Even though the blues may be to Carbondale what Marilyn Manson is to gospel music, legendary blues songstress Koko Taylor will still bring the sound of pure Chicago blues to a town used to straight rock n’ roll and cover bands.

And for the students lucky enough not be sent home for the Halloween weekend, this is a chance to see the blues at its best when Taylor takes the stage backed by Her Blues Machine at the Copper Dragon Thursday night.

Throughout her illustrious 30 year career, Taylor has earned 15 W.C. Handy awards (the blues award equivalent to the Grammy), one Grammy award and six Grammy nominations.

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Chicago’s mayor Richard M. Daley went so far as to honor Taylor with a Legend of the Year award March 3, 1993, and declared the day Koko Taylor Day.

Not bad for a woman who came to Chicago from Memphis more than 30 years ago at the ripe age of 18 and could only find work cleaning people’s houses.

In a recent telephone interview, Taylor, who said she last visited Carbondale three years ago, revealed how her transformation from Chicago-area cleaning woman to Chicago’s Queen of the Blues came about.

I was just working a normal day job like everyone else. On the weekends, my husband and I went out for a good time and the good time was always where (blues legends) Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy or Howlin’ Wolf were playing, she said. And then they started calling me up on stage to sing.

Taylor’s big break came in 1962 when legendary blues composer Willie Dixon caught one of her performances.

Willie came up to me after I was done and said, My God. I’ve never heard a woman sing the blues like you sing the blues. There are lots of men singing the blues but not enough women,’ Taylor said.

Dixon soon moved Taylor into a recording studio to record the smash-hit blues single Wang Dang Doodle. The song has since become a blues classic and has even been covered live by such prominent bands as The Grateful Dead.

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With seven solid blues albums and hundreds of performances behind her, Taylor said she can see how her style of music is no longer neglected by the mainstream.

The blues has become popular all over the world. I know I’ve come a long ways because the blues has changed around from the first years of my career, she said. First, I was singing to all black audiences in little south side (of Chicago) clubs and now I’m traveling all over the world.

And it is those fans all over the globe that will find comfort knowing Taylor’s plans for the future do not include retirement, a break or even slowing down.

Taylor says her plans are basically to keep on going and singing the blues.

Ever modest, Taylor said her main ambition lies with the people who have put her where she is today.

To keep on making people happy is my first priority, she said. I’m working on a new CD right now. I just hope it will be something my fans can have fun listening to.

Tawl Paul and Slappin’ Henry Blue will open the show around 10 p.m. Thursday. Tickets for the concert are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.