Guitar Shorty Mike Zito

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Cool Issue 180 The Publication of the Linn County Blues Society July 2009 Dennis McMurrin Guitar Shorty Mike Zito

Bluesmore “Sweet 16” August 1 In this July issue — Check out The Diplomats Of Solid Sound’s Sarah Cram’s Diplomats of Solid Sound - The REAL DEAL! CD, Darlin’. Big Mo’s CD review Thanks for the CD, Sarah! Guitar Shorty & Mike Zito bios Local LIVE music schedules Koko Taylor remembered Koko Taylor BBQ’ Loo & Blues, Too! July 17-18 1928-2009 The Linn County Blues Society is a way Diplomats of Solid Sound cool, non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Blues music in The real deal! Eastern Iowa as well as to provide charitable contributions to other commu- Article and photo by Bill Ray nity organizations. LCBS is an Affiliated Organization in the Blues Foundation’s international network. The BLUESPAPER ’m glad I waited un- is a monthly publication of the LCBS. til just recently to Website: lcbs.org hear The Diplomats I LCBS Officers of Solid Sound. Several President - Andy Dergo people told me that the group was sound- Vice President - Evan Vulich ing the best they have ever been and are Secretary - Steve Springer creating enthusiasm wherever they ap- Treasurer - Sue Dergo pear. It must be so, because the two full Directors at Large performances I saw in late May were joy- Bob De Forest, Bill Meeks, Frank Wilson ful and spectacular. The Diplomats of Solid Sound per- Chairs formed in a cabaret /restaurant setting at Public Relations: Lori Blattner Entertainment - Greg West Membership - Kevin Cutsforth Merchandise - David Andrews Nate Basinger on Hammond B-3 Make no mistake - the young guys playing The Bluespaper & LCBS folks Editor - Evan Vulich the instruments in the band are rock-solid Photographers - Bill Ray, see bylines veteran musicians and have created a tight, Staff Writers - Bill Ray, see bylines unusual jazzy sound. But the virtuosity of Distribution - Andy Dergo, Bill Meeks the two female vocalists up front is what Parliamentarian - Bill Meeks Program - Bob De Forest makes the whole performance click and Public Relations - Open astound. Web Admin. - Evan Vulich Kathy Ruestow perhaps has the more vel- vety jazz voice. Sarah Cram seems to have Membership To learn more about the Linn County a wider vocal range and can really belt out Blues Society or to join, see the member- those higher soul notes. No matter - they’re ship form in this Bluespaper or the LCBS both on the same team. With very similar website. Your membership includes; vocal styles, they can harmonize beauti- • Discount admissions to many local Blues activities. fully or exchange taking the lead vocal on • Monthly LCBS Bluespaper. different songs. It’s the synchronized dance • Voting rights in the LCBS elections. moves that really catch your attention - re- • Being a apart of the groove! flecting back upon how the girl groups of Bluespaper Contact information Sarah Cram and Kathy Ruestow the sixties used to move on stage. Arms Send news, band or club live entertain and hands flowing, they shimmy, they dip, -ment listings or advertising to: the Irish Democrat in Cedar Rapids on they twirl - always close enough to the mi- Evan Vulich at: [email protected]. Sunday, May 24. crophones to sing the words at precisely the Bluespaper Ad Rates They were coming off a two-day road right time. $15.00 - Business card size - 2” x 3.5” trip to Milwaukee and St. Louis. If they One main reason the Diplomats are in $25.00 - Quarter page ad - 3.5” x 4.75” were weary, they certainly didn’t show it. peak mode right now is that they are writ- $50.00 - Half page ad - 4.75” x 7.25” Their jazz, funk and soul tunes had the ing and performing outstanding original $100.00 - Full page - 7.5” x 10” crowd whooping, hollering, applauding songs that they all have collaborated on in Submission Requirements- All ads, and singing along creating. Songs like: “Jealous,” “Crazy photos or scanned images, either color Based in Iowa City, The Diplomats of ‘Bout You Boy,” “Kitchen,” “Pistol Allen,” or black/white, need to be 300ppi. Native Solid Sound include Doug Roberson on “Trouble Me,” and “Lights Out!” Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, JPG, TIFF, EPS, PDF, BMP accepted. Ads created in guitar, Nate Basinger on Hammond B-3 Then there are the raucous girl-leaves- Word may cause dimentia, severe cramp- organ, Eddie McKinley and David Bas- boy tunes like “Back Off!” and “Nobody’s ing and diarrhea. Deadline for submis- inger on saxophones, Paul Kresowik on Gonna Stand In My Way!” that really ap- sions is the 19th of the month. drums and “girl singers” Sarah Cram and peal to females in the audience. Sure to Moving? Send your new address to; Kathy Ruestow on lead vocals and nifty bring down the house is “Bullfrog Booga- LCBS, PO Box 2672, Cedar Rapids, IA stage choreography. Roberson also does loo,” while “Promise Of A New Day” is 52406-2672 so you won’t miss a single some lead vocal work and Nate Basinger moving and inspirational. issue of your Bluespaper. adds harmony vocals. Continued on page 3 2 / Linn County Blues Society ©2009 Another reason the Diplomats are sound- ing better than ever is the recent addition of Paul Kresowik on drums. Paul comes from a jazz drumming background and has the subtlety, precision and creativity to really add to the percussive foundation of this group. Sometimes he’ll play an ascending drum roll or cymbal crash that seems to come out of nowhere and add just the right touch to an already great tune Could The Diplomats of Solid Sound make a successful transition to the larger democracy of a free outdoor concert? The answer came on May 29 when they performed on a beautiful spring evening Paul Kresowik on drums on the Ped Mall fountain stage as part Buckwheat Zydeco of the Iowa City Friday Night Concert tion of singers and entertainers. Lay Your Burden Down Series. Once the large outdoor speakers The Diplomats of Solid Sound are the real and amps got dialed in correctly, the guys thing. With growing popularity, they are Alligator Records and gals in the band were clicking on all performing more in regional venues and in Release Date:May 5, 2009 cylinders. Hundreds of listeners sitting surrounding states. In late July they travel on stone walls and in lawn chairs showed overseas for about ten days of perform- Cooling Hot Zydeco enthusiastic appreciation for all three sets. ing at outdoor music festivals and clubs in Hundreds more strolling by certainly northern Italy. A just reward for their hard Buckwheat Zydeco’s first re- work. lease since Katrina is more in- Locally you can catch trospective and thoughtful than performances on July 3 in Coralville, July 4 (at 2 the happy-go-lucky efforts of PM) on the main stage of the past. It has five originals the Iowa City Jazz Festi- and some excellent covers with val and July 10 in Cedar help from everyone from Capt. Rapids. I’m looking for- Beefheart & Warren Haynes to ward to the completion Jimmy Cliff & Trombone Shorty and release of their new (at ICJF). There’s some great CD. foot patting music for sure, but David Basinger, Eddie McKinley and Doug Roberson on guitar. the overall mood is quieter and more serious. The music is well stopped to hear a few songs. Eddie McKinley was really wailing on conceived and produced and tenor sax. David Basinger lent talented keeps reaching out to grab you support on baritone. Doug Roberson Tomaso’s as you track through the CD. structured the songs with his guitar work. BZ plays organ behind some Nate Basinger did some terrific solo work Pizza screaming slide guitar on a few on the keyboards and Paul glued every- tunes and is better at it than I thing together on drums. 364-4313 expected. The original tunes The two female lead vocalists were real- are a little weak, but overall it’s ly working the crowd with covers of clas- a fine effort. Stanley Dural, Jr. sics like “Hip Drop,” “The Thang,” and Official Pizza (born 1947) is still going strong “Don’t Need No Doctor.” What caught my attention was about a dozen pre-teen girls of Bluesmore! and still has something to say. near the stage dancing to the Diplomats’ 3234 Center Point Rd. original tune “Fascination” in flattering imitation of their female role models on — John Heim (A.K.A. “Big Mo”) stage: moving their arms, doing the shimmy, hip drops and sliding back and forth in stylized dance movements. Whether Them pains, when blues pains grab you, Sarah and Kathy realize it or not, I think you’ll sing the blues right. they are helping to create a future genera- — Otis Rush

