Blues legend Koko Taylor (often misspelled Coco Taylor) passed away today at the age of 80. The chicago blues woman was recovering from gastrointestinal surgery. A spokesman from Alligator Records spoke to the Chicago Tribune:
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 gastronomical 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, Koko 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
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