The ComicsPriceGuide.com Boards / Comic Collecting / General Comic Discussion / Hall of Tribute

Koko Taylor

WOLFEN — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:33:41 GMT

I know it ain't comics.. but if you know the blues..you know this lady...and you I just thought she was worth a mention...

from the Amazon blog of Hugo Munday;

Grammy Award-winning blues legend Koko Taylor , 80, died on June 3, 2009 in her hometown of Chicago, IL, as a result of complications following her May 19 surgery to correct a gastrointestinal bleed. On May 7, 2009, the critically acclaimed Taylor, known worldwide as the “Queen of the Blues,” won her 29th Blues Music Award (for Traditional Female Blues Artist Of The Year), making her the recipient of more Blues Music Awards than any other artist. In 2004 she received the NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award, which is among the highest honors given to an American artist. Her most recent CD, 2007’s Old School, was nominated for a Grammy.

Born Cora Walton on a sharecropper’s farm just outside Memphis, TN, on September 28, 1928, Koko, nicknamed for her love of chocolate, fell in love with music at an early age. Inspired by gospel music and WDIA blues disc jockeys B.B. King and Rufus Thomas, Taylor began belting the blues with her five brothers and sisters, accompanying themselves on their homemade instruments. In 1952, Taylor and her soon-to-be-husband, the late Robert “Pops” Taylor, traveled to Chicago with nothing but, in Koko’s words, “thirty-five cents and a box of Ritz Crackers.”

In Chicago, “Pops” worked for a packing company, and Koko cleaned houses. Together they frequented the city’s blues clubs nightly. Encouraged by her husband, Koko began to sit in with the city’s top blues bands, and soon she was in demand as a guest artist. One evening in 1962 Koko was approached by arranger/composer Willie Dixon. Overwhelmed by Koko’s performance, Dixon landed Koko a Chess Records recording contract, where he produced her several singles, two albums and penned her million-selling 1965 hit “Wang Dang Doodle,” which would become Taylor’s signature song.

Koko Taylor was one of very few women who found success in the male-dominated blues world. She took her music from the tiny clubs of Chicago’s South Side to concert halls and major festivals all over the world. She shared stages with every major blues star, including Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy as well as rock icons Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

Taylor’s final performance was on May 7, 2009 in Memphis at the Blues Music Awards, where she sang “Wang Dang Doodle” after receiving her award for Traditional Blues Female Artist Of The Year.

Survivors include Taylor’s husband Hays Harris, daughter Joyce Threatt, son-in-law Lee Threatt, grandchildren Lee, Jr. and Wendy, and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements will be announced.

•

The release then finishes with quotes from the press.

It's hard, even unfair to chose her best single recording. Certainly Live From Chicago: An Audience With The Queen ranks up there with the likes of B.B. King's Live at the Regal , as one of the greatest live blues albums of all time. She'll pull your emotions all over the map on this recording, with able assistance from lead guitarist Michael “Mr. Dynamite” Robinson. I'm also really partial to the 2007 "let-me-show-you-how-its-done" tour-de-force Old School cited in the release above.

May she rest in peace. -- Hugo Munday

Personally, I first heard her music in the 7th grade...my home-room teacher would play jazz and blues artists...that's where I learned of Muddy Waters, BB, and Howlin' Wolf, as well as Koko and Ella...This was music that fed your soul...and still feeds mine...it is truely a sad day..

My friend....

Maverick — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:37:19 GMT

I know this is a tribute to those in comics. But, I just lost a friend, and would like to say a few words.

I met Jeremy several years ago, through mutual friends. He was a fun-loving kid, warm heart and always the best intentions of everyone he met. You couldn't be around this guy and not like him. He had an infectious personallity and a warm hearty smile. If he came around a group of us, he always made it around to each and everyone of us, to see how we were, what you were up too, and if everything was going ok.

We would tail gate at ball games, hang out, go in and watch the game and have fun. Jeremy was young and living his life to the fullest. He was a good kid!! A great kid. A really good christian.