WE THE PEOPLE burns with heavy rock “Defiant, electric blues with piercing and roll fire from start to finish, putting intensity and raw venom that’ll leave Shorty’s infectious energy and guitar py- your ears singed” --Chicago Tribune rotechnics on full display. And more than ever before, his songs tell the story of the uitarist/vocalist and blues leg- harsh realities of everyday life in terms end Guitar Shorty is a man both stark (We The People), pointed (Cost Gof the people. With the abil- Of Livin’) and poignant (Down That Road ity to pack clubs and festivals as one of Again). What he began with WATCH the blues’ most celebrated live perform- YOUR BACK, Shorty accelerates with WE ers (even before he had any nationally THE PEOPLE, creating an album that is available recordings) and now among the as memorable for its menacing guitar work top-selling recording artists in the blues and defiant vocals as it is for its incisive and world, he is clearly the people’s choice. wide-ranging stories. Between his blistering, rocked-out guitar Guitar Shorty was born David William work and his fierce, soulful vocals, the Kearney on September 8, 1939 in Houston, power of his music is unmatched, and his Texas and raised in Kissimmee, Florida by perceptive and meaningful lyrics unique his grandmother. He began playing guitar among modern bluesmen. Credited with as a young boy, excited by the sounds of influencing both Jimi Hendrix and Buddy B.B. King, Guitar Slim, T-Bone Walker Guitar Shorty Guy, Shorty has been electrifying audi- and Earl Hooker. After a move to Tampa ences for five decades with his super- when he was 17, Kearney won a slot as a and Shorty jumped at the chance, follow- charged live shows and his incendiary re- featured guitarist and vocalist in Walter ing his hero to New Orleans. Inspired by cordings (beginning in 1957 with a Willie Johnson’s 18-piece orchestra. Being young- Slim, Shorty began incorporating some Dixon-produced single on the Cobra la- er—and shorter—than the rest of the band, of the older artist’s athletic showmanship bel). Through the years, Shorty has per- the club owner bestowed the name Guitar into his own performances. Before long, he formed with blues and R&B luminaries Shorty on him, and it stuck. After a par- was doing somersaults and flips on stage. like Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, B.B. King, ticularly strong performance in Florida, the Between his blistering talent and his wild Guitar Slim and T-Bone Walker. Although great Willie Dixon, who was in the audi- stage shows, Guitar Shorty found his au- he had recorded a handful of singles for a ence, approached Shorty and said, “I like dience growing even larger. He recorded variety of labels, it wasn’t until the 1990s what you’re doing. You’ve got something three 45s for the Los Angeles-based Pull that the wider world opened its collec- different. I gotta get you in the studio.” Records label in 1959. Those six sides—all tive ears to one of the blues’ most excit- A few weeks later Shorty was in Chicago Guitar Shorty originals incorporating tech- ing performers. His albums since then all and, backed by Otis Rush on second gui- niques learned from Willie Dixon—show- received massive critical acclaim, and his tar, he cut his first single, Irma Lee b/w cased his first-rate vocals and his dynamic legendary live performances have kept You Don’t Treat Me Right, for Chicago’s guitar style. him constantly in demand all over the famed Cobra Records (the first label home He gigged steadily through the late 1950s world. His 2004 Alligator Records debut, for