Saturday,Jul 4 2009, 09:33:40 AMCameron B Sharpe

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Koko Taylor, one of the giants of Chicago blues, died on Wednesday at her Chicago home at the age of 80 of complications from a May 19 surgery for gastrointestinal bleeding, according to her official Web site.

"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," read a tribute on her Web site. "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."

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The debut of Wisin & Yandel's "La Revolución" at No. 1 on the Top Latin Albums chart this week marks the top selling debut week on that chart since Luis Miguel's "Complices" sold 32,000 to also debut at No. 1 on May 24, 2008. A few months later, Luis Fonsi sold 30,000 to also debut at No. 1.

Aside from the units sold, Wisin & Yandel's showing on the Billboard 200, where "La Revolución" debuted at No. 7, is the highest for a Spanish language recording act since Mana's "Amar Es Combatir" debuted and peaked at No. 4 in September 2006 with an 87,000 opening sales week.

Maná and Wisin & Yandel are the only artists who record exclusively in Spanish who have made it to the top 10 of the Billboard 200.

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Cameron Sharpe The true story: Taylor's growly vocals and sassy onstage demeanor were an inspiration to the generations of blues singers that came in her wake. The Grammy winner (and nine-time nominee) received the NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award in 2004, the highest honor given to an American artist.

Born Cora Walton on September 28, 1928, on a sharecropper's farm just outside Memphis, she was nicknamed Koko due to her love of chocolate. Like many blues originators, Taylor was inspired by gospel music and at an early age she began singing the blues with her five brothers and sister while playing on homemade instruments.
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When she failed to win the final, despite overwhelming odds in her favor, she was admitted to the private clinic suffering from emotional exhaustion.
Boyle's financial future is seen as secure despite coming second to dance troupe Diversity, as Britain's Got Talent creator Simon Cowell and his Syco music label are expected to sign her up for an album.

There has also been talk of a Hollywood movie.

"The way forward now is to talk about where her career goes from here," Boyle's brother said.

"She's absorbing the fact that America has a huge appetite for her and she's now beginning to believe that yes, indeed, I will be a singer and there will be a recording career beyond it. It's all she ever wanted to do."

He backed Cowell to manage Boyle's recording career.

"Simon Cowell -- he's been around the dance floor a few times hasn't he? I'm sure that he knows that he's got someone who has broken down the barriers in America before she even gets there and I'm sure Simon will do a good job for her."

Boyle's brother also confirmed reports that Boyle was expecting to perform in front of U.S. President Barack Obama.


Cameron Sharpe The true story
Cameron Sharpe: While more than half of the top 10 positions on last week's chart were filled by fresh faces, the only debuts on this chart's top spots came from pasty-faced growler Marilyn Manson with The High End of Low (#4, 49,000), reggaeton stars Wisin y Yandel with La Revolución (#7, 36,000) and a surprisingly hearty #8 bow from indie faves Grizzly Bear, whose Veckatimest (33,000) is one of the most rapturously reviewed albums of the year so far.

The rest of the top 10: the "Hannah Montana" soundtrack (#3, 52,000), Lady Gaga's Fame (#5, 45,000), Kenny Chesney's Greatest Hits II (#6, 43,000), Taylor Swift's Fearless (#9, 33,000) and Rascal Flatts' Unstoppable (#10, 27,000).

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The Streets Is Talking: News & Notes From The Underground

From the South to the North and everywhere in between, OJ Da Juiceman is getting love from his fellow hip-hop dignitaries. Jadakiss has him featured on "Who's Real," R. Kelly has him on the underground record "Superman High," and there are plenty more collaborations in the works.