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Mountain Stage

Encore: Koko Taylor On Mountain Stage

January 4, 2010 • 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 Articles

Blues Queen Koko Taylor Dies At 80

June 4, 2009 • 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

Listen · 3:57 3:57

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Best Music of 2007

Top 10 Blues Albums of 2007, from WXPN

XPN

December 11, 2007 • WXPN's Blues Show host Jonny Meister counts off his 10 favorite blues albums of 2007, including harmonica player Bobby Rush, guitarist James Blood Ulmer and singer Marie Knight.

Review

Music Articles

Koko Taylor: Old School Style Still Plenty Instructive

Fresh Air

April 24, 2007 • Music critic Milo Miles reviews Old School, the latest CD from blues diva Koko Taylor. It's on the Alligator label.

Koko Taylor: Old School Style Still Plenty Instructive

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Discover Songs

Koko Taylor Sings the Holiday Blues

December 19, 2005 • 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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Music Articles

Blues Singer Koko Taylor Gets Her Due

June 5, 2004 • This week Koko Taylor became the first female blues singer to received receive a National Heritage Fellowship. We take a moment to listen to her song "Spellbound."

Blues Singer Koko Taylor Gets Her Due

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Music Articles

Koko Taylor: 'Royal Blue'

July 22, 2000 • Host David Wright talks with blues singer Koko Taylor. Her first recording in seven years is titled, Royal Blue (Alligator Records, ALCD 4873). It features B.B.King (guitar and vocals) and Keb Mo' (on National Steel Guitar, harmonica, and vocals). Taylor sings both the Chicago and Delta Blues.

Koko Taylor: 'Royal Blue'

Only Available in Archive Formats.

Real Media

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

February 20, 2012 • 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

50:56

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