Rush, Magic Sam and Buddy Guy) in and 1960s, working with Little Milton, WATCH YOUR BACK, became the best 1957. “Willie Dixon was a huge influence B.B. King, Lowell Fulson, Sam Cooke, received, best-selling album of his career. on me and my singing,” Shorty remembers. Otis Rush, Johnny Copeland and T-Bone GuitarOne magazine said, “Guitar Shorty “If it hadn’t been for him, I never would Walker. Settling down in Seattle, he mar- is a superb bluesman who can scorch your have recorded.” ried Marsha Hendrix, Jimi’s stepsister. ears off with lethal licks and heavyweight After recording the Cobra single, Shorty’s Hendrix loved his guitar-playing brother- blues-rock grooves.” With his new CD, fortunes continued to rise, as the great in-law, and confessed that in 1961 and 1962 WE THE PEOPLE, he’s prepared to con- Ray Charles hired the young guitar slinger he would go AWOL from his Army base in tinue what he’s started, taking his music, as a featured member of his road band. order to catch Shorty’s area performances, and his fans, to deeper places and even While touring Florida, Shorty met one of picking up licks and ideas. “I’d see Jimi at greater heights. his idols—guitarist/vocalist Guitar Slim, the clubs,” Shorty recalls. “He’d stay in the Produced by Wyzard and Brian Brinker- famous for his hit Things That I Used To shadows, watching me. I hear my licks in hoff, WE THE PEOPLE finds Guitar Do as well as for his wildman stage antics. Purple Haze and Hey Joe. He told me the Shorty singing and playing with fero- Slim’s manager offered Shorty the open- reason he started setting his guitar on fire cious urgency and a fierce righteousness. ing slot on the guitarist’s upcoming tour, was because he couldn’t do the back flips

4 / Linn County Blues Society ©2009 like I did.” five, when he began singing and performing downhill fast. Walter Trout pulled Guitar Shorty cut his debut album for the ing. It didn’t take long for him to discover Zito aside one night after a show and ex- JSP label in 1990 while on tour in Eng- his instrument of choice – electric guitar – plained to him that he had been down that land. Released in 1991, My Way Or The after receiving a Van Halen record for his path himself, and that it was no good. He Highway received the Blues Music Award birthday. His education and journey were told Zito about the responsibility he had for “Contemporary Foreign Blues Album just starting – little did he know he would to the music and to the people to perform Of The Year” and revitalized Shorty’s find himself among such legends at a local honestly and unaffected. His abilities suf- career in the U.S. With all the attention guitar shop just out of high school. “Ev- fered and he drifted around the country a Shorty received, the New Orleans-based eryone from Chuck Berry to Bennie Smith bit lost and confused, ending up in South- Black Top label signed him and released came in that store,” Zito shares of his expe- east Texas. Zito fell in love with his now three albums (Topsy Turvy, Get Wise To rience. “I soaked up the sounds of that store wife and had found the love and support Yourself and Roll Over, Baby) during the and began building my own style.” to help him clean up and refocus on his 1990s, and in 2001 Evidence Records Zito’s journey took off at the age of 19, career. issued I Go Wild. All received an abun- when he busted into the local St. Louis mu- With a clean slate and real world ex- dance of positive press as he barnstormed sic scene, developing his sound even fur- periences to include in his songwriting, his way across the U.S. and around the ther from the stage. His first independent Zito released “Slow it Down” in 2004. world, with stops in Europe, China and release arrived in 1996, titled “Blue Room” Including songs like “Long Dark Road,” Malaysia. The Chicago Tribune declared, which included raw and funky songs “Hol- “Change My Ways” and the title track, “Shorty’s forte is his high-energy style lywood” and “Pull the Trigger”. His song- “Slow it Down” Zito share what life ex- and fluid, imaginative fretboard