About a month ago, he went hiking. Slipped and fell thirty feet, and suffered horrific injuries. Due to complications, Jeremy's life was cut short Wednesday. He was only 26.

I've only known him for a few years, but he always seemed like a kid brother to me. I'm gonna miss him.

So, Jeremy, when its football time in Tennessee, I'm always gonna think of you. And I know your going to have the best seat in town, to watch the games.....

So long, Forrey...

Shadow — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:36:08 GMT

92 year old Forrest J. Ackerman died of heart faliure on Thursday 12/4/2008...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_J_Ackerman

Besides being credited with discovering science fiction legend Ray Bradbury, and generally being accepted as the man who coined the term "sci-fi"...He created and helmed Famous Monsters of Filmland...a magazine that meant alot to those of us who enjoyed films of the fantastic...

Mr. Ackerman also collected one of the most incrediblbe collections pf science fiction/fantasy/horror movie memorabilia...that he kept in his LA mansion and opened up to the public every Saturday that he was home...

He was a phenomenal man...and he'll be fondly remembered...

The Grand Dame of Star Trek...

Shadow — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:42:12 GMT

This lady did more to promote the Star Trek franchise than any other three people...

http://www.comcast.net/articles/entertainment-movies/20081218/Obit.Roddenberry/

Tom Fagan dies at 76...

Shadow — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:02:35 GMT

For those of you who don't know of him...he was the driving force behind the Super-hero Halloween Parade that took place in Rutland, Vermont...and was featured or mentioned in several comic stories by Denny O'Neill and/or Roy Thomas...

So long, Tom

Mark Evanier's mention in his blog...
http://www.newsfromme.com/

Tom's obit...
http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081023/NEWS04/810230395

Brad Meltzer's words of praise to his Mom

WOLFEN — Sat, 03 May 2008 01:54:01 GMT

Brad and Cori Meltzer sent out the eulogy he wrote to his mother who did this past weekend after a battle with breast cancer...

Being that my own mom past away four years ago this coming mothers day, when I got the email, needless to say it hit a bit close to home...but there was a passage towards the end, that summed up not only his feelings, but I guess you could say my own feelings about my late mother aswell...

"I miss you Mom. And I thank you. I thank you for teaching me how a
parent is supposed to love their child. And I hope you know that, in
that and so much else, you live on forever."

Anyone who wants a copy of the eulogy, feel free to pm me, and I'll forward the email to you..its reall quite beautiful.

and we have the Meltzer's blessings on this..

Peace...

Michael Turner Passes Away

ZombiesAteMyBrain — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:22:34 GMT

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=16988

Very sad, only 37. One of my personal favorite cover artists. i hope aspen Comics is able to continue without him.:crying:

Michael Silberkleit

Shadow — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:28:08 GMT

From the N.Y. Times:

SILBERKLEIT--Michael I., the chairman of Archie Comic Publications,
died August 5th in New York City at the age of 76, after a short
battle with cancer. For much of the 60 years he worked at Archie
Comics, Silberkleit shared the leadership of the company with Richard
Goldwater, whose father, John Goldwater, and his partner, Louis
Silberkleit, Michael's father, founded the company. The sons, who
began working at the company as boys, later steered Archie Comics into
the modern era of publishing as electronic production techniques and
brand licensing became important. They encouraged the development of
new characters, such as Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and Josie and the
Pussycats, and successfully licensed these and other characters
through Archie Comics Entertainment. Silberkleit was also Executive
consultant to the TV program, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, a long
running series starring Melissa Joan Hart. The company also published
comic books as a licensee, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and
Sonic the Hedgehog. At various times Silberkleit was chairman of the
Comics Association of America. The centerpiece identity of the
company, which is based in Mamaroneck, New York, remains the brightly
innocent presence of Archie and his girlfriends, Betty and Veronica,
who made their comic debut in 1941. Over the decades Michael
Silberkleit and Richard Goldwater steadfastly refused to introduce the
worldlier and darker elements of teenage life, like sex and drugs and
violence, into the Archie storylines. In doing so they preserved an
image of adolescence for the target audience of 7-to-14 year olds.
Silberkleit was determined to keep Archie an American institution,
pure as childhood, yet up-to-date with the latest technology used by
children today. For generations of readers, Archie and the Gang have
represented the wonder and magic of childhood and Silberkleit fought
successfully to keep this vision alive. Unlike some competitors who
use longer formats, Archie Comics continues its tradition of telling
accessible, short stories. In one of the many interviews Silberkleit
gave, he said, "The fact that our stories are funny, are non-violent,
believable, clean and appropriate for youngsters makes us so appealing
to the younger reader. This philosophy hasnt changed for more than 60
years. Many parents grew up reading Archie Comics and feel that our
comics are appropriate for their kids." After an initial public
offering in the early 1970s, when Silberkleit served as Treasurer,
Archie Comics shares were traded publicly. But after ten years
Silberkleit and his partner Goldwater bought the company back from
shareholders and held it as a private, family-owned business
thereafter. Currently, the company publishes over 10 million comics
per year in a dozen languages worldwide. Born in New York City in
1932, Silberkleit attended the Fieldston School before going to
Albright College as an undergraduate. He studied law after his
graduation. Silberkleit was also active in the community, volunteering
as an auxiliary policeman for the Scarsdale Police force. A resident
of Rye and East Hampton, NY, Silberkleit indulged his mechanical
aptitude with vintage sports cars, spending several years restoring a
1966 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Lind
Silberkleit, and their daughter, Alexandria, and by three adult
children from a prior marriage to Karen Silberkleit: Susan Berkley,
David Silberkleit and Amy Silberkleit, as well as grandchildren Isis
and Elijah Shiffer. A private funeral and memorial service is planned
for Sunday, August 10th. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers or
other memorials, donations should be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center Research.

Jack Kamen 5/9/20 - 8/5/08

wpbooks — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:14:24 GMT

Noted EC artist and father of Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, has passed away at 88 from causes related to cancer, it is being reported. That's 2 EC Greats in less than 6 months. Sad news indeed!

Craig Flessel (1912-2008)

batfan — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:34:48 GMT

craig flessel, one of the greatest golden age artist, died yesterday night. RIP.

my favorite work by him was on his detective comics covers. my favorite was #10.

Michael Turner DEAD!

Murray Clack — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:33:01 GMT

[url]http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2008/06/28/rip-michael-turner/[/url]

Will Elder, MAD genius

over40artist — Sun, 18 May 2008 01:32:26 GMT

Will Eldger, the brilliantly funny, talented and influential cartoonist and satirist, has passed away:

[url]http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-elder17-2008may17,0,253112.story[/url]

It was only a couple months ago that I was admiring his groundbreaking work in the early Mad comic books. I also remember reading Little Annie Fanny in my dad's Playboy magazines. Wow, could he draw!

He made the world of comics a much better place....

Character actor, Stanley Kamel...dead at age 65

Shadow — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:07:42 GMT

Stanley Kamel

I always enjoyed his characterizations...but I really liked his work on Monk...

So long Doc...:crying:

Three Degrees connection:

He worked with Tony Shaloub...who appeared in the Men In Black movies...which were based on the comicbook...:D

Last of Disney's 9 Old Men...

Shadow — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:57:26 GMT

Ollie Johnston , the last of Walt Disney's original crew of nine animators passed away...

So long, Rufus...:crying:

Jim Mooney

WOLFEN — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:18:04 GMT

http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2008_03_31.html#015013

Ah..lives that touched us in one way or another...Goodbye Jim..:(

The Archive...

Shadow — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:32:44 GMT

The Old Forum Archive

The old threads are locked...but feel welcome to start a new one with a link if you feel the need to leave a memorial to someone already listed...;)