|
| |
Late Koko Taylor Gets a Send-Off Worthy of a Queen
11-Jun-2009
Written by: John Winn
Denise Williams, Otis Clay among musicians performing at Thursday memorial service.
According to the Associated Press, a bevy of musicians have flown in to Chicago to prep for the annual Chicago Blues Festival this weekend. They are also prepping for something else--Koko Taylor's memorial service.
Though her funeral is scheduled for Friday--the same day the festival opens--performers and fans alike are making time to pay their last respects to the Queen of the Blues.
The musical tribute follows a private wake Thursday for Taylor's friends and family, including daughter Joyce and son-in-law Lee, and many grandchildren.
The memorial performance will be held at the Rainbow Push Coalition National Headquarters near Drexel University. The Rev. Jesse Jackson--who will deliver the eulogy--will also be on hand for the celebration of her life at the building, located on Chicago's South Side. Both Taylor's lying in state and the performance will be held there.
Taylor died June 3 following surgery for gastrointestinal bleeding. She was 80.
During her decades long career, she made several appearances on TV, including "The David Letterman Show," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and "All Things Considered."
On the Blues Festival's Web site, they even have a memorial page, complete with a photo of Taylor and a caption--"A voice that will be missed, a presence that will never be gone."
Though Taylor never achieved the kind of fame that her peers did, she did record several #1 hits, including "Wang Dang Doodle" and "I Got What It Takes."
Talk to other readers about this story on our Facebook page.
|
|
|
|
|
