'Queen of the Blues' Koko Taylor's lost treasures sold at Chicago flea market
After a random purchase of a storage locker in Orland Park, numerous personal belongings of Koko Taylor were unexpectedly put up for sale at a Chicago flea market. The discovery shocked local shopper Ben Lewis, who stumbled upon the items while browsing through booths in the Back of the Yards neighborhood.
“I had a deer in the headlights moment,” Lewis recalled, realizing that nearly every item he touched bore the name Koko Taylor.
Koko Taylor, known as the “Queen of the Blues” and celebrated as one of the greatest female blues singers of her time, had her memorabilia scattered across inexpensive tables and plastic bins. Anyone with a few dollars could purchase pieces of her remarkable legacy.
Notable items found
- Photographs of Taylor with President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Willie Nelson, Robert Plant, James Brown, Eric Clapton, and "Blues Brothers" John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
- Signed portraits from Bonnie Raitt, who wrote, “So great to be on the same show finally!!”, and autographed photos from Etta James and the rock band Styx.
- Handy Awards honoring her as Blues Entertainer of the Year and Best Blues Vocalist of the Year.
- Handwritten lyrics, including drafts from her 2013 song “Ernestine.”
- Personal holiday cards and business documents.
A sudden dispersal of a legacy
Taylor’s keepsakes, once treasured and part of her musical history, are now scattered and sold for minimal amounts. The incident has raised concerns about the preservation of important cultural artifacts tied to Chicago’s blues heritage.
Author’s summary: Koko Taylor’s belongings, including career awards and personal memorabilia, surfaced at a Chicago flea market after her storage unit was sold, revealing a neglected piece of blues history.