ARCHIVED NEWS
 

Koko's New  Alligator Release
OLD SCHOOL
now available!!!

Get all the details in this Press Release from Alligator Records!

Read what Concert Livewire has to say about OLD SCHOOL...

KOKO TAYLOR’S OLD SCHOOL REVIEWED ON NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO’S FRESH AIR

from Alligator Records
posted April 24, 2007

Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor’s new CD, OLD SCHOOL, will be reviewed today on National Public Radio’s Fresh Air program. Since its April 3 release, OLD SCHOOL has been hailed as the best recording Taylor has ever made. Billboard called it “one of the best projects in her illustrious career.” The San Francisco Chronicle added, "No other living vocalist, male or female, tackles Chicago blues with as much toughness as Taylor." Taylor, the only blues artist to receive the National Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, will headline the Chicago Blues Festival on Thursday, June 7.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2006, 6:00 - 11:00 PM
House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St.  Chicago, IL
 THE KOKO TAYLOR CELEBRITY AID FOUNDATION PRESENTS
"A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE SISTERS OF ROYALTY"

Featuring Koko Taylor, Ruth Brown, Irma Thomas, Marva Wright, Denise Lasalle, Nellie Tiger Travis, Janiva Magness, Deborah Coleman, Melvia Chick Rodgers, Allyson Harris, and Deitra Farr

Tickets:  $40 (VIP Avail)

KOKO ISSUES WAKE UP CALL FOR CHICAGO-AREA MCDONALD'S RESTAURANTS

(posted 09/20/06)  Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor, who is currently finishing up work on a new CD scheduled for 2007 release, recently recorded a "Wake Up Call" for a McDonald's promotion in the Chicago area. In the promotion, customers can call a special number and choose to have a recorded message from Koko call their phone at a pre-designated time.

KOKO NOW CO-HOSTING "THE BLUES YOU CAN USE" RADIO SHOW

Clarence Stevens, Koko, and BluesWebRadio's John Bowles

(posted 08/24/06)  Koko is now co-hosting "The Blues You Can Use," with radio personality (and show originator) Clarence Stevens.  Hear it live on Thursday evenings via WGVE 88.7 FM out of Gary, IN or on the internet, where the programs will be archived for global access via www.blueswebradio.com.  Visit the site for announcements about upcoming guests and more!!

GREATEST LEGENDS OF ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 7

(posted 08/24/06)  Koko, her daughter Cookie, and radio personality Clarence Stevens (and Koko's co-host, see note above) will join Jim O'Neal of Living Blues Magazine in hosting the "Greatest Legends of Illinois" on September 7 at Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.  More details will be posted as we receive them.

KOKO TAYLOR CELEBRITY AID FOUNDATION PIG ROAST

(posted 08/02/06)   Saturday, August 26, 2006, at the Ryan Farm in New Lisbon, Wisconsin
Performances by Koko, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Osee Anderson, and more.  Full details here.  (.pdf)
Great music and great food will abound!
 

NEW RECORD IN THE WORKS!!

(posted 05/02/06)  Koko is in the studio working on a new record!  It will be "real" blues for "real" blues fans; a REAL treat -- she's takin' it all the way back to the roots!   You can expect to see it hit the shelves this Summer.

Three of the songs to be featured are  "You Better Watch Your Step," "It's A Hard Pill To Swallow," and  "A Piece of a Man Is Better Than No Man At All!"

When asked about the upcoming recording, Koko jokingly stated, "Well, I'm coming back  ---  to sing 'bout them lowdown dirty men again!!!!"     :-)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

(posted 05/02/06)   We need a few volunteers to help us work the Koko Taylor Celebrity Aid Foundation Booth at the City of Chicago Blues Festival from June 8 to 11th.  We'll be posting more details in the next day or two; please check back if you're interested!

A WORD OF THANKS

(posted 09/20/05)  Koko and her family send their heartfelt thanks to everyone for all the prayers and support they've received regarding Cookie's recent heart attack.  (Cookie is Koko's daughter.)  She had surgery and is now out of the hospital and resting comfortably at home.
 

KOKO TAYLOR SONG TO BE FEATURED IN FILM

Queen of the Blues Koko Taylor will have a song featured in the upcoming film “Grilled,” starring Ray Romano.


CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL

Koko recently headlined the Chicago Blues Festival, performing in front of an adoring hometown audience of over 100,000.

ANOTHER W.C. HANDY AWARD!