work.” writing experience would break through periences had taught him. He formed a DownBeat raved, “Guitar Shorty’s music on his sophomore release titled “America’s new solid band and began again playing is a funky, boisterous buffet of off-the- Most Wanted” in 1999. This album shares full-time across the country with over 250 wall blues fun.” Appearances at major fes- his pop sensibilities and intense guitar shows in 2005. “Music can change every- work. “Crazy People”, “Deal Me In” and thing…how you feel, how you see and his own rendition of El- t o n what you believe,” Zito explains. guitarshorty.org John’s “Rocket Man” a l l He would find his true sound from all set the pace to bring his experiences, new and old, and release him into a national his fourth album, “Superman” in 2006. tivals like The Monterey Bay Blues Festi- audience. Touted as “Soulful pop ” critics would val, The San Francisco Blues Festival and His touring sched- u l e pen it as Zito’s sound with his voice and The King Biscuit Blues Festival brought found him criss- cross- vocals rising above the music. His forma- him to larger and larger audiences. At ing the coun- tive influences blend with additional mu- the 1998 Chicago Blues Festival, Shorty try as sical heroes and legends such as Prince, opened for his old boss Ray Charles and well as Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, thrilled an audience of thousands with his p e r - SRV, Walter Trout, B.B. King, Buddy jaw-dropping stage show. Guy, Danny Gatton, and even rising art- With the release of WATCH YOUR ists like John Mayer. His journey has lead BACK in 2004, Guitar Shorty’s long rise him to a critical point in his life and ca- to blues stardom grew exponentially. The reer to a larger audience and sharing the outpouring of soulful emotion, the power stage with national recording artists such of his playing and the strength of the ma- as Chuck Berry, Fabulous Thunderbirds, terial added up to the toughest album of Tab Benoit, Walter Trout, Bernard Alli- Shorty’s renowned career. Living Blues son, Coco Montoya, Joe Bonamassa and called Shorty “a blues rock original [who many more. plays] screaming, empowered guitar and In 2007, Zito’s path has crossed with sings with streetwise defiance.” Randy Chortkoff of Delta Groove Music. Within months he’s penned a deal and gained full support with Chortkoff’s label Eclecto Groove Records and Rick Booth mikezito.com of Intrepid Artists. With a new chapter Mike Zito of his life unfolding - full label backing, new management and larger audiences, rowing up in St. Louis, Mis- forming a regular dose of 6 nights a week Zito has only begun to scratch the musi- souri, Zito was immersed in in and around St. Louis when not on the cal surface yet again. the gritty sounds of the south road. He would also have the opportu- G The blues was like that problem child that you side that would unknowingly become the nity to play overseas for the USO during may have had in the family. You was a little bit groundwork of his future in music. Like that same time period. With such a crazed ashamed to let anybody see him, but you loved the legends before him, music has coursed schedule and lifestyle, drugs and alcohol him. You just didn’t know how other people would through his veins from the early age of took their effect on him. Zito was slid- take it. — B.B.King

Thur. 2 MVBF, LeClaire Park The Blue Band, Bandshell, 5-6:30PM Sun. 26 Blues On Grand Tinsley Ellis, time-TBA J.M. O’Malley’s 4 Box O Rocks, 9-1 Wed. 29 Checkers Tavern & Eatery Kevin BF Burt, 7PM Chappy’s Safari Mike & Rob Show, 9-1 Thur. 30 The Mill, Iowa City The Tornadoes, 8-11:30PM Fri. 3 Checkers Tavern & Eatery Reddoor, 9-1 J.M. O’Malley’s DDog & The BBits, 9-1 Ernie’s Tom Bruner & Dan Johnson, 6-9PM Clear Lake Celebration The Blue Band, Town Square, 7-11PM Fri. 31 Checkers Tavern & Eatery Roughstock, 9-1 Downtown Fridays, IC McMurrin & Johnson, Demo Band, Sat. 4 Ernie’s McMurrin & Johnson, 6-9PM 7-9PM Firehouse- JAM Various players, 4-8PM The Mill, Iowa City The Blue Band Chrome Horse Saloon