'Queen of the Blues' Koko Taylor's prized possessions — including a Grammy — sold at Chicago flea market

'Queen of the Blues' Koko Taylor's prized possessions — including a Grammy — sold at Chicago flea market

A surprising discovery at a Chicago flea market revealed a collection of personal items once belonging to the legendary blues singer Koko Taylor. The belongings surfaced after a junk dealer unknowingly purchased the contents of her storage locker in Orland Park.

Last week at the Back of the Yards flea market, Ben Lewis stumbled upon a booth filled with old photographs, greeting cards, and business papers. As he flipped through them, one name repeatedly appeared — Koko Taylor. In that moment, he realized he was surrounded by priceless mementos of the woman hailed as the “Queen of the Blues,” celebrated as one of the most powerful female voices in music history.

Instead of being preserved, Taylor’s life artifacts now covered cheap folding tables and plastic bins, sold for a few dollars each. Among the items were photographs of Taylor with President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Willie Nelson, Robert Plant, James Brown, Eric Clapton, and members of the Blues Brothers duo — John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.

“So great to be on the same show finally!!” — Bonnie Raitt

Also found were signed photos from Etta James and the band Styx, several Handy Awards for Blues Entertainer of the Year and Best Blues Vocalist of the Year, and stacks of handwritten song lyrics, including drafts from her 2013 track “Ernestine.” Even personal Christmas cards were among the scattered memories of a true music icon.

Author’s Summary

Once cherished treasures of Koko Taylor, the Queen of the Blues, surfaced unexpectedly at a Chicago flea market after being lost through a storage sale.

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WBEZ WBEZ — 2025-11-06

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