You'll yell, you'll stomp, and you'll clap your hands like there's no tomorrow. And for once in your life, a sore throat, aching feet, and blistered hands will feel great. Koko Taylor and her Blues Machine will blaze into town Saturday evening and deal out some hard rocking blues that will cure you of the diseases you can't be immunized with a shot for.
The blues singer, who grew up named Cora Walton, acquired the nickname "Koko" from her affinity for chocolate. People called her "Little Cocoa" as a kid, which evolved into just "Koko." Her father was a sharecropper on a cotton farm near Memphis, TN. Since money was scarce, she and her brothers made their own instruments, and often played blues music behind their father's back, despite his insistence that they only play gospel music. The kids also listened to blues records and to B.B. King's blues radio show, immersing themselves in the traditions of the blues.
Not until she was about twenty years old did Koko aspire to be a professional blues singer. At that time, she was living with her future husband, Robert "Pops" Taylor, in Chicago. They frequented clubs around town, meeting blues artists such as Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Watters, and Buddy Guy. Koko would often sit in and sing. One such night, she won a singing contest. Willie Dixon, a famous bluesman himself for Chess Records, was in the audience, and was astounded with her talent. He persuaded Chess to sign her to a contract, and soon she had her first big hit, "Wang Dang Doodle," in 1965.
Since the demise of Chess Records in 1975, Koko has recorded mostly with Alligator Records. She has also sung worldwide in every context imaginable, often with blues greats such as B.B. King and Paul Schaffer. She won a grammy in 1984, and has been nominated for six more. She has appeared on numerous television and radio shows, such as the David Letterman show and National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."
Even with the television and radio engagements, she still puts on about 200 shows per year, a phenomenal rate for any artist.
Her band, the Blues Machine, is aptly named. They play the blues as if they are one person, performing precisely together, never losing time or soul. Even on simple, repeated grooves, such as the four bar one for "Wang Dang Doodle," the listener is never denied an exciting moment. Connies who are overwhelmed by technique and complex variations of chord progressions, harmonies, and melodies, would do themselves a favor to learn first hand the most important aspect of any music - to groove (of course, within the idiom).
Koko's clarity and forcefulness fit perfectly with the band's aggressive yet controlled sound. No matter what your musical preference or experience, however, you should come Saturday night to stomp, clap, and shout your troubles away with Koko Taylor and her Blues Machine.
Koko Taylor and her Blues Machine play Finney Chapel Saturday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. $4 OCID, $8 others.
Copyright © 1997, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 126, Number 9, November 14, 1997
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