Big Mama Thornton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Big Mama Thornton
Thornton about 1955–1960
Background information
Birth name	Willie Mae Thornton
Born	(1926-12-11)December 11, 1926 Ariton, Alabama, U.S.
Origin	Oakland, California
Died	July 25, 1984(1984-07-25) (aged 57) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Blues rhythm and blues Texas blues
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, drums, harmonica
Years active	1947–1984
Labels	Peacock, Arhoolie, Mercury, Pentagram, Backbeat, Vanguard, Ace
Associated acts	Muddy Waters Blues Band, Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy

Willie Mae Thornton (born December 11, 1926 – died July 25, 1984), known as Big Mama Thornton, was an American singer and songwriter. She was famous for her powerful blues and R&B music. She made history by being the first to record the song "Hound Dog" in 1952. This song became her biggest hit, staying at number one on the Billboard R&B chart for seven weeks in 1953. It sold almost two million copies! Thornton also wrote and recorded the original version of "Ball and Chain".

Her recording of "Hound Dog" was written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Later, Elvis Presley recorded his own famous version. Music experts say that Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" was an important start for rock-and-roll music. It showed how important the guitar would become in this new style.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Big Mama Thornton was born in Ariton, Alabama. Her father was a minister and her mother was a singer in a Baptist church. This is where Willie Mae first learned about music. She and her six brothers and sisters started singing when they were very young.

After her mother passed away, Willie Mae left school. In 1940, she left home and joined a music show called Sammy Green's Hot Harlem Revue. She was soon called the "New Bessie Smith". Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie were famous blues singers whom Thornton admired a lot.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out in Music

Thornton's music career really took off when she moved to Houston in 1948. New blues music was becoming popular in Texas and Los Angeles. This music had lots of brass instruments, lively rhythms, and clever lyrics.

In 1951, she signed a record deal with Peacock Records. She performed at the famous Apollo Theater in 1952. That same year, she recorded "Hound Dog" with Johnny Otis. The writers, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, were there for the recording. They wanted her to sing it with a "growl," and she did! The song sold over half a million copies and hit number one on the R&B chart. This helped bring in the start of rock 'n' roll music. Even though the song made her a star, she reportedly didn't earn much money from it.

Thornton kept recording for Peacock until 1957. She also toured with other R&B artists like Junior Parker and Esther Phillips.

"Hound Dog" and "Ball 'n' Chain" Success

About three years after Thornton's "Hound Dog" hit, Elvis Presley recorded his famous version. His version sold ten million copies! Because of this, many people today don't know that "Hound Dog" was first a powerful song sung by a Black woman.

Similarly, Big Mama Thornton first recorded her song "Ball 'n' Chain" in the early 1960s. The record company didn't release it at first. This meant she didn't get paid for writing it when Janis Joplin later recorded the song. However, in an interview in 1972, Thornton said she did give Joplin permission to record it. She also said she received money from its sales later on.

Later Career and Touring

As her career changed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, she moved to the San Francisco Bay area. She played in clubs and recorded for different labels, including Arhoolie Records. In 1965, she toured Europe with the American Folk Blues Festival. She was very successful there, which was special because not many female blues singers had found success across the Atlantic.

While in London, she recorded her first album for Arhoolie, called Big Mama Thornton – In Europe. Famous blues musicians like Buddy Guy and Fred Below played with her. In 1966, she recorded another album, Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band – 1966, with Muddy Waters and his band. She also performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1966 and 1968.

Her song "Ball and Chain" became very popular again when Janis Joplin performed it at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Joplin's band, Big Brother and the Holding Company, also released it on their album Cheap Thrills. This made more people interested in Thornton's music.

By 1969, Thornton signed with Mercury Records. She released her most successful album, Stronger Than Dirt, which reached number 198 on the Billboard chart. She also recorded a gospel album called Saved. This was a dream come true for her, as she loved gospel music.

In 1972, Thornton was asked to join the American Folk Blues Festival tour again in Europe. She toured many countries, including Germany, France, and Sweden. She was respected by other musicians who wanted to see her perform.

Final Years

In the 1970s, Big Mama Thornton's health began to decline. She was in a serious car accident but recovered. She performed at the 1973 Newport Jazz Festival with other blues legends like Muddy Waters and B.B. King.

Thornton's last albums were Jail and Sassy Mama in 1975. Jail included recordings from her concerts at two prisons. She continued to tour across the United States and Canada. She played at the Juneteenth Blues Fest and shared the stage with John Lee Hooker.

She performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1979 and the Newport Jazz Festival in 1980. Big Mama also performed in a concert called "Blues Is a Woman." She was known for wearing a man's suit, straw hat, and gold watch on stage. She passed away on July 25, 1984, at the age of 57.

Big Mama Thornton's Unique Style

Big Mama Thornton was known for her deep, powerful voice and strong personality. She got her nickname "Big Mama" from the manager of Harlem's Apollo Theater. He gave her the name because of her strong voice, her size, and her big personality. Thornton once said she was louder than any microphone!

She said her singing came from her own experiences. She never went to music school. She taught herself to sing, play harmonica, and even play drums by watching others. She couldn't read music, but she knew what she was singing. She always wanted to sing like herself, not like anyone else.

Her style was greatly influenced by the gospel music she heard growing up in her preacher father's home. She put her heart and soul into her songs. Experts have praised Thornton for being a strong woman in a music world often led by men. Her powerful personality and unique style helped shape rock 'n' roll music.

Her Lasting Legacy

During her career, Big Mama Thornton was nominated for the Blues Music Awards six times. In 1984, she was added to the Blues Hall of Fame.

Thornton wrote twenty blues songs, including "Ball 'n' Chain" and "They Call Me Big Mama." Her song "Ball 'n' Chain" is on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame list of "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll." Even though she didn't get much money for "Ball 'n' Chain" at first, Janis Joplin arranged for Thornton to open shows for her. Joplin said that Thornton praised her version of the song, saying, "That girl feels like I do."

Many people believe Thornton deserves more credit for her influence on blues, rock & roll, and soul music. Some critics say that she didn't get enough recognition because of racial segregation in the United States at the time.

In 2004, a group called the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls was started. It was named after Thornton and helps girls aged eight to eighteen learn about music. In 2014, the first full book about her life, Big Mama Thornton: The Life and Music, was published.

In 2022, Big Mama Thornton was shown as a character in the movie about Elvis Presley, called Elvis. In the movie, Thornton (played by Shonka Dukureh) is shown singing "Hound Dog." Elvis (played by Austin Butler) hears her sing it and decides to make his own version. Shonka Dukureh's performance of "Hound Dog" was included on the movie's soundtrack. The movie and soundtrack were very popular and helped more people learn about Big Mama Thornton.

Discography

This is a list of some of Big Mama Thornton's albums.

Studio and Live Albums

Compilations

See also

In Spanish: Big Mama Thornton para niños

• List of blues musicians

Images for kids

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  Big Mama Thornton around 1955–1960