Koko ‘Queen of the Blues’ Taylor dies

No snappy headline this time…

I’ve got a list…  a list of legends that I want to see perform before they pass from this reality.  I’ve recently taken inventor of the electric guitar and modern recording techniques Les Paul — it was in a word, amazing.  I think I’m still grinning from that show.

In the summer of 2007 I saw Koko Taylor perform at the Lowell Summer Music Series.  Even at the ripe old age of 78 she could still belt out a tune.  Her band was tight and the lead guitar even managed to take the term ‘lick’ literally as he managed to ‘play’ his axe with his tongue!

I don’t think there is any doubt that Koko qualifies as a legend; her trademark song Wang Dang Doodle (written by Willie Dixion — yet another legend) has been covered by a diverse array of artists from Ted Nugent to Grateful Dead and PJ Harvey.

Her gravelly voice and powerful style were unmistakeable.  I’m very glad to have seen her before she shuffled off her mortal coil.

Time to update the list…

You can see my photos from this show on Flickr.