'Queen of the Blues' Koko Taylor's Prized Possessions Sold at Chicago Flea Market
A collection of Koko Taylor’s personal belongings was unexpectedly sold at a Chicago flea market after a junk dealer purchased the contents of her storage unit in Orland Park for a small sum.
The Discovery
Ben Lewis was browsing through photographs, greeting cards, and business papers at a booth in Back of the Yards when he realized they all bore the name of blues legend Koko Taylor. He described the moment as a sudden, overwhelming shock.
“One name — Koko Taylor — appeared on everything he picked up.”
Lewis quickly understood that the items before him were priceless tokens of a music icon once hailed as the “Queen of the Blues.” Despite their significance, the artifacts were laid out on folding tables in plastic bins, available cheaply to passersby.
Memorabilia Found
- Photographs featuring Taylor with President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Willie Nelson, Robert Plant, James Brown, Eric Clapton, and “Blues Brothers” stars John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.
- Autographed pictures from Bonnie Raitt, who wrote,
“So great to be on the same show finally!!”
- Signed mementos from Etta James and the rock band Styx.
- Handy Awards recognizing her as Blues Entertainer of the Year and Best Blues Vocalist of the Year.
- Dozens of handwritten song lyrics, including from her 2013 song “Ernestine.”
- Personal holiday greeting cards.
Legacy in Limbo
Taylor, celebrated globally for her powerful voice and influence in blues music, passed away in 2009, but her legacy endures. The discovery at the flea market brings into question how such invaluable personal artifacts could end up forgotten and unsheltered among common market goods.
Author’s summary: The unexpected sale of Koko Taylor’s keepsakes at a Chicago flea market highlights the fragility of preserving cultural legacies in modern times.