Koko Taylor is unequivocally the Queen of Chicago blues. She was a huge part of Bob’s blues upbringing. Here are some memorable photos of her highness.
Alligator Records Publicity Photo
Koko Taylor, Hammersmith Gaumont, London, 1967. Photo courtesy of Peter Webb.
Koko Taylor & Her Late Husband “Pops” Taylor at Biddy Mulligans in Chicago – 1974
(Photo by Bob Corritore)
Early publicity shot
Willie Dixon & Koko Taylor
Koko’s phone number given to Bob in 1975
Koko Taylor & Robert Lockwood, Jr. at the 2005 W.C. Handy Awards
Bruce Iglauer & Koko Taylor in session at Rax Trax Recording Studios in Chicago – June 2005 (Photo by Bob Corritore)
Early Publicity Shot
John Lee Hooker and Koko Taylor. Photo by Terry Abrahamson.
Koko Taylor & Freddy King. Photo by Terry Abrahamson.
Koko Taylor (with tiara), Lightnin’ Hopkins and unidentified people. Photo Ray Flerlage.
1970s Photo of Koko Taylor (Photo Courtesy of the André Hobus Library – Thanks to Photographers Bob Vanderschueren, Claude Meyer, Annique Massange, André Hobus & Marc De Jonghe)
Koko Taylor and Bob Corritore after the recording session in Chicago that yielded their remake of “What Kind Of Man Is That.” Also on that session were Bob Margolin, Bob Stroger, Little Frank, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. The song ended up on the album Bob Corritore & Friends/Harmonica Blues!
Bob Corritore & Koko Taylor
Lucerne Blues Festival in Lucerne, Switzerland – November 2007
Koko Taylor Was on the Cover of Italy’s Il Blues Magazine in Early 2010 (Courtesy of Marino Grande)
Muddy Waters, Viola Spearman (Koko’s Sister), Levi Walton (Koko’s Brother), Otis Spann, Vera Walton (Levi’s Wife), Elga Edmonds, Koko Taylor, Robert Taylor, Jimmy Rogers, Savannah Becton (Koko’s Sister) at Silvio’s Lounge – mid 1950s (Photo From the Koko Taylor Collection, Courtesy of Alligator Records – Thank you Tim Kolleth)
Early Chess Records publicity photo of Koko Taylor, courtesy University Of Mississippi.
Brownie McGhee, Hound Dog Taylor, Koko Taylor, Odie Payne, 1967 American Folk Blues Festival tour.
Koko Taylor at the 1979 Chicago Fest!
Koko Taylor lyric sheets from a 2005 session. On that session were Koko, Bob Corritore, Bob Margolin, Little Frank, Bob Stroger and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith. That smudge mark on the first page is Koko’s makeup.
Koko Taylor and Bruce Iglauer – artist and label, friend and friend!
