylor a Chess recording contract and produced several singles (and two albums) for her, including the million-selling 1965 hit, Wang Dang Doodle. In 1972, Koko Taylor played at the Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival. Atlantic Records recorded the festival and released a live album, which brought Koko Taylor to the attention of a large, national audience. In 1975, Koko Taylor found a home with the city’s newest blues label, Bruce Iglauer’s Alligator Records. Koko Taylor recorded many successful albums for Alligator Records. Koko Taylor is the preeminent blues woman in the world. And that’s why she is – and will remain – the undisputed Queen Of The Blues. Koko Taylor won two Grammy Awards, many Grammy Nominations, and dozens of W. C. Handy Awards.

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