Jeff Bruner Windsor Heights The Blue Band, Colby Park, Des Moines IC Jazz Festival The Tornadoes, 1:30-3:30PM The LCBS meets the 1st Monday of each month. IC Jazz Festival Diplomats of Solid Sound, 2PM IC Jazz Festival Johnny Kilowatt, 5:30-6PM &7:30-8PM See you at the Longbranch on July 6, 6:30PM Sun. 5 Summerset Winery The Blue Band, Indianola, IA 3-6PM for the LCBS Board & Member meeting. Thur. 9 Wine Room, Mt. Vernon The Blue Midnight Trio Guests are welcome! J.M. O’Malley’s Electric Mule, 9-1 90 Twixt Town Rd., Marion • 377-6386 Fri. 10 Checkers Tavern & Eatery Twist & Shout, 9-1 Zona Rosa District, KC, MO The Blue Band, 6-9PM Cocktails & Co. Diplomats of Solid Sound, 9PM Specializing in Ernie’s McMurrin & Johnson, 6-9PM RIBS, STEAK, PRIME RIB, LOBSTER & CRAB Sat. 11 Firehouse- JAM Various players, 4-8PM Featuring our award winning Big Barn Harley-Davidson Blue Band, 81 NW 49th PL. Des Moines, IA BBQ Pork Ribs! Sun. 12 Checkers Tavern & Eatery Li’l Dave Thompsen Band, 9-1 Seafood • 30 item salad bar Pour Sports Merrill Miller, DJ & Steve Hayes, 6-9PM Kids menus • Specialty desserts Mahoney’s Irish Pub Steez, 6PM Thur. 16 Shuey’s McMurrin & Johnson, 6-9PM Checkers Tavern & Eatery Matt Gogel, 9-1 A very special THANK YOU to these J.M. O’Malley’s Perry & The Pumpers, 9-1 businesses who have signed up to help us Central Park Gazeebo The Blue Band, 5:30-7:30, Grinnell, IA Keep the Blues Alive! Cedar Landing Mike & Rob Show Fri. 17 Checkers Tavern & Eatery Smokin’ Guns, 9-1 • C.R. Bank & Trust • 16th Avenue Prod. The Java House The Blue Midnight Trio, 8-10PM • Chappy’s Safari • KCCK 88.3 Chrome Horse Saloon Funk Daddies, 6:30(out) Pumpers (in) 9PM BBQ’Loo & Blues, Too Lincoln Park, Downtown Waterloo, 5:30-9 • Chrome Horse Saloon • Checkers Tavern Live At 5, Ottumwa, IA The Blue Band, 5-8PM • The Longbranch • Home Town Restyling Cedar Landing Electric Mule, 9-1 • Dudley Bros. Co. • Next Door Icehouse, Riverside, IA 4 Box O Rocks • Ron Schantz Const. • Tomaso’s Pizza Sat. 18 BBQ’Loo & Blues, Too Lincoln Park, Downtown Waterloo, 5:30-9 • J.M. O’Malley’s • Mahoney’s Irish Pub Firehouse- JAM Various players, 4-8PM Shuey’s Jeff Bruner, 9-1 Pleasant Hill SummerFest The Blue Band, 7-10PM, Des Moines, IA Chappy’s Safri Johnny Kilowatt, 9-1 Gus’, Coralville Electric Mule, 9-1 Clayton River Fest, Clayton The Pumpers, 7PM, O’Connell Bros., 5PM • LCBS Members SAVE 10% off meals at Sun. 19 Mahoney’s Irish Pub Ken Valdez, 6PM Leo’s Italian Restaurant! RAGBRAI Party, Red Oak The Blue Band, 6-8PM, Pork Belly Ventures 29 South Frederick Avenue, Oelwein. Thur. 23 J.M. O’Malley’s Merrill Miller w/ Gibby & DJ, 9-1 The Firehouse Mike & Rob Show, 9-12:30 • SAVE at - Tic Toc Restaurant Fri. 24 Checkers Tavern & Eatery Triple Shot Band, 9-1 Buy one, get one ½ price Cambridge Jubilee Days The Blue Band, 8-12, Cambridge, IA Jerseys, Cedar Rapids Mike & Rob Show, 9-1 on any regular breakfast entrée Chappy’s Safri Perry & The Pumpers, 9-1 or sandwich! Ernie’s McMurrin & Johnson, Miller, Douglas, 7PM • SAVE at - Genghis Grill Sat. 25 CR Landing McMurrin & Johnson Band & Skeeter, 9PM Firehouse- JAM Various players, 4-8PM 10% off entire ticket ANYTIME! Shuey’s Chubby Duo, 9-1 Wells Fargo/BIX dance The Blue Band, Davenport, IA SAVE at Hamilton Mortgage “White folks hear the blues come out, but they don’t know how it got there.” $250 off closing costs (ask for Jessica) — Ma Rainey 6 / Linn County Blues Society ©2009 Koko Taylor Queen of the Blues 1928-2009

Alligator Records

