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Koko Taylor

Mountain Stage

Encore: Koko Taylor On Mountain Stage

The Queen of the Blues made three appearances on Mountain Stage before passing away in 2009. The recording heard here was made in April 1994, and features Taylor performing three signature tunes with her one-of-a-kind growl.

Listen Now: Koko Taylor In Concert

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Music Interviews

Blues Queen Koko Taylor Dies At 80

Her name is synonymous with Chicago blues, and her voice was growling, thunderous and full of soul. Grammy Award-winning blues singer Koko Taylor died in a Chicago hospital Wednesday.

Blues Queen Koko Taylor Dies At 80

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New Music

Koko Taylor Sings the Holiday Blues

A holiday treat — Koko Taylor sings "Merry, Merry Christmas." Taylor was born Cora Walton on a sharecropper's farm in Memphis, Tenn. She got the nickname "Koko" for her love of chocolate. She started singing gospel in church, and later she made a career for herself singing the blues.

Koko Taylor Sings the Holiday Blues

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World Cafe Looks Back: Blues And Gospel

Mavis Staples performs with The Roots at the Climate Rally on the National Mall on April 25, 2010, in Washington, D.C.

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World Cafe

World Cafe Looks Back: Blues And Gospel

XPN

Hear conversations with guitar masters Buddy Guy and R.L. Burnside, gospel storyteller Mavis Staples and blues royalty Koko Taylor.

World Cafe Looks Back: Blues And Gospel

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