Koko Taylor

Koko Taylor, known as the "Queen of Chicago blues," revitalized the tradition of powerful female blues vocalists and achieved fame with hits like "Wang Dang Doodle." Born Cora Walton in Memphis, Tennessee, Taylor's journey in music began in a local Baptist church before she moved to Chicago with her husband. Under the mentorship of Willie Dixon, she made her mark on the blues scene, eventually winning numerous W.C. Handy Awards and solidifying her status as the greatest female blues singer of her time.

After finding success with Chess Records, Taylor signed with Alligator Records in the 1970s and continued to garner acclaim with albums like "I Got What It Takes" and "The Earthshaker." Despite a tragic van accident that took a toll on her health and personal life in 1988, Taylor persevered, releasing albums like "Jump for Joy" and "Force of Nature." She maintained her reign as the Queen of the Blues until her passing in 2009 at the age of 80.