rammy Award-winning blues legend Koko Taylor, 80, died on June 3, 2009 in her hometown of Chicago, IL, as a result of complications following her May 19 surgery to correct a gastrointes- Gtinal bleed. On May 7, 2009, the critically acclaimed Taylor, known worldwide as the Queen of the Blues, won her 29th Blues Music Award (for Traditional Female Blues Artist Of The Year), making her the recipient of more Blues Music Awards than any other artist. In 2004 she received the NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award, which is among the highest honors given to an American artist. Her most recent CD, 2007s Old School, was nominated for a Grammy (eight of her nine Alligator albums were Grammy- nominated). She won a Grammy in 1984 for her guest appearance on the compilation album Blues Explosion on Atlantic. Born Cora Walton on a sharecropper’s farm just outside Memphis, TN, on September 28, 1928, Koko, nicknamed for her love of chocolate, fell in love with music at an early age. Inspired by gospel music and WDIA blues disc jockeys B.B. King and Rufus Thomas, Taylor began belting the blues with her five brothers and sisters, accompanying themselves on their homemade instruments. In 1952, Taylor and her soon-to-be- husband, the late Robert “Pops” Taylor, traveled to Chicago with nothing but, in Koko’s words, thirty-five cents and a box of Ritz Crackers. In Chicago, “Pops” worked for a packing company, and Koko cleaned houses. Together they frequented the city’s blues clubs nightly. Encouraged by her husband, Koko began to sit in with the city’s top blues bands, and soon she was in demand as a guest artist. One evening in 1962 Koko was approached by arranger/com- poser Willie Dixon. Overwhelmed by Koko’s performance, Dixon landed Koko a Chess Records recording contract, where he produced her several singles, two albums and penned her million-selling 1965 hit ‘Wang Dang Doodle,’ which would become Taylor’s signature song. After Chess Records was sold, Taylor found a home with the Chicago’s Alligator Records in 1975 and released the Grammy-nominated I Got What It Takes. She recorded eight more albums for Alligator between 1978 and 2007, received seven more Grammy nominations and made numerous guest appearances on various albums and tribute recordings. Koko appeared in the films Wild At Heart, Mercury Rising and Blues Brothers 2000. She performed on Late Night With David Letterman, Late Night With Conan O’Brien, CBS-TV’s This Morning, National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, CBS-TV’s Early Edition, and numerous regional television programs. Over the course of her 40-plus-year career, Taylor received every award the blues world has to offer. On March 3, 1993, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley honored Taylor with a ‘Legend Of The Year’ Award and declared Koko Taylor Day throughout Chicago. In 1997, she was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame. A year later, Chicago Magazine named her Chicagoan Of The Year and, in 1999, Taylor received the Blues Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2009 Taylor performed in Washington, D.C. at The Kennedy Center Honors honoring Morgan Freeman. The 8th Annual Koko Taylor was one of very few women who found success in the male-dominated blues world. She took her music from the tiny clubs of Chicago’s South Side to concert halls and major festivals all over the world. She shared stages with every major BBQ'Loo & Blues, Too! blues star, including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy as well as rock icons Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Taylor’s final performance was on May 7, 2009 in Memphis at the Blues Music FREE Event! Awards, where she sang Wang Dang Doodle after receiving her award for Tradi- Chili tional Blues Female Artist Of The Year. Survivors include Taylor’s husband, Hays Harris, daughter Joyce Threatt, son-in- Competition law Lee Threatt, grandchildren Lee, Jr. and Wendy, and three great-grandchildren.

Helping people make great Barbecue Contest music and pursue their July 17 & 18 in Lincoln Park dreams for over Corner of Mulberry and East 4th Streets 43 years. downtown Waterloo. 4651 1st Ave SE Family Activities • Vending • Entertainment Cedar Rapids, IA 319.378.1720 both evenings from 5:30 until 9:30PM. guitarcenter.com

featuring: You know my temperature’s risin’, The juke box’s blowin’a fuse, My heart’s Friday: 5:30-9:30 pm, the Avey Brothers Band beatin’rhythm, My soul keeps a singin’the bluesö Roll over Beethoven, Saturday: 5:30-9:30 pm tell Tchaikovsky the news.

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