Famed blues singer, Koko Taylor, died yesterday from complications following surgery. She was 81.
Why am I writing about this in a wine blog? Because she is part of a great, wine-fueled memory of mine.
It was in the late 80′s, a time which found me living in Chicago, my love of wine growing faster than a teenager. After an extended night of wine sipping in one of Chicago’s many great restaurants (Cabernet from Conn Creek, as I recall), this wine sipper and his friends descended on a blues bar. Koko Taylor was already part-way through her first set when we arrived.
We stepped into a packed house, so we naturally scanned the back of the dark hall for empty seats. We saw a few (none of them together of course) and just as we started towards them I saw four seats – all together – on the far end of the front row. Musterring our Cabernet-fueled courage (though admittedly, this was the late 80′s, and the octane was not what it is today) the four of us excused our way past each person in the row, passing directly in front of Ms. Taylor’s massive presence.
Which did not go unnoticed. And after bringing it home, she called me out, saying “If you want to take over my stage, you have to sing with me on this next song, it’s a little something I made famous called ‘Wang Dang Doodle’“. She wanted me to sing in call-and-response to her “All night long” refrain (play video below, to remember this song as it SHOULD be remembered – without my contribution!).
Now, for those unfamiliar with my so-called singing, let’s just say that I’m no pro. In fact, I’ve had several shower heads break in protest. The best thing my mother could ever say about my singing is “Well son, at least you have volume!”
Maybe that’s why, as the great Koko Taylor handed me a microphone, all my Cabernet courage drained away. My response to her “All night long” refrain was the most feeble, timid, off-key response anyone could ever imagine. And boy did Ms. Taylor let me have it with some good-natured ribbing after the song was over.
Koko, wherever you are, I thank you for the memory.
Cheers!
Dave the Wine Merchant
Dave@SidewaysWineClub.com
866-746-7293
Quote of the Day
“”Blues means what milk does to a baby. Blues is what the spirit is to the minister. We sing the blues because our hearts have been hurt, our souls have been disturbed.”
~ Alberta Hunter, 1895-1984. Blues singer, songwriter, nurse.
