Koko Taylor
http://www.comcast.net/articles/music/20090603/US.Obit.Taylor/
Hey yall, I know your just hearing the news about Koko's death- but let's talk about her music and how it touched us
Hey yall, I know your just hearing the news about Koko's death- but let's talk about her music and how it touched us
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Ward on -
I loved the way Koko could take a song that was made famous by a Legendary Bluesman, put her spin on it, and make it an even bigger hit! I'm A Woman-Muddy Waters Mannish Boy, Wang Dang Doodle-Willie Dixon
How many people put as much feeling and heart in thier songs like Koko did? She will be missed.
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Permalink Reply by Scissormen on -
She was also a very sweet generous person who seemed humbled by her own success - an absolutely lovely human being.
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Permalink Reply by Al Stone on -
I heard the news on Koko about an hour after she passed , from a Chicago friend . I am sad for her loss and she has been around singing the blues my hole life . i think she would say lets all have a Wang Dang Doodle , . and remember , Koko Taylor,s , love for the music , and her Smile , that will never end . love to all from ..Al Stone
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Permalink Reply by shawnsblues2 on -
Koko was a great singer in that respect to taking other songs and redoing them to her own tastes! One of my favs is Houndog...She put a very different spin on ita and it tuned out awesome! So sad to hear that she has passed on! I once was working in Chicago and we went to her club on Division St. (almost to the end) and it was jam night and she was in there and sang with all the different jammers including my novice abilities at the time(but you couldn't tell with her empowering vocals). She would have a great time with everybody that was there such a wonderful person! RIP and God Bless Koko.
Peace, Shawn
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Dixon on -
I feel so blessed to have seen her perform last month at the Blues Awards in Memphis. Even though Im sure she was probably not feeling well her performance was fantastic...she will be remembered dearly.
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Dixon on
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I was fortunate to see Koko, as were some of you, at her final appearance the BMA's...out of the Blues Power vaults I am going to replay a couple of interviews I did with Koko in the past...Also hope to have comments from various artists about Koko...if you have memories or stories about Koko email me with a phone number, I'd like to tape a conversation with you...there will never be another "Queen"
Monday night 6-11 at gilanthonyblues.com
thanks Gil
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Dixon on
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-Bob Corritore Remembers KoKo
I first heard Koko Taylor's "Wang Dang Doodle" in the early 70s on the radio in Chicago. It knocked me out and I was a Koko fan from that point on. I first started seeing her perform live in 1974. She used to play regularly at a North side Chicago bar called Biddy Mulligan’s. She had a great band with Johnny Twist on the guitar, and later Johnny B. Moore. She would tear the house down regularly. I was just 18 and 19 at the time. I often sat with her and her husband Pops on the breaks. Such friendly, wonderful people! They used to let me play a number or two with the band before she hit the stage. One night Pops asked me to come to a band rehearsal to audition. He said that they were thinking about adding another piece to the band. I was still very young at the time, with plans for completing college, and my parents would hear nothing of this, and refused to lend me the car. I really would not have been of the level of playing needed to pass an audition at that point. I still have the torn note card with Koko's number that she gave me to set this up. I went to the 1975 PBS filming of the Blues Summit Concert with Koko, Muddy, Junior Wells, Willie Dixon, Johnny Winter, Dr. John, and others. Once at Biddy Mulligan’s, Paul Butterfield came by and sat in with Koko and her band for a set. Years later after I moved to Phoenix and opened up the Rhythm Room, I was able to book Koko a number of times. It warmed my heart to present her with a photo of her and her late husband that I had taken years before at Biddy Mulligan’s. In 2005, I had one of the greatest thrills of my life which was taking Koko into Rax Trax studio in Chicago and recording a song with her. I put together a great band that included Bob Margolin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Bob Stroger, and Little Frank, and we knocked out a killer version of "What Kind Of Man Is This". I had arranged this recording session through my friend Bruce Iglauer of Alligator Records who, knowing how important this was to me, was gracious enough to allow me this honor - with the stipulation that I not release the cut for 5 years (I hope to put it out next year). This recording session was a true satisfaction, because I always wondered what would have happened if years before I had gone to that rehearsal. I had this special time with Koko, and it produced a beautiful recorded cut that can live on forever. In the last 5 years, it seemed like I was regularly meeting up with Koko and her family. This would happen at a wide range of places: at the Chicago Blues Festival, where she would have a booth each year, the Blues Music Awards, the Scottsdale Music Festival, the Lucerne Blues Festival, the Grammies®, etc. One time (must have been 2006) at the Chicago Blues Festival, Cookie (Koko's daughter) had my lovely Kim and I stay with Koko for a few hours, and we had such a wonderful time in the green room of the Petrillo Bandshell as Koko sang us some of her favorite tracks from the then forthcoming Old School CD. Just a month ago, she was the highlight performance at the BMAs, as she sang "Wang Dang Doodle" with The Mannish Boys. Koko has been a constant in my life. She has always stood for the tough, real deal Chicago blues, while having a heart of gold, and a simple joy in performing her music. I will miss her greatly.
-Bob Corritore
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Permalink Reply by Dariel Bendin on -
I never had the privilege of seeing Koko Taylor perform live, so I especially appreciate the comments left by Bob Corritore and others who knew her and/or were able to enjoy her live shows. I'm very much looking forward to Bob's cut from his Rax Trax session. Wang Dang Doodle! There's nobody like Koko Taylor.
-Dariel Bendin
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Permalink Reply by Sheryl on -
The Queen of Blues was at Bluesfest International in 2003 and what a classy woman she was!
And, oh- her music.................she will be missed. - Attachments:
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koko taylor.jpg, 23 KB
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Permalink Reply by Ms Blues Box on -
yes r.i.p koko. i first saw her in the mid to late 80's at the jackson, ms zoo blues fest. man talk about a lady that could stand out on a stage full of great bluesmen. koko was that lady. i will never forget the way she took that stage. i was going to see her at the jublee jam arts and music june 19 in jackson, ms. man i hate it when we loose a great like this. R.I.P. KoKo
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Permalink Reply by Dave"Elmo"Bailey on -
I was blessed with the opprotunity to open for Koko and her band @ Fitzgerald's in Berwyn,IL w/ Felix & the Cats.We were all in the dressing room & Ms Taylor and her entourage came in with Huge smiles and open arms.As usual Koko was wearing her "Glittery"outfit.She came up to me with outstretched arms to embrace me.Being the smart-ass I am I told her I had considered wearing the same outfit that.evevning.She broke out in a big laugh& said"Well Baby, we'll have to do that sometime.Then went out and burned the place to the Ground!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by SharBaby on -
KoKo's Death touched me very deeply. It seems like all of the real dealers are leaving this world. I miss them all. I know for sure that we have to keep the Blues Alive! It is people like KoKo and all of the rest that has left this planet that the Blues is what it is today.
SharBaby
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