KoKo

Last night, a few weeks after her last performance, KoKo Taylor, the Queen of The Blues died at the age of 81.
I saw KoKo quite a bit in the 1970's. This video is of her biggest selling hit, the Willy Dixon penned Wang Dang Doodle. This is from the 1960's and the hamonica player is the legendary Little Walter.
She was born in Memphis and in 1952, moved with her husband to Chicago and got involverd in the Chicago blues scene.
KoKo was the real thing, she inspired Janis Joplin and many other women who wanted to sing the blues. KoKo toured incessantly her entire life and played 70 shows after she turned 81. At the time of her death, she was said by the IRS to owe almost $400,000 in back taxes and she was working to just keep above water.
That's the blues...
She was a powerhouse, a grand performer and was dancing on stage with her band,The Blues Explosion even in her last performances.
Here is a partial discography:

# Love You Like a Woman (Charly Records) - November 30, 1968
# Koko Taylor (MCA/Chess) - 1969
# Basic Soul (Chess Records) - 1972
# South Side Lady (Evidence Records) - 1973
# I Got What It Takes (Alligator)
# Southside Baby (Black and Blue Records - 1975
# The Earthshaker (Alligator) - 1978
# From The Heart Of A Woman (Alligator) - 1981
# Queen of the Blues (Alligator) - 1985
# An Audience with Koko Taylor (Alligator) - 1987
# Live from Chicago (Alligator) - 1987
# Love You Like a Woman (Charly Records) - November 30, 1968
# "Wang Dang Doodle" (Huub Records) - 1991
# Jump for Joy (Alligator) - 1992
# Force of Nature (Alligator) - 1993
# Royal Blue (Alligator) - 2000
# Deluxe Edition (Alligator) - 2002
# Old School (Alligator) - 2007

RIP KoKo Taylor, a true American Original.