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Blues Legend Koko Taylor Dies at 80

National treasure and blues legend Koko Taylor passed away Wednesday of complications due to recent surgery. The 80-year-old singer underwent a procedure to correct a gastrointestinal bleed on May 19 in Chicago, and had been expected to make a full and healthy recovery, according to a news post (dated May 28) on her official website.

Just weeks earlier, on May 7, Taylor performed her iconic hit 'Wang Dang Doodle' at the Blues Music Awards in Memphis, where she accepted the award for Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year. She was honored to receive the award but it wasn't her first: Taylor holds the record for the artist with the most number of Blues Music Awards. She has 29 to her name, plus numerous other accolades including a Grammy and a NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award.

Taylor was known as "Queen of the Chicago Blues," although "Koko" was also a nickname bestowed on her because of her chocolate obsession (her real name is Cora Taylor.) She was born in Memphis, and raised on gospel music before moving to Chicago, where Willie Dixon eventually landed her a recording contract with Chess Records. In 1965, one year after her debut, she hit pay-dirt with 'Wang Dang Doodle' and the rest, as they say, is history. And history will certainly hold a place for Koko Taylor's landmark 45-year career with its countless contributions to American blues music.



Dearly Departed Musicians

    Dolla, May 18: The Atlanta-based rapper, whose real name is Roderick Anthony Burton II, was gunned down outside a Los Angeles mall. Burton's publicist told reporters he was waiting at a valet stand after a shopping trip when a gunman shot him. The The 'Make a Toast' star was 21. A suspect is in custody.

    Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

    Stephen Bruton: The guitarist and songwriter, who worked with the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson, died from complications of throat cancer in May 2009. He was 60.

    Ebet Roberts/Redferns , Getty Images

    Ean Evans: The Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist died in May 2009 after what the band called "a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer."

    Rusty Russell , Getty Images

    Vern Gosdin, April 29: The country hit-maker, best known for songs like 'I Can Tell By the Way You Dance (You're Gonna Love Me Tonight)' and 'I'm Still Crazy,' died in Nashville from complications due to a stroke.

    Chuck Krall / Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    Rev. Timothy Wright, April 23, 2009:The two-time Grammy-nominated gospel singer died following a July car crash that took the lives of his wife and his grandson.

    Mark Q. Murray, AP

    David "Pop" Winans, April 9, 2009: The gospel music patriarch -- BeBe and CeCe are his kids -- was twice nominated for Grammys, in 1989 for his album with wife Delores, pictured, and again in 1999 for a solo album. He died at a Nashville hospice, seven months after suffering a heart attack and stroke.

    Arnold Turner, WireImage / Getty Images

    Bud Shank, April 2, 2009: The alto saxophonist and flutist died at age 82. He was most famous for his work with acts like the Mamas and the Papas and his flute work can be heard on their song 'California Dreamin'.'

    GAB Archive / Redferns / Getty Images

    Hal Durham, March 29, 2009: He was a fixture on the Grand Ole Opry stage, working at the famed country music institution for 32 years. He was 77.

    Donnie Beauchamp, Gaylord Entertainment / AP

    Dan Seals, March 25, 2009: The singer, who scored a number of pop and country hits, died at 61 of leukemia. Seals was half of the pop duo, England Dan and John Ford Coley, best known for the ballad, 'I'd Really Love to See You Tonight.'

    Beth Gwinn, Retna

    Uriel Jones, March 24, 2009: One of the original members of the Funk Brothers, a Motown group that played with Marvin Gaye and The Temptations, Jones died after suffering complications from a heart attack. He was 74.

    Tabatha Fireman, Redferns / Getty Images

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stacfam

Hello Susie,
She was a legend to the people that follow the blues genre. If you don't follow the blues you probably wouldn't have known of her.

June 08 2009 at 6:25 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tiff

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June 08 2009 at 3:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
timhoover

tina-- the song you refer to is-- baby meet me with your black drawers on, your welcome.

June 08 2009 at 3:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
timhoover

these fools that say they've never heard of her would be saying the same thing about bb king, because their're musically clueless! she did a great duet with bb on his blues summit album plus some killer stuff with lonnie brooks,check it out, you can thank me later!

June 08 2009 at 3:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
unabob1313

in the summer of 2007 i saw koko and buddy guy at red rocks in morrison, colorado. when the headliner george thorogood came on half the crowd of 10,000 got up and left. i moved from chicago in 1985 and lived in arizona, wyoming and colorado. i have never been so proud of my chitown roots than the night i stood in the foothills of the rocky mountains, in gods country listening to two of the greatest god ever created.

June 07 2009 at 11:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dev Stack

Gonna miss her. Elegant blues lady, seen her plenty around Detroit in my day. Yep, legend. Educate yourself about the genre and you may be surprized that you've heard a legend as well. Quit listening to crap.
"Hey! Hey! The Blues is allright!"

June 07 2009 at 11:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jim

IF I get there, I wouldn't presume on that one :)

June 07 2009 at 10:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jim

She was an awesome singer whose music making will be missed. But the music she DID make will be played on forever. A true legend. If there is a heaven, I hope they're playing somewhere where I can hear them when I get there.

June 07 2009 at 10:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
oopsa

Just because someone does not know something exists does not mean it isn't so. Like the dummy who said the Holocaust never happened.
I saw KoKo Taylor she was singing something about "draws" you know "draws" as in underwear...something about black draws I think, lol

June 07 2009 at 10:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Hi Bronxharp!

I had the great pleasure of being on the bill with Koko Taylor when I played harmonica with the opening band Tommy Rivers & The Cadillac Cowboys at the Stone Pony In Asbury Park, NJ, back in the early 90s. I went back to have an "audience with the Queen", and she was very gracious to this (then)young fan! I wish her all the peace in the next world. It is a great loss for the Blues world, but she has had a long reign, G-d Bless her. Who will be the next "Blues Queen"? Keep an ear out for Shemekia Copeland, quickly coming up in the ranks! She's dynamite! (and very influenced by Koko.) - M.T.H.

June 07 2009 at 10:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply