1.0 link 211074 <![CDATA[Koko Taylor, Legendary Blues Singer, Dies At 80]]> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/03/koko-taylor-legendary-blu_n_211074.html CHICAGO (AP) -- Koko Taylor, a sharecropper's daughter whose regal bearing and powerful voice earned her the sobriquet "Queen of the Blues," has died after complications from surgery. She was 80.

Taylor died Wednesday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about two weeks after having surgery for a gastrointestinal bleed, said Marc Lipkin, director of publicity for her record label, Alligator Records, which made the announcement.

"Her music was extremely direct, raw, emotional, straight from the soul," said Bruce Iglauer, Taylor's friend and owner...

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