"Queen Of The Blues" Koko Taylor won the 2005 W.C. Handy Blues Award in the category of "Traditional Female Blues Artist Of The Year."

This is her 25th W.C. Handy Blues Award.  Koko has received more WC Handy Awards than any other artist - male or female - in history!

KOKO TAYLOR CELEBRITY AID FOUNDATION - JAMMIN' THE BLUES ON MOTHER'S DAY!
We are excited to announce the Koko Taylor Celebrity Aid Foundation inaugural event, "Jammin' The Blues" will be Sunday, May 8 (Mother's Day) at the House of Blues in Chicago.

Artists scheduled to perform at the gala include Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, and some of Chicago's finest entertainers - to include Nellie "Tiger" Travis, Melvia "Chick" Rodgers, and the Slackdaddies Blues Band.

The mission of the Koko Taylor Celebrity Aid Foundation is to provide social services to the arts and entertainment industry.  Our goal is to provide Case Management services and counseling to those in times of suffering or loss by death, loss of limbs, major auto accidents, and long term crisis; such as cancer or stroke. We also focus on assisting families with insurance counseling (life, death, health, and auto), and will provide assistance with burials.

Our objective is to educate artists, entertainers, and their families about their rights in the music and entertainment industry. We provide counseling in applications, contracts, rights of publicity, royalties, and any other entity associated with arts and entertainment.
 

KOKO  - PHENOMENAL WOMAN!
Koko will be receiving the 2005 Phenomenal Woman of the Year Award on Friday, March 11.  The award honors women who are leading the way in areas that include: entertainment, educations, community service and government.

Past awardees include Iman, congresswoman Maxine Waters, poet Dr. Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey.
 

REUNION WITH OLD FRIENDS...
Koko is excited about reuniting with her dear friends B.B. King and Bobby Blue Bland for a show at the Star Plaza in Merrillville, IN on March 25 & 26 (Easter Weekend).
 

KOKO TAYLOR NOMINATED FOR 2005 W.C. HANDY AWARD
Koko has been nominated (again!) for the 2005 W.C. Handy Award's "Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year."  More details are forthcoming soon.

KOKO TAYLOR TO RECEIVE 2005 HISTORY MAKERS AWARD

Grammy Award winning blues belter Koko Taylor will receive the coveted History Makers Award from Chicago's DuSable Museum of African American History.  The award, presented on February 19, 2005 at the Museum's annual “Night of 1000 Stars,” honors African American Chicagoans who have made outstanding contributions to society through their professions and civic responsibilities.

The DuSable Museum of African-American History is the oldest museum of its type in the country and is the only major independent institution in Chicago established to preserve and interpret the historical experiences and achievements of African-Americans.
 

KOKO TAYLOR RECEIVES NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWSHIP FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

The National Endowment For The Arts (NEA) announced that legendary blues singer Koko Taylor will be one of 12 artists to receive the National Heritage Fellowship, the nation's highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.

According to the NEA, Taylor was chosen for her “artistic excellence, cultural authenticity, and contributions to [her] field.” The award will be presented to her on September 29, 2004 in a ceremony on Capitol Hill.

According to National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia, “The work of these awardees is a testament to the diversity and exceptional quality of America's artistic resources. The cultures and artistic forms represented here speak to traditions, both ancient and contemporary and to artistic achievements that are timeless.”

This is the first time a female blues artist has received the National Heritage Fellowship in the 23-year history of the award.

UPDATE:  In addition, Koko received a congratulatory letter signed personally by George and Laura Bush on September 28, 2004.

UPCOMING SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY

On Sunday, October 17, 2004 Cookie (Koko's daughter) and Buddy Guy will host a surprise birthday party for Koko at Buddy Guy's Legends from 6:00 pm until 12 midnight.

RAINING GOOD TIME

Koko, the reigning "Queen of the Blues" had a "raining" good time at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR. The Blues Foundation surprised Koko on stage with an early birthday celebration and presented her with the actual 2004 Handy Award she won for "Traditional Blues Female Artist of the Year".


DRIVING MISS KOKO

Big Ray is now driving for Koko, he is also the drummer for Otis Rush.


WINTER PLANS

Koko will be performing only selected dates throughout the fall and winter months.  The "Queen" will be resting up in preparation for upcoming events and performances next Spring.


ANOTHER W.C. HANDY AWARD!

"Queen Of The Blues" Koko Taylor won the 2004 W.C. Handy Blues Award in the category of "Traditional Female Blues Artist Of The Year."