IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 668 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 22, 2009 Mr. Jackson of Illinois submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor RESOLUTION Honoring the life, contributions, and achievements of Koko Taylor and expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives on her passing.

Whereas Koko Taylor was born in a sharecropper's cabin outside Memphis, Tennessee, on September 28, 1928; Whereas as a child, Ms. Taylor was encouraged by her father to perform gospel music; Whereas at 18, Ms. Taylor and her future husband, the late Robert Pop Taylor, moved to Chicago where she first started as a housekeeper, then moved on to the South Side of Chicago's lively club scene to perform with legendary blues musicians; Whereas Ms. Taylor's 1965 signature hit Wang Dang Doodle sold over 1,000,000 copies and launched her into blues stardom; Whereas Ms. Taylor's bandleader status and powerful voice in a male-dominated blues music era broke down many barriers for female artists who followed; Whereas Ms. Taylor has been awarded 29 Blues Music Awards, a record number of awards for a blues artist; Whereas Ms. Taylor was the recipient of the National Endowment of the Arts Heritage Fellowship Award, among the highest honors given to an American artist; Whereas Ms. Taylor was the winner of a 1984 Grammy Award for her contribution to the compilation album Blues Explosion and was a Grammy Award nominee for 8 of her solo blues albums; Whereas Ms. Taylor's powerhouse vocals, critical acclaim, and widespread commercial success earned her induction into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Blues Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999; Whereas Ms. Taylor's superior talent and status as The Queen of Blues has earned her appearances in film, television, and print media both domestically and internationally; Whereas Ms. Taylor has been deemed one of the great female blues singers of her generation and has influenced musicians across all genres and generations; and Whereas Ms. Taylor founded the Koko Taylor Celebrity Aid Foundation, providing social services to the arts and entertainment industry, helping educate artists and entertainers about their rights in the industry: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)honors Koko Taylor for her significant contributions to both blues music and the entertainment industry as a whole, for serving as an influence and inspiration to future generations of musicians, and for bringing joy to millions of people around the world; and (2)expresses profound sorrow at the death of Koko Taylor and condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.