Scores of people gathered at Operation PUSH headquarters, 930 E. 50th St., Thursday and Friday to pay tribute to blues legend Koko Taylor.
Scores of people gathered at Operation PUSH headquarters, 930 E. 50th St., Thursday and Friday to pay tribute to blues legend Koko Taylor.
Thursday, fans and friends filed in to pay their last respects to Taylor who was dressed in a gold beaded dress, beneath a glass covering in her coffin.
Chicago gospel recording artist Pastor Darius Brooks and others lead the crowd in a choral celebration Thursday that paid homage to Taylor and set the stage for a spirited homegoing service the next day.
On Friday, city officials as well as some blues musicians, including Otis Clay and Dorothy Moore, were among the mourners who attended Taylor’s funeral. Bishop Fred Marshall delivered a moving eulogy.
One of the greatest blues entertainers, Taylor, died June 3 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital following a gastrointestinal surgery she had there days before. Doctors had expected the 80-year-old legend to recover from the surgery. Taylor, who lived in Chicago, is famous for songs like "Wang Dang Doodle" and "What Kind of Man Is This?"
Born Cora Walton, Taylor was born just outside of Memphis. Her nickname, Koko, came from her love of chocolate. She came to Chicago at the age of 18 with her husband, Robert “Pops” Taylor and began working as a cleaning lady for a wealthy family.
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