Koko Taylor

1928–2009 (age 81)

blues singer

Biography

Koko Taylor, born in 1928, reigned as the Queen of the Blues, her raw, electrifying voice carrying the Chicago sound around the world while she stood tall on stages from Maxwell Street to the biggest festivals.

She remained a mentor to younger performers, insisting on authenticity and hard work, and she made Washington Memory Gardens the place where admirers gather to honor both her music and her tireless advocacy for the blues.

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