Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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THORNTON, Willie Mae 'Big Mama'

(b 11 Dec. '26, Montgomery AL; d 25 July '84, LA) Blues singer; also played harmonica, drums. Toured South from '41, settled in Houston, Texas '48, recorded for Peacock '50s (no. 1 R&B hit 'Hound Dog' '53, later covered by Elvis Presley: Leiber and Stoller are famous for writing it, but some thought Thornton should have got a credit). Toured with Johnny Otis '52, Junior Parker/Johnny Ace '53--4, Gatemouth Brown '56, settled in LA '57, often worked with Roy Milton. Recorded for small labels incl. Kent, then Arhoolie '65--6, '68; Mercury '69, Vanguard '75. Various appearances incl. Monterey Jazz Festival '66, Dick Cavett TV show '71, state prisons '75. She was a legendary figure and popular in West Coast clubs until she died. Albums: Ball And Chain, And Chicago Blues Band, In Europe on Arhoolie; Jail (aka Mama's Pride in UK) and Sassy Mama! on Vanguard; The Rising Sun Collection with the Chicago Hound Dogs '77 on Just a Memory; Hound Dog: The Peacock Recordings on Peacock, The Original Hound Dog on Ace.