Born in Bartlett, Tennessee, Cora Walton earned the name Koko because she loved chocolate candy as a child. She and her five brothers and sisters became orphans by the time Koko was 11 years old. At an early age her father encouraged her to sing gospel music, but Koko loved blues singers like Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie.
When she was in her early 20s Koko and her soon-to-be-husband, Robert “Pop’s” Taylor, moved to Chicago looking for work. She found work cleaning houses and would spend her weekends on the South and West sides of Chicago in the blues clubs listening to singers like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Magic Sam and Junior Wells. Koko’s husband pushed her to showcase her singing skills, and she ended up singing with many of the legendary artists she looked up to.
Koko’s first break came in 1963 when songwriter and arranger Willie Dixon signed her to USA Records and then secured a Chess recording contract for her. He produced several singles and two albums for her, including her huge 1966 hit single Wang Dang Doodle, firmly establishing her as the number one female blues talent in the world.
She joined Alligator Records in 1975, one of the new blues labels owned by Bruce Iglauer. Her first album, I Got What it Takes, earned her a Grammy nomination. She then went on to record eight more albums and received five more Grammy nominations. Some of her work includes: Basic Soul, From the Heart of a Woman, Force of Nature, Royal Blue and Old School. Koko passed away on June 3, 2009, in Chicago.
