BITTER WATER BLOG: The Queen of the Blues

"Bagley's got the poet's eye, but that doesn't mean everything is prettier in his work. It means the ugly stuff is more vivid. More intense. Like a sudden switch from analog to HD. And that's a trait to very much admire in his work." --Anthony Neil Smith, author of Hogdoggin', Yellow Medicine, The Drummer and Psychosomatic

"When you talk about writers who are right there on the cusp of getting published and earning wider recognition, then Patrick Shawn Bagley's name is right there near the top of the list." --Brian Lindenmuth, Bookspot Central

Thursday, June 4, 2009

The Queen of the Blues

Koko Taylor died yesterday, from complications during surgery. She was 80 years old. I had the great pleasure of seeing her perform at the North Atlantic Blues Festival in 1995. Man, what a show. Koko Taylor was one of the blues' most powerful, soulful and distinctive voices.