Grammy award winning blues legend Koko Taylor has died in her native Chicago at the age of 80.
Born Cara Walton, Koko had a career spanning over 40 years. First spotted in 1962, Koko landed a recording contract and recorded her best known song, “Wang Dang Doodle” in 1965. Wang Dang Doodle reached number four on the R&B charts in 1966, and sold a million copies.
Koko Taylor built a widespread fan base while touring in the 60’s and 70’s, leading to a contract with Alligator Records in 1975 that spanned over a dozen albums. Her work with Alligator saw her receive numerous Grammy Awards nominations (winning eventually in 1985), and taking out an unmatched twenty five W. C. Handy Awards (more than any other artist).
Koko toured without breaking, performing 200 shows a year until a heart attack slowed her down in 2003. Her last appearance on stage was on May 7, 2009 at the Memphis at the Blues Music Awards, where she fittingly sang Wang Dang Doodle one last time.
Koko Talyor is survived by her husband Hays Harris, her daughter Joyce Threatt, and several grand and great-grand children.
Here’s Koko Talyor performing Wang Dang Doodle in 1967:
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